 Price Shopping Or Inspector Shopping How much do you charge for a basic home inspection? This is often the first question prospective First time home buyers ask me when they call. Most first time home buyers spend 3 to 6 months shopping for a new home and 3 to 6 min choosing a home inspector. Seems like as soon as a perspective client hears a price even $25 higher than the previous home inspector they just called, the conversation is over. The client then states " Well I'm just getting quotes right now" The answer is they are just price shopping . The focus should be on inspector shopping. Be warned of so called good recommendations promising to save you money on the inspectors fee. A cheap inspection is just that, a cheap inspection. Do you really want the cheapest, most inexperienced person to inspect one of the most expensive purchases you will ever make? Will the owner of the business conduct the inspection, or a employee making 30% of the inspection fee? What are the inspector's qualifications, educational levels, and experience? Is the inspector "part time" (as are many) or is this his full-time business? What kind of testing equipment will the inspector be using? What kind of report will they provide? Have you viewed a sample report? Does it include photo documentation? Does he have good references? Many inspectors belong to associations, clubs or organizations. They are a dime a dozen. When looking for the best inspector find a Certified Master Inspector or CMI. Right now there is only 20 in the state of California. And only 6 in Los Angels County. Have you verified the inspectors credentials? ? Do they have any complaints on record with the Better Business Bureau? Assuming you have thought through and inquired about all of the above, now the question about the home inspection fee can be asked. However, there are many factors involved when it comes to how an inspection firm calculates the fee. This includes the inspector's level of experience and qualifications. The type of report produced and the time taken to produce it must be considered. (Some inspection reports from some firms may be whipped out in pencil on site, while ours will be digital, include photographs, and might take 4 hours or more to complete.) The size, design, age and condition of the property are also factors that relate to the time it takes to perform a thorough inspection. (Some homes / condos might take 2 hours or less to inspect; older, larger homes might take 4 or more hours.) You can get a 3 page report or a 120 page report. How much experience are you willing to pay for. David Home Inspection Services 626 629-8499 Free Inspection Quote Add Comment Why Do Nail Heads Pop On A Roof / Shingles 03/05/2010
 There have been several inspectors reporting nails popping on asphalt roof system these days. Take a look at the pictures above. You can see just below one shingle a nail that is working it's way back out. Is this the work of aliens working to conspire against home sellers? Or is it something more sinister? Not really it's just old fashion science.The wood will swell if given enough moisture in the air or under the shingles and it will swell around the nail head. The sun comes up and rapidly heats the nail head drying out the moisture around it. This can dislodge the nail and causing it to become loose in the nail hole. As the sun heat the roof shingles it expands in thickness sometimes vary rapidly. This will cause the loosened nail to rise slightly. This proses is repeated many many times. Giving you nail pops! Now you know Our Main Goal As Home Inspectors Is To Make The Buyer An Informed Buyer. We Hope Our Findings Help You Understand The Value And Importance Of A Professional Home Inspection. David Home Inspection Services 626-629-8499 We Proudly Serve The Areas Of San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside County California When you need to get the very most for your home it is important to be prepared. Here are some key points to getting the best inspection results for your home. Exterior
Top Tips On Choosing A Home Inspector 02/21/2010
When a house is bought or sold in Southern California, a home inspection is a common practice. This alerts both homeowners and buyers to the condition of the property in question. When you are in need of a home inspection in California, you should only choose those Home Inspectors who have achieved a Master Home Inspector certification. This guarantees experience in all building practices. The average fee for a home inspection is between $275-$500, but the information received from an inspector is priceless. The number of home inspectors in California is staggering to say the least. There are home inspectors that offer a lower price, but you must beware of their credentials, and their business ethics. You can find the top home inspectors in California on Master Inspectors Certification Boards website. Click Here: They will be ranked by City. Keep the following questions on hand when talking to Home Inspectors. The best inspectors will have a similar answer:
Something You Should Know The state of California does not require a license for home inspectors, so it is important that the home inspector you hire be a master home inspector and not just a member of a club or an association. The California Trade practice act (Chapter 338) was enacted in 1996. The law in California prohibits unethical home inspection practices, including repairing properties that home inspectors have inspected in the previous 12 months. The law encourages courts to consider the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics of ASHI and the California Real Estate Inspection Association. We abide by a set of standards of practices and code of ethics that require professionalism and attention to detail. Our home and property inspections exceed all National Home Inspection Associations Clubs and organizations. Radiation Radon And Your Countertops 01/30/2010
Radiation Radon And Your kitchen Counter Top. OK So you ask what's he talking about. We often complete radiation checks on granite counter tops in kitchens and food prep areas. For the most part reading are lower than one would find in most background radiation readings. However yesterday we took a reading on a granite counter top that was 15 times higher than I have ever seen in 12 years. Radon is "a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. As the popularity of granite counter tops has grown in the last 15 years. The demand for low price granite has cause an influx of low quality slabs with highly dangerous leves of radioactive stone to tun up around the US. Read More Here... CBS News Countertop Health Threat. Some professionals in the granite industry will tell you that the levels of radiation found in all granite surfaces are to low to be of any concern. As a home inspector my job is to tell you what levels are present and let you decide what to do with the granite. Granite emitting 10.3 millirem per hour of radiation Asbestos Hazards In The Home 01/19/2010
