connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Electrifying Heights, New Haven, CT
- 10/03/07 05:28 AM
The wire that brings electricity into a home is referred to as the service drop conductor (blue arrow). This is connected to the service entry conductor (red arrow). The point at which they are connected (yellow arrow) is most often the demarcation between the homeowners' responsibility and the utility companies' responsibility. The minimum safe height from the ground of these components is 10 feet for the service entry conductor (yellow) and 12 feet for the service drop conductor (blue).
This particular service drop and entry was suspect on initial inspection. The lowest point of the service conductor, the drip loop, … (5 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Electrifying Heights, New Haven, CT
- 10/03/07 05:24 AM
The wire that brings electricity into a home is referred to as the service drop conductor (blue arrow). This is connected to the service entry conductor (red arrow). The point at which they are connected (yellow arrow) is most often the demarcation between the homeowners' responsibility and the utility companies' responsibility. The minimum safe height from the ground of these components is 10 feet for the service entry conductor (yellow) and 12 feet for the service drop conductor (blue).
This particular service drop and entry was suspect on initial inspection. The lowest point of the service conductor, the drip loop, … (18 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Customer Service, What Did You Do, The Rest of the Story.
- 09/28/07 11:52 PM
I had asked AR members to comment on how they would have helped a young woman, a past customer, who called with a mold concern. In the first part, Customer Service, What would you do? Part One. the details were given of the woman's situation.
I wasn't looking for a "right answer", but how you would respond as a business and a person to a client's problem. Customer service is not just about the time you spend with the client during the home inspection. It is also what you do after the job is complete that is truly telling of your … (3 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Customer Service, What Did You Do, The Rest of the Story.
- 09/28/07 11:49 PM
I had asked AR members to comment on how they would have helped a young woman, a past customer, who called with a mold concern. In the first part, Customer Service, What would you do? Part One. the details were given of the woman's situation.
I wasn't looking for a "right answer", but how you would respond as a business and a person to a client's problem. Customer service is not just about the time you spend with the client during the home inspection. It is also what you do after the job is complete that is truly telling of your … (7 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Customer Service, What would you do? Part One.
- 09/27/07 07:40 AM
I got a call the other day from a past client in Middlefield, CT who had found some mold in her home. I had inspected the house for her just over a year ago. She was very nervous, as I could hear in her voice, about the mold she had found.
I asked where she had found the mold.
She said on the wall of a few lower kitchen cabinets, in her bedroom closet on some of her shoes, (that really bothered her) and in a broom closet on the wall.
I asked her how much mold she found.
She said not much really. … (4 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Customer Service, What would you do? Part One.
- 09/27/07 07:37 AM
I got a call the other day from a past client in Middlefield, CT who had found some mold in her home. I had inspected the house for her just over a year ago. She was very nervous, as I could hear in her voice, about the mold she had found.
I asked where she had found the mold.
She said on the wall of a few lower kitchen cabinets, in her bedroom closet on some of her shoes, (that really bothered her) and in a broom closet on the wall.
I asked her how much mold she found.
She said not much really. … (5 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: The Furnace Guy Doesn't Clean Your Chimney, a Sooty Problem in Wallingford, CT
- 09/25/07 06:01 AM
If I had a dollar for every time I heard the remark; I thought the furnace guy cleaned the chimney; well I'd be retiring sooner. The fact is the "furnace guy" cleans the furnace, boiler and or water heater, he never touches the chimney. That's a job for a chimney sweep.
The picture at the right is the chimney cleanout on a 1950s ranch home in Wallingford, CT. When looking at the chimney from the exterior during the beginning of the home inspection, there was a good amount of soot staining near the upper portion of the chimney. I remarked to … (1 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: The Furnace Guy Doesn’t Clean Your Chimney, a Sooty Problem in Wallingford, CT
- 09/25/07 05:57 AM
If I had a dollar for every time I heard the remark; I thought the furnace guy cleaned the chimney; well I'd be retiring sooner. The fact is the "furnace guy" cleans the furnace, boiler and or water heater, he never touches the chimney. That's a job for a chimney sweep.
The picture at the right is the chimney cleanout on a 1950s ranch home in Wallingford, CT. When looking at the chimney from the exterior during the beginning of the home inspection, there was a good amount of soot staining near the upper portion of the chimney. I remarked to … (1 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Realtors, Do You Challenge or Disagree With the Home Inspector?
- 09/23/07 01:58 AM
Home inspectors and Realtors are both trained professionals. Each would be considered "experts" in their respective fields. Home inspectors should not be giving real estate advice and Realtors should not be dispensing home inspection opinions. Yet once again I have had Realtors, behind my back in this case, completely disagree with my findings. To top it off they have also questioned my competence and knowledge.
These agents (a two woman team) are acting in a dual agent capacity. My-our clients are savvy buyers, with much experience in buying and selling homes. After the inspection the buyers contacted the agents about a … (29 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Published Twice...No THREE times in One Week!
- 09/20/07 07:33 AM
I just put up a blog this morning titled, Published Twice in One Week. Well Mr. Joseph Hagarty of House Master Home Inspections of West Chester PA responded to the blog with another article where I was quoted several times as a source. I don't know how Joe found it, but I am sure glad he did and I thank him for bringing it to my attention.
Here is the article:
9/19/07
Keep your house clean or else! Rebecca Kelleher
Some Quinnipiac students have learned the hard way of what happens when moving into an uninhabitable house. Within the past year, students have been evicted … (6 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Published Twice…No THREE times in One Week!
