Atlanta Home Inspection Blog

May 13, 2008

Infrared Inspections in Atlanta

Infrared imaging is an older technology, but has a new application that works wonders - In your home!

It's been around for ages and used in applications ranging from transportation, industrial, manufacturing, animal health care, military and building sciences. But now it's used to find defects that are not visible to the naked eye. Does that mean I see through walls? No, not even close. The short and dirty explanation of infrared is that it detects slight temperature differences in materials and gives the user a visual (photo) of the area focused on. Lets use ceiling insulation in your home as an example, specifically in your ceiling. In the summer months your attic is "steaming" with heat. Now from the inside of your home looking at the ceiling, you wouldn't even notice an issue. Using an infrared camera we would be able to see a temperature difference due to the heat of the attic, and the coolness of the indoor air. Below is a great example.

In this picture you can see the missing insulation in the alcove. This would be a direct relation to heat loss in the winter, and poor cooling in the summer.

Infrared inspections will detect other defects as well. It will locate active moisture, defective electrical systems, plugged plumbing lines and even active pests in your home or business. We'll also be able to detect energy loss through windows/doors and poor weatherstripping installations. To wrap it up in a nutshell, infrared inspections are a non-invasive method of inspection. Our infrared services are also applied in commercial applications and manufacturing as well.

For your next inspection, get a certified Infrared inspector to investigate your home or business - it could save you thousands.

Brian Doles

April 26, 2008

What is in an Association for "you" ?

Below are the most recognized Home Inspector associations in no particular order: 

• INACHI – International Association of Certified Home Inspectors
• ASHI- American Society of Home Inspectors
• NAHI – National Association of Home Inspectors
• HIF – Housing Inspection Foundation

 
There are many inspectors that belong to one or multiple associations. Is one association better than the other? The short answer is yes and no. It’s not about membership numbers, or who had the best media exposure, it’s about what it provides to the members. Not in just benefits, but most importantly education and member support.

As an inspector it’s extremely important to continually educate ourselves on new, existing and updated building practices. Building standards are different across the country and change all the time. Many associations have member message boards where inspectors can communicate with inspectors from across the country, some associations are around the world. An inspector in California may have a question about an unusual defect that he/she came across and would like other members input or comments. A simple post of the defect along with a picture will have a “reply” back within literally minutes. Now that is member support.

Many agents and brokers recommend one particular association over another. Not because they are better than others, but mainly because that’s the only one they know of. Do some quick research and you’ll find which one excels, which one supports its members with many educational benefits.

What does my membership mean to me?

It’s all about education. The more I have, the better inspection I can perform for my clients. INACHI for example has many online courses and even 1-2 day courses throughout the nation. If members don’t take advantage of the education that is put in front of them, being a member is really a waste of time and money. With all the technology available to inspectors, they need to be trained properly. Handing an inexperienced inspector an expensive meter or camera could be costly to the client and yes, the inspector.

Member support is also a key factor in finding the right association. Nobody wants to belong to an association that makes them feel like an idiot for asking a simple question. Do some research and you’ll quickly learn which associations’ members offer a lending hand at almost any time of the day. Not just online, but many are just a phone call away and are willing to offer help.

So to wrap it up, don’t let association membership be a deciding factor in selecting a home inspector. Make sure to research and interview an inspector prior to signing that contract. Actually finding an inspector well before signing that contract is the best. This way you can take time and talk to several inspectors and not be in a rush to find the cheapest, fastest inspector.

INACHI members aren’t better than ASHI, nor ASHI members better than INACHI. It’s the inspectors ethics, experience, education and best business practices that make the inspector.

Brian Doles

April 11, 2008

Can I come too?

That is a question I hear all too frequently. It never fails that a customer asks if they can accompany me on the inspection. My immediate response, "yes". Any inspector that tells you "no", I would strongly recommend interviewing a few other inspectors until you find the right one.

Think of it this way, purchasing a home is a HUGE investment. Wouldn't you want to see and learn everything about that investment before you sink your hard earned money into it? I know I would. If your a first time home buyer you need to be present at the inspection, even if you have to take vacation from work - be there when the inspector is combing through your investment. Sure you'll have a report to look at after the inspection, but nothing beats being onsite with the inspector. This way if you have any questions or concerns about the house, you can ask immediately.

Many people think an inspection passes or fails. That's so far from the truth it's not even funny. A professional inspection is designed to educate you about your new or existing home. Home inspectors complete continuing education classes each year, this keeps them abreast on new building technology and safety issues within the home. I'll use a simple water heater as an example: to many it's the big tank in the basement that supplies hot water to the entire house. To an inspector 9 out of 10 times it's a major safety issue that homeowners are not aware of. If it's a gas unit, is it vented properly? Is there a drip-leg installed on the gas line? Is it installed in a garage? If so, is it 18" off the floor? These along with many, many other safety guidelines are key in water heater safety.

