charlotte home inspector: Tips To Get a Cleaner Home Inspection - 04/11/15 12:29 PM
Getting your home ready for the home inspection is much like getting your home ready for showing. You might want reconsider the velvet Elvis and “Dogs Playing Poker” painting.   Home Inspectors are a lot like potential buyers, they can tell within the first few minutes whether this is going to be a good inspection or not much like a buyer/realtor can tell within the first few minutes whether they are going to buy the house or not.  You want the buyer/real estate agent and home inspector to have positive impression of the house.  You don’t want the house to be dirty … (4 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Charlotte Home Inspector Give to Charity - 02/26/14 06:26 AM
 I saw an interview with Tom's Shoe's Blake Mycoskie about the purpose of his business.  Blake started Tom's shoes (which stands for Tomorrow's Shoes but it wouldn't fit on the shoe.) as vehicle to provide shoes for poor kids in 3rd world countries so they could go to school.  The interviewer asked Blake what he wanted his legacy to be.  He said that he hoped that "giving" or "helping" would become part of business and maybe a part of their marketing plan.  We can't depend on the government to solve our problems.  Entrepreneurs are problem solvers.  It struck a chord with me. … (0 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Tips to Save Energy This Winter - 09/18/13 12:33 PM
 Fall means colorful leaves, apple cider and cooler temperatures. It also means winter's on its way, so now is the time to winterize your home.
Improve your home's comfort and energy efficiency with a home energy audit. Making energy efficiency upgrades identified in a home energy audit can save 5 to 30 percent on your monthly energy bill, according to Energy.gov.
If you would rather perform your own walk-through, this checklist can help you prepare your home for colder weather:
Exterior home maintenance tips
* Clean those gutters. Remove leaves and debris, then flush your gutters with water. This will help … (3 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Why are Saltwater Pools So Popular - 08/07/13 07:36 AM
 Pools are great fun for kids and adults and when it is hot in the summer time or you're on vacation, there is no better way to cool off. Most pools do require a lot of work to keep clean however and there is always that chlorine smell and the burning sensation that affects the eyes and skin. For many people it is the memory of the chlorine that is inescapably associated with all pools.
But for kids today this memory is quickly becoming a non-event thanks to the increasing popularity of saltwater pools.
Saltwater pools work by converting salt to … (4 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Charlotte Home Inspector Finds Causes of Erosion - 03/08/13 11:17 PM
Home Inspection Carolina inspector Chip Sprague was recently inspecting a home in Charlotte NC when he noticed quite a bit of erosion back by the back patio. Even though there was a downspout extension on the downspout now there obviously wasn't one there for years and years as you can see by the picture. Without that extension it erodes the soil underneath the patio making it a collapse and cracking hazard. Make sure you keep the water piped away from your house.
Preston Sandlin of Home Inspection Carolina in Charlotte NC has been on HGTV My First Sale.He has also been … (1 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Cause of Energy Loss Found by Charlotte Home Inspector - 02/11/13 10:09 PM

Home Inspection Carolina inspector Chip Sprague of Charlotte NC was inspecting a home in the Dilworth section of Charlotte when he found a duct that was pieced together with garbage bags, tape, paper clips and staples. This duct was losing air all over the crawl space and causing the owner unecessarry power bills. The sad part is that this had been going on for years. This needs to be fixed.
 
Preston Sandlin of Home Inspection Carolina in Charlotte NC has been on HGTV My First Sale.He has also been interviewed by Fox News and is a regular on “Your … (1 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Top Ten Ways to get a Cleaner Home Inspection Report - 11/22/12 02:01 AM
1.Confirm gas, water and electricity are turned on and gas pilot lights are burning.
2.Ensure pets won't hinder inspection. Tell Realtor about cats or other animals to be kept inside.
NOTE: Kenneling or taking the pets to the spa for the day is recommended.
3.Replace any burned out light bulbs.
4.Test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries if needed.
5.Clean or replace dirty HVAC Air Filters. Verify filters fit and are properly secured.
6.Move wood, stored items, high soil lines or debris away from foundations perimeter walls.
7.Unlock or remove locks from any items the inspectors must access:
·Gates … (21 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Charlotte Home Inspectors Make Funny Video - 10/03/12 12:34 AM
Charlotte Home Inspection Company Home Inspection Carolina got together and decided to make a funny video from Carly Rae Jespen’s song “Call Me Maybe” in an effort to convince you that they are the best Charlotte Home inspection Company that you can call to get thorough home inspection. Watch this video and you might just get a laugh but they are a pretty good home inspection company … (0 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Cool Door Found on Charlotte Home Inspection - 09/06/12 08:01 AM

Patrick Waddell of Home Inspection Carolina out of Charlotte NC was inspecting a foreclosure today that had a garage that had been converted to a master bedroom. Since there wasn't heat or air in the converted room the owner added a hotel type window unit. So what's the problem. The problem is that they cut a hole in the French Door and window and mounted the unit right there. The amazing thing is that somehow they cut the glass without cracking it. Yhis is not proper support nor is it proper insulation. This along with many other things about this … (3 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Charlotte Home Inspector Explains Hail Damage - 08/28/12 01:47 AM
Home Inspection Carolina inspector Preston Sandlin recently inspected a South Charlotte home and he found hail damage to the roof. The question home inspector's always get is how can I tell if I have hail damage? There are a couple of different things to look for. The first and foremost is the pitting of the composition shingles. There are other signs such as dented gutters, vent, and flue pipes. Another thing to look for is granules in the gutters. If you are buying a home or you own a home in the Charlotte NC area and would like to know if … (1 comments)

charlotte home inspector: What is a Power Ventilator and How Does it Help Your House - 08/08/12 12:39 AM

