As a home inspector I am often asked “is this a good home builder?” or “what you think of this home builder?” After having inspected homes from the frame up, from many of the big and small builders here in the valley, I believe the most important part of building a home is the superintendent. I have been to different communities from the same builder and have seen a night and day difference in the quality of the construction. Continue Reading
You Found The Right Home, Now You Need The Right Home Inspector
Which builder builds the best homes?
Caution when buying a “flipped” house
I received a call the other day to inspect a 1950s house for sale in Phoenix, AZ that was listed as being gutted down to the frame and completely rebuilt with completely new plumbing and electrical. The house did look brand new from the interior of the house. All of the flooring was new, cabinets… Continue Reading
House Maintenance Tips
Spring is a great time to perform routine house maintenance. It is also a great time to get outside and hike or play golf. Seeing as I am a Home Inspector, I guess I will stick to writing about home maintenance. Below are some home maintenance items people often forget about that can save you… Continue Reading
Turning water on to a vacant or foreclosed homes
This last week I had two vacant houses to inspect that had the water turned off. In one of the houses the clothes washer had been removed and the hot and cold water valves were open. The water company turned on the water to the house and did not notice the meter was running indicating… Continue Reading
How often should I change my air filter?
As a Home Inspector I often recommend the air filters be replaced or cleaned due to dust / dirt build-up on the filter. The biggest problem with having a dirty air filter is the operating efficiency of your heating and cooling equipment drops dramatically. With less air flowing through your system it will require longer… Continue Reading
Aluminum Wiring in Older Homes
Many homes built in the 1960s to the mid 1970s were built using aluminum wiring. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, expansion, micro-fretting and arcing of aluminum wiring has been responsible for fires and even some deaths. Expansion and other deterioration processes can cause the aluminum wiring to overheat at connections between the… Continue Reading
Fire separation is needed between the attached garage and the house
Fires are more likely to start in the garage do to flammable liquids, such as gasoline and oils that are often stored in the garage. Many garages are also used as workshops. It is important to have the proper fire separation between the attached garage and the house to prevent a fire that starts… Continue Reading
You soon won’t be able to buy incandescent light bulbs
Did you know that the Federal government is starting to phase out the old fashioned incandescent light bulbs beginning next year? As of January 1st you will no longer be able to buy 100 W incandescent light bulbs. Hasbro’s “Easy Bake Oven” that we all remember baking with as kids even had to be re-designed