So just think, that's only the water heater. What about all the other systems in a house? How much do you know about them? If you answered "not much", you need to make sure you attend your next home inspection. It could save you financially, and could also save your life. If your inspector isn't very talkative during the inspection, make him talk by asking questions.

With Colby Home Services my past clients can vouch that I encourage their questions during the inspections and long after the inspection. It's very common to answer a question 12 months after they have moved in, it's part of my customer satisfaction. "All my customers are returning customers"

Brian Doles

March 28, 2008

Pre-Listing Inspections - Are they worth it?

Pre-listing inspections could be a disaster in any real estate transaction, for both the home owner and the selling agent. But don't let that discourage you from having an inspection prior to listing your home. Make it work to your advantage, make the inspection sell your home. The most important aspect is to prove to buyers that you care about the home you've lived in for years.

Many home owners barely do any routine maintenance on their home. But let me make it clear, it's one of the most important things you can do for your investment.

So your ready to upgrade to a larger home or your empty nesters looking to downsize. Typically you'll find a selling agent and they'll explain to you how you need to "de-clutter" your home, remove all those family portraits and naturally keep a clean house. In todays market there is another item to add to that list, a "pre-listing inspection". I pre-listing inspection can make the entire process of selling your home easy. But how can that happen?

Below is a list of the benefits of a pre-listing inspection.

• Identify problems early in the transaction instead of 2 week prior to closing
• No delays or costly negotiations at the last minute
• Seller can identify items "as is" in the contract, well before the negotiating takes place
• Using the inspection report as a tool to get repairs made prior to even putting the house on the market
• Let the power of a professional inspection report sell your home
• Find any major repair issues first and get them corrected, not when time is of the essence
• Pre-listing inspections prove to your potential buyers that you want a smooth transaction and are eager to make the sale

March 18, 2008

Are your neighbors cooking Meth?

Unfortunately meth is an increasing problem across the US. Here in Atlanta the trend continues to go up, it's the fastest growing drug problem in Atlanta. But on the upside, the "cooking" of meth locally is decreasing. You might think that most meth "labs" are in the inner city, nothing could be further from the truth. When in fact most labs are out in rural areas and yes in densely populated suburbs. In most cases meth labs are not producing large quantities for distribution, but for personal use. Don't let that fool you, it can still be just as dangerous in small quantities. Once meth has been cooked in a home, the damage can be extremely costly to remedy and if it's not properly "cleaned" from the home serious health concerns arise.

Even though the equipment used for cooking meth can be easily hidden and stored away, there are several warning signs to look for. If you notice that there are weird things going on at your neighbors house, check for these warning signs:

• Large quantities of fertilizer at the home. Have you seen them bring bags into the home, garage or outbuilding?
• Are people always coming and going from the house?
  
• Can you smell heavy metals coming from the home? This is the most important tell tale sign.
• Has the landscaping and upkeep of the property gone downhill? If their cooking meth, yard work usually is the last thing on their mind.
• Are the neighbors very protective of their property? If they are cooking meth they usually don't want anyone on their property, at times they take actions by installing "booby traps" to prevent people from finding their lab.

March 14, 2008

Your Home and it's Roof

One of the most important features of your home is the roof. It serves many purposes, including keeping the weather out of your home, helps maintain conditioned air in your home and naturally a roof makes your house look good. Keeping a well maintained roof can determine how "healthy" your home stays. Once water leaks beneath the roof covering your attic and interior living space and it's "healthiness" can be comprimised. Your attic is one of those places you don't go until you realize you have a problem, and the problems could be HUGE. A long time leak can harbor some serious issues, both safety and health issues.

Everyone knows what water leads to, MOLD. So when you see the first signs of water stains on your ceiling you need to have an inspector come in and do some investigative work. You absolutely need to find where the water stains are coming from. They can be from poor flashing around chimneys, the rubber flashing around plumbing vents can deteriorate over time and allow water to seep in around the plumbing stack, any flashing that is around any roof penetration can cause a problem. Make sure there is a tight seal around all flashings.

 Water stains from poor flashing at a roof/wall intersection

Lets talk gutters. We all see 'em and hate to clean them out. But the damage that can result from poorly maintained gutters can be devastating. Not only can it damage your roofing and soffits, but the possible damage to your homes foundation can be severe. Make sure all water that exits your downspouts is directed "away" from the foundation of your home. The ground literally will act like a sponge and eventually take the path of least resistance into your homes basement or crawlspace. That's another place you don't want water or moisture.

