barrie home inspection: Breakers or Fuses? - 01/23/17 05:31 AM
When you selling or buying a home does the fact the home contains a circuit breaker or fuse panel ever come up, do you think about it, and should you?
When in a home with a fuse panel, often times it may be stated that it will need to be replaced.  Is that an accurate statement?
Well, the insurance company may think so, but is that correct or are they overreacting?
 
 
 
Well let's begin with a few important facts about fuses:
a fuse will react more quickly than any breaker - hence fuses are still used today in all sensitive electronic circuit protection. a … (17 comments)

barrie home inspection: Is Home Inspector Licensing A Good Thing? - 01/22/17 04:27 PM
Not all American states or Canadian provincdes require that Home Inspectors hold a license.
However, some do and the number is growing all the time.
But is licensing a good thing?  Does it help the homeowner to find a good Home Inspector?
Well, we all know that no licensing leaves the home owner in a precarious position, potentially hiring a Home Inspector who may give you a great inspection or simply gloss over the problems.
How do you know who are the good and the bad?  Will licensing help?
Well, the short answer is YES, NO.. MAYBE SO.
Fact is with the areas where licensing has been implemented, there … (6 comments)

barrie home inspection: Are Infrared Cameras A Marketing Scam? - 01/22/17 06:41 AM
Many Home Inspectors are offering their ‘complete IR services with their Home Inspections. 
Let's look a bit at what an infrared camera is, what it can do, some limitations and what is required to actually perform a proper inspection of any value.
 
 
 
What is an infrared camera?
 
The media, partially through reality television, has promoted the use of infrared cameras in home inspections and their benefits.  While some of this is accurate, keep in mind that television programs  focus on entertainment and not fact, because of this there are some misconceptions many have gained by all the hype.
You may have heard that Infrared cameras can see through walls, see … (6 comments)

barrie home inspection: Is There A Perfect Home - Part 2 - 01/17/17 03:29 AM
We left off talking about vermiculite in Part 1 (click here), so I guess it makes sense to next go to asbestos, as we have already begun talking about it in the previous item. 
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance.
Asbestos may be present in various items throughout older homes.  These can range from floor tile, ceiling tile, drywall joint compound, pipe insulation, stove and … (1 comments)

barrie home inspection: Is There A Perfect House - Part 1 - 01/16/17 06:02 PM
Really there is no such thing as the perfect home, period.  Although I must admit that after seeing the Home Inspector report on the home we sold this past summer, there were zero issues or items shown. 
Now, I have a bit of an unfair advantage on that one but think I could have found one or two items.  There is no such thing as a perfect home, it is not possible to have something built by humans be perfect, especially if it is 20 or so years old.
Having said that, nobody wants an alarmist, the important things are what really matter.  I … (0 comments)

barrie home inspection: Is It Important To You If Home Inspector Answers Phone? - 01/16/17 06:08 AM
Here is a tough one, and gets a bit of conversation back and forth between Home Inspectors.
 
Should a Home Inspector always answer the phone, should they interupt the Home Inspection they are on to answer the phone and get another job?  I have had some respond, they already have the Inspection they are on, it is the one ringing on the phone now they need to get.
Frankly, I personally feel that is greedy, inconsiderate and selfish.  I hate when somebody interputs me to talk on the phone, unless it is an emergency it is rude.  Period.
 
However, some say the potential customer … (7 comments)

barrie home inspection: How Is Your Smoke Detector Today - 01/15/17 07:47 AM
Of the nine homes I inspected lsat week, two had brand new smoke detectors.  Three had new carbon monoxide detectors, but two had no carbon monoxide detectors at all.  Of the smoke detectors that were present, but older older, three were outdated and one had no batteries in it.
All homes in Ontario require working smoke detectors by law, and most require working carbon monoxide detectors as well.
Although I did not find any this past week, some homes do not have either smoke or carbon monoxide detectors installed.
Remember that a smoke detector is are required on each story of the home, and the 2012 Ontario … (0 comments)

barrie home inspection: It Is Time To Raise The Bar On Home Inspections - 01/15/17 05:25 AM
Who is checking the Home Inspector?  Unfortunately, in some locations nobody is. 
Ontario is one of those locations, although we are currently working through the process of licensing our Home Inspectors with the provincial government.
I am currently sitting on the Licensing Committee with OAHI (Ontario Association of Home Inspectors) the Ontario Chapter of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors).
The problem is there are simply too many Home Inspectors who lack education, knowledge and professionalism working in the industry.  The consumer is not protected and at risk, as well as the realtor if they provide references.
I am sure many realtors can echo … (6 comments)

barrie home inspection: Calling The Home Inspector Is Not All You Need To Do - 01/12/17 04:23 PM
So you found your dream home, it is not yet the end of the journey.
However, you CAN be confident your dream home is also a good house, even if you are not an electrician, plumber or roofer!?  How? By calling a Home Inspector, and this is for any home regardless of the age. 
But don't make mistakes in the process.  You may actually have some referrals already, and these are an excellent place to begin.
However, it is always best to screen any referrals and the best place to begin is looking at the Professional Association websites. 
Historically, some of the best Home Inspectors are … (2 comments)

barrie home inspection: The Renovation Journey Begins - 01/10/17 04:46 PM
My wife and I purchased a home last fall, a home that is around 120 years old.  It was in good shape, but still needed some work.  One of the high priority items on my list was the roof replacement, which I had done within the first week of moving.
Due to the various roof types on the house, there are many valleys and it was a somewhat difficult roof for the size to complete.  None the less it is now done.
I had fibreglass shingless installed, the architectural style which are stated to have a lifetime warranty.  Realistically they may last 20 … (4 comments)