home inspection: 10 Things You Can Live With About Your Home That Buyers Can't and Won't!
- 07/08/10 07:16 AM
I was at my parents' house this past weekend with my daughter enjoying a Fourth of July picnic, when nature called. Hey, these things do happen. So there I was in my childhood bathroom with the toilet handle in my hand. I pressed halfway down...ONE-MISSISSIPPI, then all the way down...TWO-MISSISSIPPI...and then quickly let go! It wooshed and the handle jingle-jangled a few times until it settled back into place. I did this, just as I have done every time I have flushed that toilet--for as long as I can remember. And with that, I had a thought. How, funny it … (6 comments)
home inspection: Inside the Client Brain: 5 Tips for a Better Home Inspection Experience
- 07/07/10 04:08 AM
For those of you who ever took Psych 101 and thought you'd never use it...this is the time it finally comes in handy! Because as we all know, we buy homes emotionally--we can see ourselves having coffee in the sun-lit kitchen, or our children playing in the huge yard--no one will ever ask you to write a contract because they love the way the main sewer line leaves the house. It's for this reason that the home inspection is a point during every transaction when there is many times a shift in how the client views the home. But don't be … (10 comments)
Check out these pictures from U.S. Inspect Virginia Inspector, Doug Horton taken on an actual inspection. As inspectors we certainly have to report findings according to professional standards ... but we had to admit that this was certainly ingenuity at work! A wall was added to a room, but that made the light switch too far away. Rather than moving the outlet, this elaborate pully system was designed. A hole drilled in the switch, two eyelet screws, a string, and voila! Posted By: Chrissy Doremus, U.S. Inspect … (13 comments)
home inspection: Wordless Wednesday: An inspection defect that speaks for itself, literally!
- 06/30/10 03:52 AM
This is an inspection defect that speaks for itself, literally! The sign reads: "DANGER. Do not pull cord. Doing so could cause fire." It certainly is not common for defects to be labeled for us like this on site! So when it happens, it does cause a little chuckle. Sorry, I guess that's a bit of inspection humor. Many thanks this morning to southern Virginia U.S. Inspect Inspector, Henry Blau for sharing this snapshot. Posted By: Chrissy Doremus, U.S. Inspect Blog … (9 comments)
We have definitely seen some great examples of homeowner ingenuity over the years, but this one was pretty spectacular so we are adding it to our scrapbook. The homeowner was an engineer (which explains his ability to pull all this off). This is a sprinkler head installed in the middle of a wood deck. The owner stated that his wife wanted a wood deck in the back of the house to read in the evening, but he didn't know how to eliminate the sprinkler head in the area where he placed the wood deck. So this is what he … (7 comments)
home inspection: Top 12 Defects Found in Foreclosure and Short Sale Homes
- 06/28/10 03:49 AM
Many people are buying foreclosure or short sale properties these days. These homes can be a great investment for many, but they can also be more challenging to buy--the process can take a bit longer, as you know, but there are also some unique things to consider about the property as it may have been sitting without regular maintenance for quite some time.
Foreclosures are mostly sold "as-is" but it is important that buyers know the extent of defects and repair costs. A thorough inspection of the property will not only identify material defects but will also educate the buyer … (0 comments)
ANSWER: Downspout draining directly into attic vent. Unfortunately, vents work both ways. This is picture of a downspout draining directly into an attic vent taken by U.S. Inspect Michigan inspector, Gordon Glidden. First the outside shot, then we have a picture of the inside damage.Yikes! In this situation, a couple things can be done to fix the problem. The easiest repair would be to extend the downspout past the roof vent, but that may not look very good. Other repair methods may be: 1) relocate the downspout to a different location; or 2) relocate the roof vent to a … (2 comments)
home inspection: How to Prepare Your Home for a Hurricane
- 08/20/09 06:03 PM
As Hurricane Bill stands (or rather rotates) poised to rain the east coast out this week, I'm reminded that once again hurricane season is upon us. June 1 through November 30 is the official Atlantic Hurricane Season (with its peak from Aug-Oct), so this is a great time to make sure we are all prepared for anything mother nature may throw at us over the next few months. Here are some Hurricane Home Preparation Tips for you and your family. Remember that safety comes first and to always heed all warnings issued in your area, following proper evacuation procedures as necessary. … (0 comments)
home inspection: This Home Inspectors Take on Haunted Houses
- 08/10/09 11:03 AM
As a home inspector I have been a nosey guest in thousands of houses. Most have been in New England where for some years I supervised up to six home inspector colleagues. Even though some of those houses were specifically disclosed by the seller to be haunted, in only one house (yes, it was a gothic old house) did I personally experience what might have been a paranormal event. You will have to read this to the end to get to that if that’s what you are really interested in. For me, it was just an odd anomaly compared to what … (0 comments)
home inspection: A Home Care Checklist for the Summer Months
- 07/16/09 09:58 AM
Summertime is in full swing and chores are probably the farthest thing from your mind—however, planning a maintenance schedule for the year is a great way to take care of your house now, while helping to reduce the need for major repairs down the road. There's no need to tackle it all at once, though. So, below are some great maintenance tasks for the summer months. Doing your home maintenance bit by bit is a great way to accomplish it all, but over time so that there's plenty of room for BBQs, pool parties and relaxing too. A Home Care Checklist … (1 comments)
home inspection: Top 10 Defects Found During a Home Inspection
- 02/09/09 07:18 AM
Knowing what some of the usual situations our consultants discover during an inspection allows you to be a well-informed buyer. Over the years, and borrowing on over a half million inspections, here’s what we’ve discovered as the top 10 defects in most homes. Repair and replacement costs for such items could cost you thousands of dollars! * Roof leaks due to poor flashing and / or roof material failure due to poor installation * Water penetration in the basement or crawlspace due to poor surface water control * Electrical safety issues due to age of home or homeowner alterations * Deterioration … (2 comments)
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