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Why everyone should have a drain line inspection when buying a home   Should you consider getting the drain line inspected at the house you are buying? Nearly 2/3 of the drain lines we inspect require $3,000 in repair or more. This applies to new houses as well as old. Many of the problems found […]

California SB 422 – Pool Safety Act As if selling real estate didn’t have enough liability, it has now become part of a home inspection to check certain safety features of a pool no matter what. If your home inspector is not certified, insured, or accustomed to inspecting swimming pools it could transfer extra liability […]

Firewalls are one of the most important, yet least understood safety items that a home inspector checks. It is one of the many passive safety features built into a house that is often overlooked during a home inspection. Just like the airbag in your car, we hope that it is never needed. The intent of the […]

There I was laying in bed at 2:00 AM this morning listening to my smoke detector Chirp. OK, I’m guilty. I did not follow the simple routine of changing my smoke detector batteries when I changed my clocks back a few weeks ago. So I guess I deserve it. Before I explain why the smoke […]

SDG&E has begun to shut off service for items that are not necessarily within the scope of a home inspection. These are items that pose a hazard to the occupants of the home. Hazards may include fire, Carbon Monoxide, or electrical problems. If SDG&E “red-tags” one or more of your appliances, they may shut off […]

Heating Equipment is a Leading Cause of House Fires Cooking is still the leading cause of house fires, but heating equipment is a close second. Heating equipment causes 16% of all house fires according to the Nation Fire Protection Association (NFPA). We did some research to share the causes of fires so that you can […]

… And other estimates of how long appliances and components of a house should last Everything in your house will require replacement. Here is a guide to the life expectancy of many of the components of the typical U.S. house. Please keep in mind that these are general industry standards, and family size and location can […]

Asphalt Shingle Roof A roof is one of the most expensive components of a home. Hundreds of different materials have been used as roofing material from sticks to plastic, and grass to glass. When you are looking for a home you need to know what type of roofing material is installed if it was installed correctly, and […]

Whoever gets the home inspection has the upper hand Knowledge is power. It is also a powerful negotiating tool. Many home sellers think that their house is in “good shape” when they put it on the market. They agree on a price to list it and wait for the offers to come in. They accept […]

Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is present in varying amounts in the ground and in water. Radon is produced by the natural radioactive decay of uranium deposits in the earth. Prolonged exposure to radon in high concentrations can cause cancer. The EPA has set guidelines for radon levels in residential buildings.  […]