Charlotte home inspector Preston Sandlin sees power ventilators all the time in attics while he is inspecting homes in around the Charlotte NC area. These fans have a thermostat on them and you can set the thermostat from 90 to a 150 degress. When the temperature hits that the fan kicks on to take the temperature down in the attic. If the temperature is taken down a couple of degrees you can make your roof last longer and lower you cooling costs inside your house. Power ventilators are especially handy on attics with hip roofs because they don't have dormer … (0 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Charlotte Home Inspector Uses Infrared to Find Hidden Leak - 07/12/12 01:20 AM

Charlotte home inspector Preston Sandlin has something like xray vision in the form of a an infrared camera. The infrared camera scans the surface temperature of everything and he can tell if there is an anomally. If there is an anomally there might be a moisture leak or missing insulation. In this picture there was a leak in the drain pipe coming from upstairs and it was leaking into the wall. It was leaking into the wall from where the microwave was installed . When they installed the microwave a screw was put in through the pipe. Without the infrared … (2 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Charlotte Home Inspector Finds Bad Bearing Girder - 06/01/12 06:49 AM

Charlotte Home Inspector Preston Sandlin recently inspected a home in Waxhaw NC when he noticed some uneven floors and cracking throughout the house. When we crawled under the house we discovered that the main girder in the house had a very poor bearing on the middle row of piers and this was causing excess weight on other parts of the house.
There are many home inspection companies you can choose from when you need a home inspector in Charlotte NC. Let me tell you why Home Inspection Carolina is your best choice. These guys have over 100 years of combined … (0 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Charlotte Home Inpector Finds Clogged Conensation Line - 06/01/12 06:18 AM

Home Inspection Carolina inspector Preston Sandlin recently inspected a home in Weddington and found that the primary condensation line was clogged. How did he know this? He knew this because the catch pan was full of water. The primary line clogged and the overflow went into the catch pan. The catch pan has a drain that goes out to the eave of the house. The primary line needs to be cleaned out.
There are many home inspection companies you can choose from when you need a home inspector in Charlotte NC. Let me tell you why Home Inspection Carolina is … (0 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Reason for Ceiling Stain Revealed on Charlotte Home Inspection - 04/22/12 10:59 PM

 
Charlotte Home Inspector Preston Sandlin was called in to look at a house in South Charlotte that was experiencing waterstains on the ceiling.  The owners thought that there might be some sort of a leak.  Actually the home inspector figured out it was actually coming from condensation building up on the Freon line in the attic.  There was missing insulation on a section of the Freon line.  This Freon line is very cold and it sweats.  This sweat drips down and causes leak stains in the ceiling.  The insulation needs to be replaced on the Freon line.
There are … (1 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Charlotte Home Inspector Reveals Bats In Attic - 03/21/12 09:29 AM
While at a Mooresville inspection Patrick Waddell finds dozens of bats in the attic. Needless to say the scuttle hole door was as far in as I went. Once they are removed I will come back to finish this inspection! LOL. If you own a home with galbe vents it is highly recommended that you screen not only the interior of the vents, but also the exterior. A heavier gage chicken wire is better than simple screening also becuase as you can see the simply screening tears easily and makes easy access for pest to get into the home. If you … (3 comments)

charlotte home inspector: What's Wrong with Aluminum Wiring - 01/05/12 11:20 AM

Aluminum wiring is more prone to start a fire than copper wire due to some inherent properties in the metal.  In this discussion it is important to realize that we are talking about single strand aluminum wire used for 110/120 circuits as opposed to the multi-strand 220/240 aluminum wire.   The single strand wire was used from 1965 to 1974. 
 
One of the problems with the aluminum wire is that it has a higher resistance to electricity than copper does. This higher resistence cause heat to build up with obviously is a problem.  This problem is compounded by the … (3 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Charlotte Home Inspector Explains GFCI Outlets - 01/01/12 07:09 AM
A GFCI outlet may be wired in a branch circuit, which means other
outlets and electrical devices may share the same circuit and breaker
(or fuse). When a properly wired GFCI trips, the other devices down
the line from it will also lose power. Note that devices on the circuit
that come before the GFCI are not protected and are not affected
when the GFCI is tripped. If the GFCI outlet is improperly wired, none
the other loads, upstream nor downstream are be protected.
 
If you have an outlet that doesn't work, and the breaker is not tripped,
look for … (1 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Charlotte Home Inspector Reveals Bad AC Unit - 12/16/11 02:53 AM

Charlotte home inspector Preston Sandlin was inspecting a home on Vintage Ln when he noticed rust coming down the right side of the house.  He knew right away what the problem was.  The primary condensation line was clogged causing the condensation to fill the catch pan filled with water and drained down the right side of the house.  After awhile the pan began to rust and then the water coming out being rusty stained the side of the house. 
This will have to be repaired soon as the pan will eventually rust through and then the condensation water will … (0 comments)

charlotte home inspector: Charlotte Home Inspector on HGTV My First Sale - 12/15/11 10:36 AM
Charlotte home inspector Preston Sandlin was recently on HGTV's My First Sale. The Cornelius sellers were selling their home to move up and take their kids out of daycare. They had an offer but there was siding issue that the Charlotte home inspector found and there was an issue with the dog next store that kept barking and was a little on the mean side. The first buyers decided not to move forward. I didn't kill the deal Preston said, It was the dog. Fortunately another buyer came along and bought the house and they weren't even concerned with the siding … (0 comments)