Here is a situation I found during a recent home inspection where new sheathing and shingles were installed right over the old shingles and sheathing. This shows the importance of inspectors using a ladder even at the edge of the
Inspecting Attics for Leaks, Insulation, Animals
There are many good reasons to perform a close inspection of an attic. An inspection might reveal stress cracks that could lead to future problems. A close look inside gives the buyer peace of mind that the size of the
The Benefit of a Thorough Roof Inspection
I found this problem during a home inspection in Baltimore yesterday. This was not viewable from the ground. It’s an easy repair now but not so easy once winter arrived and the melting snow backed up the valley and started
Convenient but hazardous outlet
Shouldn’t power outlets be standard in every bathroom drawer? Don’t try this at home – first of all it is not GFI protected and secondly a fire hazard for sure… Careful home inspections can reveal many hazards – choosing the
Thorough attic inspection is important part of inspection process
A thorough home inspection includes a good look inside the attic. Here are examples of the types of problems that can be found and fixed: Faulty wiring… Old asbestos bricks… and they were broken!
Attic Insulation uses foil battens with a honeycomb inside of foil
This photo was taken in the attic during a home inspection of a mid 1950’s house. As you can see, energy was cheap back then because the insulation in the attic was minimal at best. They used to use foil
Odd plumbing fix found during home inspection
At a recent home inspection in Baltimore County I found this odd plumbing fix. See here how the condensation line drains to the toilet tank! Ingenious but wrong! The fix for this is really simple because there is a sump
First-time Home Buyer Inspection
I did work this morning and inspected a house for a first time home owner in Dundalk. I was glad to be there as he works several jobs and had very little time to fit in the inspection. House needs
What Sells a House
Is it the Open House, the Internet, or signage that sells a house? 36% agent 24% internet 15% yard sign 8% friend or relative 8% builder (new homes) 5% newspaper 3% knew the seller 1% home books/magazines 1% Open Houses
How to get the most out of your home inspection
As a Maryland home Inspector I feel my job is to inform, educate and “discover” the house for my clients. In order to assist your inspector in this endeavor and get the most out of the inspection here are some