- 09/20/07 07:29 AM
I just put up a blog this morning titled, Published Twice in One Week. Well Mr. Joseph Hagarty of House Master Home Inspections of West Chester PA responded to the blog with another article where I was quoted several times as a source. I don't know how Joe found it, but I am sure glad he did and I thank him for bringing it to my attention.
Here is the article:
9/19/07
Keep your house clean or else! Rebecca Kelleher
Some Quinnipiac students have learned the hard way of what happens when moving into an uninhabitable house. Within the past year, students have been evicted … (2 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Published Twice in One Week
- 09/20/07 02:35 AM
I am proud to announce that my article New Construction Progress Inspections has been published, twice. First for the American Society for Quality Inspection Division September/October Newsletter. The article begins on page 5. This is the second time these fine folks have published one of my articles. I had my article Home Inspection 101 published in their April/May newsletter also on page 5.
This piece was also published the same week on Ezine Articles, earning expert author status.
Both articles deal with the importance of hiring a qualified professional ASHI certified home inspector for new home purchasers and new construction projects.
James Quarello … (10 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Published Twice in One Week
- 09/20/07 02:32 AM
I am proud to announce that my article New Construction Progress Inspections has been published, twice. First for the American Society for Quality Inspection Division September/October Newsletter. The article begins on page 5. This is the second time these fine folks have published one of my articles. I had my article Home Inspection 101 published in their April/May newsletter also on page 5.
This piece was also published the same week on Ezine Articles, earning expert author status.
Both articles deal with the importance of hiring a qualified professional ASHI certified home inspector for new home purchasers and new construction projects.
James Quarello … (5 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Agency Files Against Builders; Contractors Accused of Misleading Department
- 09/20/07 01:31 AM
I found this article yesterday in a local paper and believe it graphically illustrates the importance of checking and researching building contractors. It also, I believe, makes a point for hiring an independent inspector to oversee any building project. The cost of the inspector is well off set by the savings in time and aggravation for customer not having to chase the builder to correct problems after the completion of the project.
09/14/2007
Cara Baruzzi, Register Staff
The state Department of Consumer Protection announced Thursday it filed complaints against two home improvement contractors in North Haven and Wallingford, claiming the businesses misled … (1 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: The Two Sides of Home Buyers
- 09/18/07 01:37 AM
I received a call from a potential client yesterday who was a first time home buyer. She was in a hurry to have a home inspection done. She had called around to a few inspection companies and I was the first person she was able to talk with.
Speaking with her I learned she was completely uneducated on the home inspection process. She was purchasing a 1950s ranch home with a well and septic system. I informed her of the need to inspect the septic system and the importance of water quality testing for the well. I explained that this would greatly … (12 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Something Stinks in New Haven, CT
- 09/15/07 12:27 AM
Sump pumps are a common piece of water control equipment found in many homes. They are meant to remove water from under the foundation floor before it enters the home and discharge the water far away from the house.
What is also commonly seen with sump pumps is them discharging into the homes waste piping and ultimately the city sewage system. This is not acceptable and most, if not all municipalities do not allow this practice.
The first picture is of a nice enclosed sump pump installed by a well known large local basement water control company. I have seen many … (4 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: Something Stinks in New Haven, CT
- 09/15/07 12:22 AM
Sump pumps are a common piece of water control equipment found in many homes. They are meant to remove water from under the foundation floor before it enters the home and discharge the water far away from the house.
What is also commonly seen with sump pumps is them discharging into the homes waste piping and ultimately the city sewage system. This is not acceptable and most, if not all municipalities do not allow this practice.
The first picture is of a nice enclosed sump pump installed by a well known large local basement water control company. I have seen many … (4 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: What's in a Price?
- 09/12/07 04:38 AM
One aspect that all business people deal with on a daily basis is potential customers asking the one question that's been on their mind even before they picked up the phone, "how much does it cost?" Unfortunately a great deal of the customers' decision relies almost entirely on the price given for the services they require. But what does a price really tell anyone about the business or the person who will be conducting the service? Not much really, but what most consumers do not understand is that business have operating expenses and they must make a profit.
Businesses exist to … (2 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: What's in a Price?
- 09/12/07 04:32 AM
One aspect that all business people deal with on a daily basis is potential customers asking the one question that's been on their mind even before they picked up the phone, "how much does it cost?" Unfortunately a great deal of the customers' decision relies almost entirely on the price given for the services they require. But what does a price really tell anyone about the business or the person who will be conducting the service? Not much really, but what most consumers do not understand is that business have operating expenses and they must make a profit.
Businesses exist to … (0 comments)
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connecticut ashi certified home inspections: It’s Raining in the Attic, Inadequate Ventilation, New Haven, CT
- 09/07/07 08:28 AM
When inspecting a 1940s colonial I noticed the roofing shingles had an unusual and uneven pattern of ageing. Viewing the home from the rear, the left side of the roof covering was distinctly more cupped, curled, and dried than the right side, which was fairly smooth.
Going into the attic I noticed there was only one gable end vent, which was on the right side of the home as viewed from the rear. This was the side with the better looking shingles as described previous.
I then look around on the floor of the attic for other tell tale signs of problems. … (1 comments)
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The wire that brings electricity into a home is referred to as the service drop conductor (blue arrow). This is connected to the service entry conductor (red arrow). The point at which they are connected (yellow arrow) is most often the demarcation between the homeowners' responsibility and the utility companies' responsibility. The minimum safe height from the ground of these components is 10 feet for the service entry conductor (yellow) and 12 feet for the service drop conductor (blue). 
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