Asbestos Hazards In The Home We Know Insulation 01/19/2010
Uninsulated walls lose heat more quickly to the outdoors. This heat loss can causeDrafts across the floor,
Materials There are several materials used to insulate the wall, with varying costs and effectiveness. Materials include cellulose, mineral fibers, and foam insulation. Some contractors also offer vapor barriers and vents as part of the installation. Cellulose is made from shredded newsprint, treated with fire retardants. Monitoring by industry and government assures the homeowner the material has a standard R-value, is non-toxic, and will not burn or cause corrosion of pipes or wires. Cellulose is particularly effective in wall installations because of its ability to fill and pack even in tiny nooks and crannies within the cavity. Cellulose is also very effective in reducing air infiltration through wall cavities. Mineral fibers such as fiberglass and rock wool are installed in some walls. Greater pressure is required to pack these materials into the cavity because they tend to catch on nails and hang up around tight places. In addition, larger drill holes are needed to install this type of material. Mineral fibers are most appropriate in homes or walls where moisture is a serious problem, because mineral fibers do eventually dry out. (Cellulose generally does not dry out once wet.) Foam insulation has been used in the past, but is not as widely used today. Although it offers higher R-values than either cellulose or mineral fibers, problems have been experienced with blown in foam. This includes expansion of the foam during installation causing bowing of walls, and shrinkage of the foam over time, causing gaps in the insulation. Installation could also include vapor barriers and vents. Almost all the moisture that creeps into the wall cavity arrives through holes and small cracks on the interior wall. Very little vapor passes through holes and small cracks on the interior wall. So a vapor barrier such as rated paints or visqueen is not necessary. Similarly, a vent plug on the exterior is not recommended. http://www.homeinspectionservices.org Earthquake Inspection 01/19/2010
Staying on top of daily, monthly, and annual chores around your home is a big job. Maintenance and repair jobs are constants. Now add in the California Earth Quakes and after shocks. We offer a annual home earth quake safety inspection. We will create a detailed home earth quake safety check list. Our check List will be tailored to your home and help guide you to a safer and more secure home. Damage from earth quakes is not always visible. Foundation, gas piping chimneys and other building system are put under intense strain during even the smallest movements. Putting off inspections after an earth quake only prolongs the issues at hand. It's far less costly in the long run to have your property inspected now. To save time and money, plan ahead for the needs of your home. Rats In The Attic 01/19/2010
Rats in the attic of a Cypress home cause major damage. David of DHI Home Inspection arrived to inspect a home early on Monday and found that the homes attic was overrun with rodents. The smell was overwhelming said David. I have been an inspector for 11 years and I have never seen anything like it. The rats found their way into the attic by way of a phone line from the power pole at the rear of the home. The rats were able to feed on the many fruit trees in the yard. The damage to the attic was extensive. The insulation, wires as well as the air condition duct work were chewed away by as many as 80 to 100 rats. The ceilings were stained with rat urine. The home had sat vacant for two years due to foreclose . Another sign of the times. The good thing about all this says David is that this one is sold and is going to a new owner who will make the repairs! Story by Adam Rodes. Roof Inspection And Certifications. 01/19/2010
We get asked a lot if we can certify a roof... From and Inspectors point of view" No". 1. No home inspector does a wet test of the roof system. In a wet test the person conducting the test will use a water hose to impose a wet condition on the roof system. The hose is moved to all points of the roof while another person goes into the attic to look for leaks. 2. Most manufacturer's of roofing products will tell you that a new roof can be void of warranty if it's walked on. Here in California this is especial true with our consistent high temperatures. If you walk on a roof in the blazing sun you are asking for problems. Some roof systems are made of clay or lightweight concrete. It is advised that these roofs only be walked on by qualified individuals. These roofs are more susceptible to physical damage when walked on. 3. Home inspectors for the most part have at some point worked as a contractor or as a person in the construction industry. They have a lot of experience in multiple fields. However the majority of inspectors have never worked in the roofing industry. 4. Should an inspector go on the roof? Yes if the conditions are right! An inspector should never go on the roof it it will cause damage to the roof system, or cause a safety hazard to the person conduction the inspection. 5. When a roofing system has sufficient granular loss it is no longer a good roofing system. it may not leak but it is no longer protected from the sun. Dried out, curled, broken or missing roofing components are also reasons to note that the roof is past it's life span. 6. A good inspector will not alarm the customer only explain the over all condition. Most inspectors will not elaborate on the expected life span as it opens up liability. Some may however say it appears to have 3 to 4 years left with proper maintenance. 7. If you need a roof certification call a local licensed Roofing Contractor. They will be able to offer repairs if needed. They are the authority on roofing systems in your area. Make sure they are insured just in case something does go wrong. Keep in mind that a inspector is only at the property for 2 to 3 hours depending on the size and scope of the inspection. Not everything is going to be found every time. However a good inspection will use computer software with error guard to prevent missed inspection points. | CategoriesAll AuthorDavid Salvato Father of Three, Blogger, Twitter nut, Builder and Repairman of stuff my kids break! All round happy person. |
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