Contrary to popular opinion, blogging does not necessarily mean rewriting the Great American Novel. Blogging can seem like an overwhelming task, but it does not have to be. Not all bloggers are professional or even amateur writers. In fact, it’s fair to say that most bloggers don’t have backgrounds in writing. This is not necessarily…
While it may be tempting to launch your next home improvement project in the spring, the truth is that fall could be the ideal season to pounce on a new job. In fact, autumn is the perfect time for a thorough deck inspection and some of the most common maintenance jobs. Think of fall as…
Stick-built homes have a lot of things in common, even if the architectural styles are quite different. When comparing stick built to a manufactured or mobile home, some differences go much deeper than cosmetics or architectural preferences. According to StateMaster, about 8 percent of American homes on average are manufactured. South Carolina has more than…
Every homeowner knows (or should know) that attic insulation is critical to energy efficiency and comfort. Heat rises, after all, and attic insulation keeps more heat inside the living areas instead of losing it through the roof. But too many homeowners never think about the crawl space. When they do, they often get it wrong,…
What would you rather do all winter? Try to drum up home inspection business, or move into a different seasonal job phase? Spring and summer are the classic high-volume seasons for all aspects of the residential real estate industry, from listing and buying homes to inspections and home improvements. But commercial properties need inspections year-round.…
Even if you are just beginning to work on your home inspection license, learning more about industry ethics is always smart. Even if you are not a licensed home inspector, learning how to adopt an ethics code is beneficial. Not only will you ensure that you keep up your business, but you will not find…
As landscaping grows and matures all summer, new home defects might arise and old ones may become obscured by all of the lush, green growth. When fall arrives and plantings die back for the season, foundation cracks, roof damage, and other defects become apparent. Fall is one of the best times for a home inspection…
A wet or flooded basement is anything but convenient and no homeowner wants to face the serious price tag of repairing one. When it comes to trying to fix a wet basement, many homeowners are not aware that certain “fixes” are actually not addressing the root of the problem. If you’ve tried any of these…
Wood-burning stoves might seem like simple appliances, but numerous problems can lurk that put the health and safety of the homeowner at risk. The stove might have the wrong flue pipe, sit in an unsafe location, have a defective door seal, or a number of other problems. There aren’t many moving parts, if any, in…
Crosslinked polyethylene tubing (PEX) is an acceptable water supply piping material according to most building codes. Certain states and small towns, however, might frown on it. What if your area doesn’t allow PEX? Is it an automatic home inspection defect? Probably not, as defects and code violations aren’t the same. Whether or not you caution…
