Does Your Roof Leak? Re-visited

During a routine Jacksonville Home Inspection I found that water was entering the home where the roof and wall intersected due to an improperly installed flashing.

Well as part of our Premium and Deluxe Home Inspections we offer a FREE re-inspection of repairs. Good thing I did the re-inspection. What I found was that instead of properly repairing this issue, the person that made the repairs nailed a new piece of OSB over the damaged area from inside the attic.

They had done nothing to stop the source of the problem, which was a poorly installed flashing. This is just one instance that illustrates the importance of having the repairs re-inspected. If they hadn’t had the re-inspection this issue would have gotten much worse!

If you or someone you know is need of a professional home inspector that is looking out for your best interest, make sure that you are making an Informed Decision every time you by a home by calling your Jacksonville Home Inspector at 904-891-6309 right now, and when having your repairs done make sure that you have them re-inspected by us!   

Check out what some of our  Florida home inspection customers have to say at Jacksonville Florida Home Inspection Reviews.  Want to see what goes on during a home inspection in Jacksonville FL watch my Jacksonville Home Inspection Videos.

Home Wiring DIY Bad Advice!

As a home inspector in Jacksonville, FL I like being able to share different things with the consumers in Jacksonville Florida. 

This Guy Wrote The Book On Electrical Wiring

The Consumer Product Safety Commission just released a list of books with bad wiring instructions “Posing an electrical shock or fire hazard to consumers”. I can’t tell you how many homes I have inspected and seen these types of books and thought to myself “AHHHH that explains EVERYTHING!”

I am a firm believer that if you don’t know what you are doing it’s best to hire a professional. Doing things yourself or hiring someone who is cheap will cost you more in the long run than if you were to hire a professional. A professional may charge a little more, but it is worth it. If you hire someone that charges less, or you do it yourself and then have to hire a professional later, you actually spent more money. Do yourself a favor and hire a professional and make sure it is done right the first time!

Here is a list of the books and the link to CPSC recall for these items.

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10104.html

Title	ISBN	Publication Date
AmeriSpec Home Repair Handbook	978-0-376-00180-1	January 2006
Lowe’s Complete Home Improvement and Repair	978-0-376-00922-7 978-0-376-01098-8	September 2005 December 1999
Lowe’s Complete Home Wiring	978-0-376-00928-9	May 2008
Sunset Basic Home Repairs	978-0-376-01581-5 978-0-376-01025-4	February 1995 January 1975
Sunset Complete Home Wiring	978-0-376-01594-5	December 1999
Sunset Complete Patio Book	978-0-376-01411-5 978-0-376-01397-2 978-0-376-01399-6	January 2006 January 1998 April 1990
Sunset Home Repair Handbook	978-0-376-01258-6 978-0-376-01256-2	October 1998 February 1985
Sunset Water Gardens	978-0-376-03849-4	January 2004
Sunset You Can Build – Wiring	978-0-376-01596-9	January 2009

If you or someone you know needs a professional Jacksonville home inspector to inspect the home right the first time, give us a CALL 904-891-6309. or schedule online here.

Home Inspection Jacksonville

Home Inspector Jacksonville

Is Your Home Inspector Working For You? – Home Inspection Jacksonville FL

Make Sure Your Jacksonville Home Inspector Is Working For You?

When hiring a home inspector in Jacksonville FL it is very important that you make sure your home inspector has your best interest in mind. There are plenty of good inspectors in Jacksonville, however there are some that are only looking out for their best interest. How so?

Well some home inspectors are more worried about getting more business from the real estate agent that you are working with. They see the real estate agent as the person that controls how much business they get. So the inspector will try not to ruffle any feathers with the real estate agent. If they do, they may never get business from that agent again. The more that happens the more their business will suffer.

As a professional home inspector in Jacksonville FL, I know that my job is to do a thorough inspection and write a detailed report that will help you make an Informed Decision based on the actual condition of the home. Many agents want you to have this information as well. Professional real estate agents and home inspectors don’t want you to buy a home that you will not be happy with or that will end up costing you more in repairs than you are willing or able to afford.

So make sure that you are working with professionals that have your best interest in mind.

If you or someone you know is need of a professional home inspector that is looking out for your best interest, make sure that you are making an Informed Decision every time you by a home by calling your Jacksonville Home Inspector at 904-891-6309 right now, which will allow you to get the best property inspection possible.

Check out what some of our  Florida home inspection customers have to say at Jacksonville Florida Home Inspection Reviews.  Want to see what goes on during a home inspection in Jacksonville FL watch my Jacksonville Home Inspection Videos.

Don’t Get Screwed When Buying A Home – Home Inspection Jacksonville FL

Yesterday I did an inspection on a home, in Jacksonville, that was built in the 40’s. It was purchased without a home inspection. WHY? Because this is what the listing said.

The Person Who Bought This Home Got Screwed!

