Don’t be surprised if your home inspector says this: “So I’ve looked at your deck, checked the condition of the wood and fasteners, posts and beams, stairs and rails. I don’t see any damage and the deck looks safe. But you might want to repair it.” Listen to her, she’s right. After years of inspecting […]
Category – Home Inspection
How to Get the Most Out of Your Home Inspection
Too many Buyers get short-changed on their home inspection because the house was not ready for inspection. Home inspection practices limit what a home inspector (who is a guest in the Seller’s house) can and cannot do. For example, a home inspector isn’t permitted to move personal items. Naturally, when people are living in the […]
The Home Purchase “Sweet Spot”
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
