Professional insights and educational content about home inspections
The bathroom ranks second only to the kitchen in daily usage, making it both indispensable and one of your home's most maintenance-intensive areas. Every shower, every sink use, every toilet flush creates opportunities for water leakage and subsequent damage.
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Angle stops, also called angle stop valves, are water shutoff valves that control water flow to sinks, dishwashers, standalone tubs, and toilets. These valves provide the convenience of shutting off water locally for repairs or to stop leaks without affecting water service to an entire building.
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Home inspectors frequently examine service drops and their related connectors and components, despite these elements being owned and maintained by the utility company rather than the homeowner.
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When inspecting older houses in the San Francisco Bay Area, I occasionally encounter basements that appear to have been excavated after foundation installation.
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This is the sequel to the previous article about indoor hazards that guests may encounter. While the previous article focused only on interior concerns, this article addresses common exterior concerns.
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One day, while attending a social gathering at a friend's home, I found myself subconsciously assessing the potential hazards around me, in typical home inspector fashion.
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When clients request foundation-only inspections, I first ask about their specific concerns to determine whether my services are appropriate or if they need a specialist. The requests typically fall into three categories: visible foundation cracks, insurance documentation needs, or interior issues like sloping floors and wall or ceiling cracks.
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Winter and spring rains sustain our landscapes, but they can also pose significant challenges for homeowners. When water doesn't drain properly from your property, it can create problems.
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As a home inspector, I've observed a distinct pattern in composition shingle roof issues. Many of these findings have been consistent throughout my career.
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I occasionally get requests for re-inspections, whether to perform one depends on the situation. If a utility was initially off, I definitely do the inspection to provide the client with a deeper picture of the property. If only a few repairs were made, I may tell the client to document the changes in the report before it is passed along. When the repairs are primarily accessible, I may re-inspect. If the repairs are mostly hidden, I recommend having the repairing contractor document the extent of work performed and provide a written warranty.
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Ever fumble for the right key while navigating a dark porch? Unsafe walkways aren't just annoying; they're potential injury areas for residents, guests, and even emergency responders.
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While seemingly insignificant, a clearly visible and well-lit house address plays a crucial role in ensuring safety and convenience for residents, emergency services, delivery personnel, and guests. With increasing reliance on online services and deliveries, proper address visibility has become essential.
Read on InspectionHelper.comThe Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) has amended its rules to phase out nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from natural gas furnaces and water heaters. The sale of new gas water heaters and furnaces in the Bay Area will be banned in 2031, with the ban taking effect over several years. Starting on January 1, 2024, the options for new gas furnaces will be limited.
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Choosing a home inspector, like buying cereal, is a process that requires consideration. Cereals may be healthy or sweet, colorful, super-sized, part of a variety pack, or contain gimmicks. Home inspections vary widely in quality, detail and price.
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We have written and illustrated a document on unreinforced concrete foundations. The document covers many of the common modifications that local home inspectors find on pre-1950s foundations.
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