Real estate blog entries tagged with home inspections in connecticut ct by James Quarello, Connecticut Home Inspector (JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC)

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home inspections in connecticut ct: Sunburn - 07/16/11 01:20 AM

We learn as children the power of the sun to burn our skin. Early in the summer, skin pasty white from under the cover of winter clothes, we are ripe for broiling. Looking like little ghosts, we head out into the warm and inviting sunlight, barely covered or almost bare, merrily running around while the invisible rays slowly cook our unprotected skin.
The power of the sun also has an affect on our homes. Besides water, it is the other element that is detrimental not only to the exterior, but to the interior as well. Fabrics fade from extended exposure to … (28 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: A Peculiar Odor - 07/10/11 01:43 AM

One of the most common requests I get as a home inspector here in Connecticut has to do with trying to identify a strange odor in the home. This request is often made by a woman. This is probably because a woman's sense of smell is keener than a man's. This also probably explains why at least half the time I can't detect any "funny smell" in the house. That also applies at home too.
Most offensive or unwanted odors in home are going to generally emanate from one of two rooms, the kitchen or the bathroom. There may be exceptions, … (11 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Four Bedrooms, Two Baths and a Cup Holder - 07/07/11 12:18 AM

Coffee, Joe, Java, mud, what ever you like to call it, coffee is as necessary to life as air. Well, that may be a slight exaggeration...slight. We love our coffee so much, there are literally hundreds of varieties. People either buy their own and make it at home and or buy it from the local coffee shop. There are coffee shops every where you look. In my small town alone there are three Dunkin' Donuts. Three!
Coffee to go is probably what most Americans rely on each morning to get the boost they need to begin another day's work. You see … (13 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Crowding Control - 07/05/11 12:41 AM

One of the most unpleasant parts of attending a game, concert or other event, is getting into and especially out of the arena. Everyone is of course leaving all at the same time. You shuffle through the building, squished together like sardines in a can. Once you break free from the dense mass of humanity, you feel relieved and unfettered, the giddy high from the event returning.
Being crowded when working is just as unpleasant, actually even more so, than shuffling along with an event crowd. It can also be dangerous.
During a recent home inspection I opened the door to … (32 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: The Colors of Summer - 06/29/11 12:19 AM

The vibrant, diverse colors brought out by the rains of spring have blanketed the summer landscapes. Effervescent colors pop among the dominant waves of green. Cicadas sing their summer song and birds are flying about, busy gathering from the bounty that this spell has brought. All creatures knowing soon the soft, cool breath of autumn will wisp away the simplicity of this season.

James QuarelloConnecticut Home Inspector2010 - 2011 SNEC-ASHI PresidentNRSB #8SS0022JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services we offer in Connecticut click on the links below:
Serving the Connecticut … (18 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: On The Edge - 06/24/11 11:59 PM

Being "on the edge of disaster" or "on edge" conjures up visions of impending catastrophe or anxiety. Like in a movie car chase, when you are on the edge of your seat waiting for the car to go careening over the edge of the road. Or in a tense scene where the characters nerves are on the razors edge. Edgy comedians push the limits of social tolerance and good taste. In the world of home inspections an edge that is of interest is the edge of the roof.
The most important thing to me about the roof edge is to know … (20 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: The Gentleman's Club? - 06/20/11 01:46 AM

Finished basements are not all that unusual, the accoutrements however can at times be unique. Often times these spaces fall into disuse, especially as the owner's age. What was once the bee hive of the homes activity has become more or less a ghost town under the house. Very often there is a bar, the owners obviously into entertaining and making this a designated adult play room.
Any time there is imbibing, the inevitable call of nature is sure to follow. They say you do not buy beer or wine, but rent it. And so a quite often a bathroom is … (13 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Ironing - 06/17/11 01:46 AM

As anyone who has ever used an iron knows, if you leave the iron too long in one spot, your clothes will scorch. What that scorch mark tells us is that something happened that should not have occurred. We learn that when we see a scorch mark, we have done something wrong and need to correct our technique.
When doing home inspections in Connecticut, some thing I look for on heating equipment is scorch or soot marks. Seeing a scorch mark on a boiler or furnace usually means that something may be wrong with the equipment. It also means I must … (16 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Another Vent - 06/13/11 01:08 AM

If you opened this expecting someone to be spouting off about some knuckle headed client or a political rant, so sorry, that is not the subject matter of this post. The vent I am speaking of today is for heating systems. You see when ever you burn something, in this case oil or gas, you need air to make the reaction work efficiently. Its basic pyrotechnic science, fuel and air make a good flame.
The problem I run into as a home inspector is lack of an adequate air supply for the appliance. People often finish off the basement, enclosing that … (15 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: It's Saturday, Time for A Little Fun - 06/11/11 01:09 AM

Since it's Saturday morning, no one really wants to exert themselves too much right of the bat. At least physically anyway. I'm sure by now most of you have had your morning infusion of coffee or what ever gets your motor running and the fog from your mind has lifted.
Here's a little brain teaser, nothing too hard, but we'll see if you can spot the problem.
Take a look at this stairway. Yes it is somewhat lacking in TLC, but what is the major no, no that the builder of these stairs should have known was a problem.
Have a … (14 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Crystalline - 06/10/11 02:03 AM

