Steven Hockstein

I would like to remove mold remediation from my customer's homes. How should I proceed? lol

Modern deck construction techniques include hardware for lateral connections. Look at page 9 http://www.strongtie.com/ftp/fliers/F-DECKCODE13.pdf

Widget, Widget, Widget......

I inspected a house and the gas meter has been replaced and installed directly in front of the water meter. I noted that this will be a problem for access and servicing. Is this also a code issue? Click to Enlarge 43.1 KB

We have had two clients that used Pex in their home to save money (we specified copper). The fittings fail at the angles and both houses had to be gutted, remediated for mold and new water piping was installed. They both collected on product liability claims. Some plumbers install the pex like copper. There is a fitting at every turn with a clamp. This can be a nightmare if not installed perfectly and with the proper hardware. Listen to Bill about home runs for the pipes. The less fittings, the less of a chance of problems.

Did you get a permit? Are there plans to follow? Call the local construction department.

I am amused (and somewhat nauseated) at the way installers use applied synthetic stone veneer. There is no thought given to the material that it is trying to emulate. My favorite is when it is installed on cantilevers.

Attractive leaking built-in gutter system. "ALBIGS" for short.

Where is the afternoon inspection? This should take the whole morning.

Just curious, do you make them tie the different pours together in any way? Unlikely that there would be an issue, just wondering. Also, how do they anchor the block if there is no keyway or rebar.

jack slightly and then fill the web with plywood? not quite squash blocks but will add strength.

I would not get bogged down on the label of whether it is a stairway or a series of landings. I would focus on the possible concerns like if there are tripping hazards, adequate railing, illumination, etc. My client is paying me for my knowledge and opinion. The client does not care about the minutia of the label (like we seem to do). To be generic maybe you can just call it the concrete walkway to the front entrance.

Mike, Thanks for the technical info. It is nice to know but I will never do this type of calculation as part of a home inspection. To me it is like calculating BTU requirements for a heating system and span ratings for floor joists as part of our home inspection. I specifically exclude technical analysis from a home inspection and offer more comprehensive analysis for an added cost. The question is where is the line between what we do as a home inspection and technically analyzing the systems and structures in a home? I guess it is for each of us to decide where that line is for ourselves. We just need to be clear of what services we are providing for our clients and that we are meeting the standards or licensing requirements that govern our work. When I noted that the electrical panel was overloaded I was referring to the fact that there was too much wiring stuffed into the panel box and what appeared to be an excessive amount of mini-breakers. Along with other electrical issues in the house, this triggered my concern about the quality of the electrical work. I punted to the electrician.

The bottom line is that there was a lot of amateur electrical work performed in the house. I told my client that if I was moving into the house I would want my own licensed electrician to make the repairs (mostly because of the conflict of the owner and his relationship with the locals).

Thanks for your reply Marc. What about the jumble of wires behind the cover? Is there a requirement to have wires organized and not pushing again the cover because they are sloppily installed?

I called this panel out as having too many breakers and the panel is overloaded. The cover is pushing on a blob of wiring within the box. The owner claims he had an electrician come in to "Fix" the electrical problems. He claims that the existing panel is ok and no sub-panel is required. I am sticking to my opinion and think the electrician is wrong or the owner is not being honest about using a licensed electrician. There is a 200 ampere main breaker switch. Sorry for the blurry image. Lots of crude homeowner wiring in the house including open boxes, bundles of sloppy wiring, exposed pigtailed connections and back-feeding the panel with a generator through a box in the detached garage with no lockout device or transfer panel. The owner is a local fireman and he claims everything passed local inspection. I told my client that he should get his own licensed electrician into the house to evaluate the corrective work needed. Click to Enlarge 34.15 KB Click to Enlarge 38.71 KB Click to Enlarge 36.58 KB

Heard the DEA is looking for you. Apparently there is an issue with smuggling 30 pounds of crack.

If it is a brand new install it is wrong. Look up the installation specifications on the Hardie website. Unless of course "Brand New" means five years old (a common description in the real estate profession). One day I want to sell my "Brand New" four year old car to someone and see how they react.

Anyone want to invest in a warehouse full of water heaters with me. I have a feeling they will be a better investment than the .002% interest I am getting at the bank.

Real Estate Listing has since been updated to state "Custom, remote controlled bathroom lighting system"

Interesting that you say that. An attorney I deal with recently suggested the same thing because it makes it easier for him to reference the items in my reports. I tend to be descriptive and he likes to easily identify issues in my reports. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks.[:-monkeyd

This is what I wrote about the fireplaces: " There is a fireplace insert installed in the family room fireplace. The firebox and flue could not be seen or inspected within the scope of my inspection. The gas fireplace in the master bedroom is operable. The remote control is damaged and needs replacement. The documentation for the installation of the fireplace should be obtained (permit and inspection approval). Note that the location of the flue pipe discharge through the second floor deck does not have enough clearance from the adjacent wall, roof, balcony, doors, and windows. This is a hazard that needs to be corrected. I recommend that the fireplaces and flues be checked by a qualified chimney specialist prior to closing (a level two inspection-see exterior chimney notes for additional information). The cost of required work should be determined because chimney repairs are typically expensive."

I don't mean permit approval by the town, I mean permitted in accordance with any manufacturer's spec or obscure variation that I may not know about.

This is a second floor roof deck with the first floor gas fireplace venting through the deck. Is there any way this could be permitted? I say no. It seems obvious to me. Click to Enlarge 39.64 KB

The "sellers disclosures" around here are hardly worth the paper they're written on and often seem like an outright lie. I'm sure some try and truthfully fill theirs out, but most are nowhere near accurate. I usually give an estimate on age such as 5-7 years, 10-12 years etc. I will tell the buyers that there's not a date on a roof like a water heater or heating and air units so it's just an estimate. Most of the time I'm pretty accurate, but tell them if I was wrong it wouldn't be the first time. How about just stating the condition, especially if you are letting them know that your estimate of the age can be wrong (AKA meaningless)? I just let them know the current condition and if it needs to be repaired or replaced. If the roof is in bad condition but not currently leaking I warn them that they should budget for replacement in the very near future. I recommend that they get an estimate for the cost of replacement. That is all they want and need to know unless there is a warranty issue.