Blog
Where are Smoke Alarms Required?
Where and When are Smoke Alarms Required? One of the responsibilities of a home inspector is to check the presence and functionality of smoke alarms in a home. Smoke alarms were required first in 1973. The codes pertaining to smoke alarms have expanded since then. In 1973, one smoke alarm was required for the whole home. In […]
Infrared Thermal Imaging and home inspections
Superman had x-ray vision. Doctors use x-rays and MRI’s to look inside your body. The military and police use infrared to find suspects hiding in the bushes. Each application allows the user to observe things that are not visible to the naked eye and allows them to do a better job. A few top notch […]
New Circuit Breakers Prevent House Fires
Various Types of Circuit Breakers Definition: A Circuit Breaker “Opens” or disconnects an electrical circuit when certain conditions are met. History The first circuit breakers, called fuses, were developed as a result of house fires. Many current building codes were created to reduce the occurrence of fires or to help prevent death due to fires in […]
Advice for Landlords
Being a Landlord adds Liability If you are buying a property to be used as a rental, remember that you are assuming substantial liability. It is far more important for you to repair and maintain a rental than your own house. If a tenant gets injured, you could be held liable. We have performed hundreds […]
Buying a house built in the 1980’s – 1990’s
This article is one in a series of articles written to inform buyers of various items that may be found during an inspection. This is an excerpt from our white paper series “Insider’s Guide to Buying a Home Built in the 1980’s”. Over the years technologies and materials that went into the construction of a […]
The Value of Pre-Sale Inspections
I was recently asked to appear on a Real Estate radio show hosted by Rebecca Austin, an award winning Broker and President of New Team Realty in Carlsbad, CA and host of “Home Help Radio” KPRZ 1210 AM. Rebecca had a great topic for the show geared towards home sellers. Over the past 10 years […]
Water Heater Danger
Water Heater Danger A poorly maintained water heater can be a time bomb – literally! Water heaters are often taken for granted. Once installed, we tend to forget about them. They sit there and quietly perform their function without much attention. We usually ignore them until there is trouble. The average life of a residential […]
Finding Slab Leaks With Infrared
Revealing Hidden Defects A recent inspection was taking its normal course. Appliances, Electrical, plumbing, HVAC etc. were all checking out OK. Our client was very happy, as they had done their homework and researched houses built in the 1970’s. They had downloaded our “What to Expect When Buying a House Built in the 1970’s” white […]
What to Expect When Buying a House Built in the 1950’s
What you should know about buying a house built in the 1950’s. These houses have a great charm about them. The neighborhoods are well established, and these homes are often more affordable than a newer house in a newer development. But just like an old car, there will be some worn parts and features that just didn’t exist […]
Flipped Out
Buying a Flip House Can Be Risky Getting a Home Inspection by a competent Inspector is more critical than ever. Some neighborhoods in San Diego have undergone dramatic changes over the last few years made possible by the downturn in the real estate market. Many run down, foreclosed properties have bee utterly transformed into beautiful […]