Yep it's true, owning a home means a lot of routine maintenance.

Brian Doles

March 10, 2008

Electrical Wiring Tips at Home

Electrical safety is many times overlooked. When in fact it's one of the most important safety hazards in your home. With todays technology it seems as though everything needs power. If you own a computer you know what I'm talking about. Go ahead take a peak behind your computer desk and count the number of plugs. Chances are you've got about 6-10 plugs. That's a lot of juice!

Below are some good tips and guidelines to consider for electrical wiring.

• Make sure outlets are not overloaded; don't keep adding more extension cords.
• Look for the UL mark on the extension cords your using. This means they have been tested   for foreseeable safety hazards.
• Never, ever run electrical cords under carpet or heavy items.
• Never cram or bunch extension cords behind a hot appliance.
• Always use outlet plug covers to prevent children from insert objects into them.
• Extension cords are really only meant for temporary use.
• Do not use extension cords that are damaged or cut. This goes for cords that you might use outdoors as well. We all know how damaged those can get. If it's damaged, don't try to just cover it up, throw it out and get a new UL listed extension cord.

This is not the best idea. Obviously this has been around for awhile, not temporary at all.

Brian Doles

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March 7, 2008

The importance of proper deck construction

Recent TN deck collapse - Link

Recent SC deck accident - Link

Many consumers and home owners don't think it will ever happen to them. When you think about it, most decks aren't used on an everyday basis. But it only takes that one 4th of July gathering of friends and family to have the unfortunate happen to you. Deck construction is an extremely serious issue. Most decks aren't built to the local building codes, but they certainly should be.

 This attachment is not adequate.

The most important is how the deck is attached to the structure (home). There are several methods. The best method is using lag bolts to physically attach the head joist to the homes rim joist. View our Deck Construction Guide to learn more about this method.  Using nails just isn't enough to support a structure that could possibly weigh thousands of pounds when there is a load on it.

As a home inspector, I see many defects everyday and the majority of them deal with an attached deck.

View a study on deck collapses - Download

Brian Doles

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March 6, 2008

Quality and what it means to me

Just about everyday I get to see many styles (or lack of) "quality". It doesn't matter if it's a brand spanking new home or a home that is 60 plus years old, quality can have different meanings for different people. Unfortunately in todays world of flipping a house, quality can sometimes be overlooked. The owner or investor is naturally in a hurry to turn the house around and get it sold. The longer it takes, the more money they lose. This is where quality is always neglected. It doesn't matter if it's a plumbing issue or just a sloppy paint job.

Many of the flipped homes I inspect will have it's routine problems; improper plumbing vents, improper deck structures, even faulty appliances (because the stove was such a great deal!). Naturally all these items will need to be repaired or replaced prior to closing. No buyer should have to be restricted to an unsatisfactory home. Besides your making the largest investment in your life, this is a place you and your family will call home for many years. Why wouldn't you want only the best?

For any respectable business, quality should be their priority. One aspect that I firmly believe and follow is "do it once and do it right". I strongly believe that and use it everyday. Why would I want to practice poor quality workmanship, and take the chance that I will have to be called back and fix the problem on my dime? I take the time to do it right the first time, in many cases I research and plan my "attack" on the project well in advance. This ensures that my customer is getting only the best, the most professional, quality work they deserve. This is why I have so many returning customers; customers that have had the experience and wouldn't trust anyone else but Colby Home Services for Home Inspections and Remodeling/Repairs

View our customer testimonials

Brian Doles

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March 4, 2008

DeWinterizing your home - What is it and Why

Definitions:

Winterize – To prepare a homes plumbing system for colder winter months.

De-Winterize – To “charge” the plumbing system for everyday use.

Charge – To fill piping with water.

Many foreclosed homes that remain vacant will be most likely be “winterized”. This is to prevent damage due to freezing pipes in colder months. When the plumbing system is winterized it’s main purpose is to drain all the water from the system including the hot water heater. When you’re purchasing a foreclosed home or a home that has been winterized, it’s very important to have all the utilities turned on prior to a Home Inspection. More importantly the plumbing system should be active and working to inspect for leaks.

Many vacation homes also are winterized during the off season. In colder climates this is one of the most important things a homeowner can do for their plumbing system. Can you imagine coming back to your vacation home only to find it flooded along with severe interior damage. Most likely you'll also encounter a mold/mildew issue. So flush those pipes before you leave for the season. It could save you thousands of dollars.

To download my guide to "Dewinterizing Your Home" click the link below.

DeWinterizing Checklist

Brian Doles

Send comments or questions to bdoles@colbyinspections.com