Hello Maryland friends! As home inspector here in the Washington DC area, we are sometimes asked, “What is the perfect house to buy?” Many people think a new house is the best because it’s brand new! Other people think an older house is better because the craftsmanship was better in previous days. If you don’t […]
Gas Leak Testing During a Home Inspection: Is it worth it?
Many people think that gas leak testing (i.e. gas-sniffer) is part of a standard home inspection. It is not. No state regulation or third party standard requires gas leak detecting. Do some inspectors offer the service? Yes. It is necessary? No. What? If it is not necessary, why do we offer the service then? Good […]
The Value of Thermal Imaging (Infrared) During a Home Inspection
One of the biggest limits of a home inspection is what an inspector cannot see. Thermal Imaging (Infrared) is a useful tool is helping to understand hidden conditions. What is thermal imaging? Think about those military videos of the enemy skulking around at night, but the good guys see him as a red shimmering shape. […]
Top 4 Ways to Protect Your Home’s Foundation
At Kemp Home Inspections, LLC, we do dozens of structural home inspections each month and in most cases, the cause of foundation problems is so laughably avoidable that I felt it was time to assist homeowners of the world and offer some advice now before your foundation is damaged. In case you didn’t know, the […]
The Smart Home Buyer Asks Inspection Questions
When you hire a home inspector, ask questions, and if they are an engineer, that’s good.
Four Important Questions to Ask a Home Inspector in Maryland
Before hiring a home inspector in Maryland ask these four questions. 1) What is your license number? A home inspector MUST be licensed in Maryland. It’s the law. And it’s the first step in verifying the home inspector knows what he/she is doing. Be sure to go to the official Maryland DLLR license page and verify they […]
When a Home Inspector Recommends an Inspection by a Structural Engineer
So you’ve found your dream home. You did your research, you hired a licensed home inspector, the inspection was going great and then, uh-oh, the home inspector found a crack in the foundation. The home inspector told you, “You need a structural engineer.” This is a common occurrence in the home inspection industry. And it’s […]
Home Inspectors in Germantown, MD
When you’re looking for a home inspector in Germantown, MD, look no further than Kemp Home Inspections. Not only do you get a licensed home inspector, but you also get a licensed engineer with vast structural inspection experience, able to provide you top-notch home inspection services at a competitive price. In addition to standard home […]
National Societies for Home Inspectors
Here are the three primary national societies for home inspectors: ASHI, NAHI, INTERNACHI. The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) The American Society of Home Inspectors is the largest national professional organization of home inspectors with members throughout the United States and Canada. ASHI’s mission is to promote exemplary practice in the home inspection profession. […]
Engineer Home Inspectors
Any home inspection done in accordance with the major home inspection standards (NAHI, ASHI, NACHI) requires a structural inspection as part of the standard home inspection, a.k.a. real estate inspection. What does this mean? Well, it means your inspector will look for signs of structural problems: cracks in the foundation, damage to floor joists, settlement of the […]