Find Out Why

INVESTOR SPECIAL! For someone wanting to rehab a home with great potential. Being sold ‘as-is’, NO repairs to include no WDO repairs. HOME WAS PURCHASED AS FORECLOSURE. SELLER HAS NEVER LIVED IN PROPERTY. SELLER & AGENT MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES.

The sellers agent told them there was no point in getting a home inspection because no repairs would be made. Had my client had the house inspection BEFORE purchasing the home they could have walked away or negotiated the price by a significant amount.

Whether the home is a resale or a foreclosure having a home inspection report is YOUR negotiation tool. In this case my client could have negotiated the major repairs that were required:

• New plumbing throughout the home.
• Replacing all damaged and improperly installed exterior wall sheathing.
• Replacement of the heating and air conditioning units…

If you or someone you know is buying an “Investor Special”, “Foreclosed Home (REO)” or any other home in the Jacksonville FL area, make sure to get a home inspection from a qualified, experienced, full time home inspector. If you don’t you could get screwed!

CALL 904-891-6309 and SCHEDULE your Jacksonville home inspection today.

Check out what some of our  Florida home inspection customers have to say at Jacksonville Florida Home Inspection Reviews. Want to see what goes on during a home inspection in Jacksonville FL watch my Jacksonville Home Inspection Videos.

Home Inspection Jacksonville FL

How Can You Tell Which Inspectors Are Better Than Others? – Home Inspector Jacksonville FL

Finding A Great Home Inspector In Jacksonville Can Be Difficult!

As a Jacksonville home inspector, I have performed home inspections for local sports figures and even inspected homes used in movies (“Lonely Hearts” featuring James Gandolfini & John Travolta). So what?

I only do my home inspection job one way, the right way. That means I inspect everything and write a detailed home inspection report so the buyer fully understands the true condition of the home!  When I finish my home inspection report you will be able to make an Informed Decision about the house that you are looking at, there will be no second guessing it.

So why not use the Jacksonville home inspector that agents use to inspect the homes they buy?

If you or someone you know is need of a professional home inspector that is looking out for your best interest, make sure that you are making an Informed Decision every time you by a home by calling your Jacksonville Home Inspector at 904-891-6309 right now, which will allow you to get the best property inspection possible. 

Check out what some of our  Florida home inspection customers have to say at Jacksonville Florida Home Inspection Reviews.  Want to see what goes on during a home inspection in Jacksonville FL watch my Jacksonville Home Inspection Videos.

Why New Homes Need Inspected Too – Home Inspection Jacksonville FL

Getting A Home Inspection On A New Home Is Just As Important As Getting A Home Inspection On An Existing Home!

I know a lot of people buy a new home and don’t get an inspection. Here are just a few of the common reasons why:

1. The home is brand new, what could be wrong?
2. The home has a 1 year warranty so I can wait.
3. The builder told me I don’t really need it.
4. If anything goes wrong the builder will come out and fix it.
5. It’s a waste of money!

Well watching the video above shows you just one of the things that could be wrong with your new home. In this case the home owner was wasting a ton of money on their electric bill because that one, LARGE, room was not being heated and cooled properly. The HVAC system was working more than it needed to because the temperature in that room was not being properly maintained. Because this system was working more than it needed to the electric bills were higher than their neighbors and the units will need replaced sooner than normal.

Doing the infrared, thermal imaging home inspection, I was able to show the buyer the problem. Before I even did the infrared scan I knew that problem existed.

I don’t know if the previous owner had an inspection previously or not, but if they did their inspector should have caught that issue! As a matter of the fact the code enforcement inspector should have caught that! OOPS!

In this house if they had waited until the 1 year home warranty they would have still wasted a ton of money on their electric bill. Another problem with waiting, is that after you have already moved in, you move to the bottom of the builders list of concerns. They are more concerned about taking care of issues in the homes that have not been completed. Not to mention the fact that you will probably need to take time off of work to be home for the builder to make any repairs.

Getting the inspection done before you close on the home will ensure that the builder will take care of those issues before you move in.

If you have already moved in, you should get your home inspected as soon as possible before your warranty expires. This could save you more money than if you wait until the last minute.

When looking for a home inspector don’t use an inspector recommended by the builder. You want someone who is looking out for your best interest not the builders. Another common misconception is picking a home inspector that is cheap. You want an inspector that is going to be thorough and detail all of the issues that the builder needs to correct. You are paying for knowledge, experience and attention to detail of that inspector. Make sure and choose wisely.

If you or someone you know is buying a new home or has purchased a new home within the last year CALL (904) 891-6309.

