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The Importance Of A Home Inspection Before You Buy

September 28, 2011 By 3 Comments

Congratulations! You searched and searched and finally found your dream home! Do you realize the importance of a home inspection before you buy? This may be one of your largest purchases ever. Would you buy a car without giving it a test drive? Of course not! Doesn't it make sense to have a set of experienced eyes examine your new home before you invest your hard-earned dollars? Of course! You may think your handy uncle can look over your new home to see if everything is OK. Don't risk it! A … [Read more...]

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“Four Tips For Garage Door Safety”- Home Inspector

September 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The business can be quite entertaining at times! I was inspecting the garage  door at an Encinitas, CA home. A new door opener had been recently installed. When I tested the photo sensors, the door did not reverse, so I traced the sensor wires and found they were not connected. I looked up at the garage door opener and almost broke out laughing. There were the new photo sensors installed on the ceiling! Did the installer even bother reading the installation instructions? I guess this is what … [Read more...]

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Does Your Weep Screed Weep?- Home Inspector

September 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you're having a new patio installed at your home, be sure your concrete contractor knows the required clearance to be maintained from the stucco weep screed. I consistently see improper patio installations while conducting throughout Riverside and San Diego Counties here in southern California. Let me explain what a weep screed is. The majority of homes in this part of the country have stucco siding. At the very bottom of a stucco wall you will see a piece of metal trim- that is the … [Read more...]

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My Home Inspector Said Aluminum Wiring Will Catch My House On Fire!

September 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Single-strand aluminum wiring was installed in many homes built in the mid 1960's to early 1970's. After a decade of use, inherent weaknesses were discovered with the wiring. Neglected aluminum wiring connections become increasingly dangerous over time and may overheat and create a fire hazard. A good home inspector will always recommend that single-strand aluminum wiring be evaluated by a qualified electrician who is experienced with aluminum wiring problems. Aluminum has certain qualities … [Read more...]

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How to Protect your Los Angeles Home – Siding

September 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

These home inspection tips show how to protect the siding and foundation of your Los Angeles home. Whether your home is built on a slab or a raised foundation, it comes in contact with the soil at some point. The foundation is obviously in contact with the ground, but all siding materials should have adequate clearance from the ground to preventmoisture penetration, insect access, and siding damage. Stucco siding should have a minimum 4" clearance above soil and 2" above … [Read more...]

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Ten Top Things Not Covered in a Los Angeles Home Inspection

September 4, 2011 By 3 Comments

Potential home inspection clients ask me, "Do you cover this? Do you cover that?". There is much confusion as to what is and is not covered in a home inspection. Since there are "Top 10" lists for just about everything else, I've made a list of the top 10 things not covered in a home inspection: 1.   Low-voltage systems Computer, phone, built-in audio, intercom systems, landscape lighting, security, irrigation systems, etc. (I offer an inspection upgrade which includes evaluation … [Read more...]

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