Marc

Electricity doesn't care how old the house is. It'll shock folks and start fires just as easily in an older home as in a new one. Codes are often applied where they don't belong. They're overrated. Just my humble opinion.

If that's all if it, I suspect there's other parts missing.

A 2" thick solid concrete pad is needed above the celled concrete blocks, then above that, hardwood shims. Send the contractor back in. Not the same one.

Camera. I use the 50+ zoom instead of binoculars for roofs too high/steep for me to mount. My iPhone won't zoom anywhere near that much. Plus, I can transfer photos more quickly and reliably by manual transfer of memory chip to my Mac (5 seconds). Since I've started that over 10 years ago, I've never lost any photos.

Thanks guys. Lots of surprises on this house. Entrance to the stairway leading to upstairs was on the back porch!

This wiring method is likely the first to be installed in this morning's house. House likely built before K&T but I didn't see any. Didn't find this stuff in Douglas Hansen's book either. Anyone know what it's called?

Spore count shouldn't be higher inside than outside. If it's only a little, that could change tomorrow. If you're more allergic than most folks, get an air filter with the highest allergen rating you can find. Change it regularly, even if it appears clean to the naked eye. Let us know.

I've never seen it but if I had to name it, I'd call it Crap slate.

I tend towards placing the heaviest loads at the top of the panel to reduce the voltage drop developed by surge currents. Such voltage drops will transmit all the way to the bottom of the bus bars but at least they're smaller, and less likely to cause annoying flickers in incandescent lamps. I've never heard of any rule regarding that.

You can inspect your own house without them. These folks just help you to understand what you're seeing...virtually. I doubt what they're doing is legal but I'm too lazy to go over the Texas HI regulations again.

Agree. Online training is like online inspecting, like this guy is doing: diyhouseinspection(dot)com

Contact Safe & Sound Home Inspections in South Sandy, south of SLC. Ask them what you've asked here. After reviewing the sample report on his website, I can see that his competency is likely in the 80 percentile or higher but still far below the guy you just complained to about offering only criticism. Maybe they can give you the answer you're looking for, instead of the truth.

If you do, move to Michigan where Les Van Alstine lives. He's a member here and I've heard that the agents are more ethical where he's at.

Only if you can get your foot in the door. When the purchase process reaches the point where an inspector is needed, the agent is quick to jump in and offer the buyer the name of an inspector who they'll say is the best in the business. At that precise moment, 5 seconds after a buyer's search for an inspector begins, the search is already over. And every other inspector in the area has no chance to solicit for the sale.

A report that won't jeopardize their commission. They're in this for the money, not the house. The buyer sits alone, on the other side of the table, in wanting the truth about the house. It's the buyer's money that pays all of the other parties involved in these transactions. It's a big transaction too, where much damage can result from not knowing the truth about the house.

It's a long road if you're construction savvy, an even longer one if you're not. Consider a career in an area where's you've got more assets. Throughout much of the country, the home inspection business is hi-jacked by agents. The client pays you, but you must appease his/her agent instead if you want the job. The client is oblivious to what's going on. Problem is that what agents want and what clients want from the home inspector are two very different things. If you get into this business, you'll likely survive only by making yourself more attractive to agents than your competition is. I'm consideration quitting this business next year, which will be 20 years in this business, on account of it. I always serve who's paying me, and agents hate me for it. They hate my guts.

If it's just roof covers that you want to inspect, you don't need a home inspector's license. Just become familiar with as many manufacturer installation instructions (roofing products) as you can and get to work.

I'd imagine that, in temperate climates, moisture propagation isn't so big an issue.

Never seen one before but boy, ohh boy, I'd sure love to have one on commercial roofs to help clean the coils on roof top units. What Bill said.

After all these years..I had no idea.

Why? Assuming the OCP device is sized to protect the circuit conductors.

Got stung by one of those bees (we called them bumble bees) when I was a kid. Had to lean forward at the dinner table for a week.

It's very climate specific. Not sure what that is where you're at. Not a good idea to start guessing at it before your local climate is well understood.

Lots of different answers but one guiding principle in my answer is the belief that a home inspection is designed and intended for home buyers only. You can apply it to other situations but it fits best when used to meet the needs of buyers.