Home Inspection Jacksonville FL

Home Inspector Jacksonville FL

Foreclosed Homes Jacksonville – Client Review

Buying a foreclosed home in the Jacksonville, FL area is a great way to save money if you are buying a home. I specialize in performing foreclosure home inspections and nearly 1/2 of my business comes from foreclosed homes. When the bank sells a foreclosed home there is a clause in the contract that states the home will be sold “AS IS”, meaning no repairs will be done. Many buyers think “Well I’m buying the home as is, I guess a home inspection isn’t really necessary.” Many other people think “Since I’m buying this home AS IS, I better know what I’m getting myself into and get a home inspection.”

Here is what most people DON’T know. When the banks foreclose on a home, they know nothing of physical condition of the home. Therefore they don’t need to disclose anything about the home. If a buyer comes along and has a home inspection and that person sends a copy to the bank, the bank then has knowledge of the actual condition of home. Once they have this knowledge they are required BY LAW to disclose these conditions to future buyers.

What this means to you, is that a thorough and detailed home inspection report containing pictures of the defects is a the most valuable tool you can have when buying a foreclosed home. Why? Because if the bank refuses to make repairs and you walk away from the deal, the bank will have to disclose what they know about the home to any new potential buyers. These buyers will most likely make a lower priced offer based on the condition of the home. The bank already has you under contract and doesn’t want to let the deal fall through. In my experience most banks will make major repairs or re-negotiate the price of the home. If they don’t, you can walk away from that property and get your deposit back.

Whether your buying the home to live in or your an investor, a thorough detailed home inspection performed by a full time, qualified  home inspector experienced in foreclosures is your secret weapon when purchasing a foreclosed home.

If you are buying a foreclosure or a regular resale give me a CALL 904-891-6309.

Home Inspection Jacksonville FL

Home Inspector Jacksonville FL

Photo by respres

What Do The Myth Busters Know About Home Inspections?

Every home I have inspected has had a water heater. Most people don’t know that your water heater can actually be very dangerous. One of the items checked during the home inspections is the Temperature Pressure Relief (TPR) Valve. It is usually located on the top or the side of the water heater, and has a little tag on it.  There are 2 common defects I usually find with the TPR valve. The first is there is no discharge pipe (see picture on right)  to prevent someone from being burnt in the event of an overtemp or over pressurized tank. The second is an obstruction of the TPR valve which could lead to an explosion like in this video from the “Myth Busters”. I have always wondered what it would look like if a water heater were to explode. Pretty scarry! Go check your water heater now. If you have any questions go ahead and give us a call. 904-891-6309.

 Photo by Goddard Video and Multimedia

Urban Myth Of The Neighbors Bad Kid

 
Every time I see this and the owner of  the home is present, I ask them why they put a lock on the main breaker box. I bet you can guess the answer. “Well somebody told me the kids in the neighborhood will shut off the main breaker.” And can you guess how many people I have asked ever had this happen to them? It’s a big fat ZERO. Someone just told them that this could happen. At todays home inspection the seller gave me a perfect example of why you should NEVER, EVER lock your main breaker panel.

Here’s what happened. I asked the seller where the keys were. She told “I knew some day someone would ask me that question. I think they are in here somewhere.” After a minute or so she found the keys. When I went to unlock the lock it was rusted shut. Now the problem is, what if the home is on fire and you need to find the keys, get out of the home and shut off  power to the home?

If you have your main breaker locked because of the urban myth of the neighbors bad kid, make a decision on which is more important to you, the bad kid that may never mess with your breaker or your families safety.

photo by Diego Cupolo

New Home Inspection Jacksonville Reveals Even Small Builders Oversites

Today I was inspecting a brand new home in Jacksonville and when I tried to turn on the dishwasher I discovered there was no power to it. I went to the garage and checked the circuit breaker, yep it was on.

After a little while an electrician showed up to replace a light bulb. I told him the dishwasher didn’t work. When he pulled it out he said “Whoever did this was an idiot and it wasn’t me!” What happened was whoever did the install hooked up a short power cable that wouldn’t reach the outlet unless the washing machine was pushed in all the way. The electrician then installed a new power cable. When he plugged it in and touched the unit he pulled his hand back really quick. If he had hair he would have looked like Don King, he got shocked.

After finishing the inspection the site supervisor came out, and I went over my findings with him. He said there wasn’t a problem with dishwasher before. He told me that it had been ran twice, once by him. The home buyer then asked “How could you run it if it was never plugged in?” The supe then responded “Well, maybe I missed that one.”

We are all human, and humans make mistakes. If something that easy to find was missed by the builder, what about the other not so easy to find items. That is why it is important to get a home inspection even on a new home in Jacksonville before closing.

If you or someone you know is need of a professional home inspector that is looking out for your best interest, make sure that you are making an Informed Decision every time you by a home by calling your Jacksonville Home Inspector at 904-891-6309 right now, which will allow you to get the best property inspection possible. 

Check out what some of our  Florida home inspection customers have to say at Jacksonville Florida Home Inspection Reviews.  Want to see what goes on during a home inspection in Jacksonville FL watch my Jacksonville Home Inspection Videos.

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