ct ashi certified home inspectors: A Screwdriver Speaks a Thousand Words
- 11/28/07 01:53 AM
A great old home inspector once remarked that a screwdriver can be the only tool you'll ever need to do home inspections. Now I wouldn't entirely agree with that, as I love my gadgets, but it certainly is one of the top weapons in the home inspector arsenal. As you can plainly see in the photos, my screwdriver is speaking volumes on the condition of this 100 plus year old chimney. The first and most obvious problem is the mortar is completely deteriorated. It is so soft in fact that I could remove it by scraping it with my finger. The … (7 comments)
ct ashi certified home inspectors: A Screwdriver Speaks a Thousand Words
- 11/28/07 01:49 AM
A great old home inspector once remarked that a screwdriver can be the only tool you'll ever need to do home inspections. Now I wouldn't entirely agree with that, as I love my gadgets, but it certainly is one of the top weapons in the home inspector arsenal. As you can plainly see in the photos, my screwdriver is speaking volumes on the condition of this 100 plus year old chimney. The first and most obvious problem is the mortar is completely deteriorated. It is so soft in fact that I could remove it by scraping it with my finger. The … (12 comments)
ct ashi certified home inspectors: Steam Heating System Conversions, Not Usually a Good Practice
- 10/23/07 03:01 AM
Older homes were often heated by a steam boiler and cast iron radiators. Those old radiators not only threw a lot of heat, they held it for a long time. With steam the radiator had a valve that would release a small amount of steam into the air in effect providing some humidification. These were great systems in their day and the truth is they are still quite good. But often it is thought that changing the "old" steam system to a forced hot water system is more modern and therefore better. Changing the system is not necessarily better or more … (8 comments)
ct ashi certified home inspectors: Steam Heating System Conversions, Not Usually a Good Practice
- 10/23/07 02:46 AM
Older homes were often heated by a steam boiler and cast iron radiators. Those old radiators not only threw a lot of heat, they held it for a long time. With steam the radiator had a valve that would release a small amount of steam into the air in effect providing some humidification. These were great systems in their day and the truth is they are still quite good. But often it is thought that changing the "old" steam system to a forced hot water system is more modern and therefore better. Changing the system is not necessarily better or more … (12 comments)
ct ashi certified home inspectors: 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)
ct ashi certified home inspectors: 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)
ct ashi certified home inspectors: 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)
ct ashi certified home inspectors: 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)
ct ashi certified home inspectors: 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)
ct ashi certified home inspectors: 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)
ct ashi certified home inspectors: 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)
ct ashi certified home inspectors: 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)
A great old home inspector once remarked that a screwdriver can be the only tool you'll ever need to do home inspections. Now I wouldn't entirely agree with that, as I love my gadgets, but it certainly is one of the top weapons in the home inspector arsenal.
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