In the course of performing my job as a Connecticut home inspector, I spend a lot of time in basements. You might call me a cellar dweller. Basements can run the gamut from beautiful finished spaces to dank, cob web draped, creepy spaces. One commonality to most of the unfinished spaces or at least when some of the walls and floor are visible is efflorescence.
From Wikipedia; In chemistry, efflorescence (which means "to flower out" in French) is the loss of water (or a solvent) of crystallization from a hydrated or solvated salt to the atmosphere on exposure to air.
Now … (13 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: The Feet Know What The Eyes Can't See - 06/07/11 01:54 AM

You're walking down the side walk along your street, gazing about, taking in the sights and boomp! You stumble. You look around to see what caused this interruption of stride. You see that your toe caught a rise in the walk that your eyes never saw. Your feet have detected what your eyes were unable to see.
Part of the reason for that is our stride is basically run on auto pilot. It is really quite even and consistent, so when an undetected variation in the terrain occurs, you stumble.
This science of the stride is the reason why stairs need … (42 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Different Roads - 06/07/11 01:15 AM

As I have gone through life, I have learned different ways to do a similar task. Each time I gain a bit of insight that gets used the next time round. Sometimes the new way works better, sometimes not.
The one thing that should never change is the end result. Like going to a friend's house, you can take many different roads, but you still end up in the same place.
When inspecting electric panels the end result should always be the same. If not there can be the potential for an injury.
In residential construction there are two basic types … (6 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Finding The Bridge - 06/01/11 01:44 AM

Walking along a mountain brook the way becomes more difficult to navigate. Fallen limbs dripping with moss and moist, blue green stones begin to make the path treacherous. On the other side of the water you can see the way is clearer, but the river is wide. You must find a way across or risk a fall. In the tree filtered light a bridge appears, bright in a gap through the canopy. You must focus on every step to reach the span, perceiving the path will be easier once you have crossed over.

James QuarelloConnecticut Home Inspector2010 … (9 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Sweat Is Free - 05/29/11 02:12 AM

In a recent post of mine, I discussed my classification of homeowner maintenance. One category is homeowner's who basically do almost nothing to maintain their homes. Some of the comments said that due to the economy people are unable to afford repairs. Now I totally agree with that sentiment to a point.
Does lack of money prevent someone from keeping the landscaping trimmed and in check? How about changing filters in their HVAC system?
I found these two A/C compressors during a recent home inspection. Now I understand lack of funds can put people into survival mode where they must choose … (11 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Occasionally - 05/28/11 02:18 AM

Seller's disclosures, we have them in Connecticut. As a home inspector I like to look at the disclosure before the inspection begins. I often find them entertaining works of fiction.
On a recent inspection I looked over the seller's disclosure. It basically said with regard to basement water seepage, the part that was legible, the access for addition experiences moisture occasionally (emphasis the homeowner) during heavy rain or snow.
The problem with language is much of it is subjective. As a home inspector I try to word my reports in such a way so the language can not be interpreted subjectively. … (18 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Clueless Or Ignored - 05/27/11 12:35 AM

My job as a home inspector is to poke, probe and prod into a house. In doing my job I get a good sense for the homeowner's character with regard to home maintenance. Some people are clearly very into their homes, keeping the house in immaculate condition. I do love this rare kind of homeowner, it is always a quick and easy inspection.
Next we have the regular Joe. Most everyone falls into this category, keeping up with most stuff, but there are some things to be done. Usually I will not find a major problem in the average Joes home, … (65 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Perception - 05/25/11 12:05 AM

Perception is our own reality. Our own interpretation of what we see, hear, feel, smell and touch. In nature altering perception is a means to survival. Camouflage helps to hide the hunted from the hunter. Or nature can make a plant look frosty on a warm spring morning for our simple pleasure.

James QuarelloConnecticut Home Inspector2010 - 2011 SNEC-ASHI PresidentNRSB #8SS0022JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services we offer in Connecticut click on the links below:
Serving the Connecticut Counties of Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, Southern Litchfield … (11 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: Sucking Air - 05/24/11 02:06 AM

Anyone who has every worn a respirator mask knows, as the filters clog with gunk, it becomes harder to draw a breath through the mask. To avoid passing out from lack of oxygen, one must change the filters in the mask as necessary.
Forced air heating and cooling systems also rely on filters. Just like the respirator the filter removes gunk from the return air before it enters the fan and is cycled back into the rooms. In spite of what the filter companies advertising may say, the purpose of the filter is not to clean the room air for the … (14 comments)

home inspections in connecticut ct: You Won't Win This Argument - 05/18/11 01:42 AM

What I see happen as a spectator to a home sale is debate over home inspection issues. I find the problems then the buyer's decide which of those problems are important enough to negotiate. My role in that process is may be some further advice to the buyer's and or their agent.
On the other side of the coin is of course the seller. There is an instance where I am contacted by a seller regarding a home inspection issue. This would be due to a radon test that has come in over the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L.
Usually … (16 comments)

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