Fort Worth Inspector Found “Shocking” Problems At This Arlington Home Inspection

Our inspector was “shocked” to find at least three electrical surprises at this home inspection in west Arlington. First, there was a lone wire inside the electrical panel, which should have had no power present, that tested hot for power being present. There was a wire nut protecting the metal parts from contacting the wire, so it was relatively safe. It was unusual, but as we tell clients, no one should be inside the panel unless you have a license and know what you are doing.

As the home inspector continued, he found two more live wires inside the attic. These were not so well protected. In fact, if someone were not careful at the top of the attic ladder, there was a chance that one of those wires could have been accidentally touched, and a shock or electrocution would have occurred.

While we don’t like to see these dangerous conditions in any home, we are glad when we find them, so that folks can be informed, repairs can be made, and the homes can be returned to a safe condition before someone gets hurt. We consider it part of our job to pay attention to how safe the home appears to be. We think it is what our clients want.

Another part of the equation is for us to notify parties on both sides of the transaction of any unsafe or unhealthy condition. Whether our client buys the home or not, the Seller often is still living in the home, and their family should be safe in the home as well. So we inform the Seller’s agent when we find an unsafe or unhealthy condition. If the Seller is there, we inform them directly, and none of them has ever complained about our honesty and alertness.

All licensed home inspectors should be on the look out for such hazards as these. It is what the public needs. It is what our clients and home owners deserve from us. At House Exam Inspection, scores of our clients rave about the way we deliver our information regarding the safety conditions in the homes we inspect. They say that the calm and clear way we explained these conditions was helpful in keeping them focused on the purchase decision rather than some repairable problem. We simply explained that a licensed electrician could assess the condition and provide repairs as needed. Many of these clients went ahead to purchase these homes with confidence.

Every home needs some repairs, some more serious and perhaps more costly than others. But, if we do our job properly, folks can make a calm and rational decision, based on facts and information, rather than emotions. It’s what we would want if we were buying a house.

 

Give us a call for you inspection needs  (817) 797-2461

or Schedule an inspection yourself 24 / 7, right here on our website

Wind Damaged Roofs Throughout Metroplex – Schedule a Roof Inspection

This week’s surprising inspection discoveries were not spotted during an official home inspection. These photos of roof damage were taken in neighborhoods where we were inspecting last week. These are shingles which have been damaged by high winds. And there are storm damaged roofs all over the Metroplex.

It’s not unusual, either. All it takes is a high fastener raising a shingle tab up so the wind can get under it. Maybe the roof was installed on a cold or damp day, and the shingle tabs never stuck like they were supposed to.

So, here’s the question, “When was the last time you looked at your roof surface?”

Storm Damage Happens Around Here
Thunderstorms happen in various parts of the Metroplex on a fairly regular basis. Granted, we just passed through a pretty dry summer, but do you know if your roof suffered any damage when those rare storms came through? Do you have roof damage that you haven’t seen? Wind-damage to shingles doesn’t require a bad storm, either. Shingles can be easily damaged if they were not installed properly.

Storms aren’t the only thing that can cause damage. Shingles can be easily damaged in high winds if they were installed incorrectly. Or other damage can occur while a roof is being replaced. See the post in this section “Hazards Caused By New Roof Installation” about damage we found on an inspection, which had been caused by careless roofers.

From now until December 15, 2011, House Exam Inspection offers a stand-alone Roof Inspection. We’ll come and examine your roof for $99.00. That’s $30 off our regular price. We’ll let you know exactly what the damage is, where it is and how to present a claim to your insurance company along with our letter. No more wondering. No more guessing. You will have the factual information for your peace of mind.

So call to schedule a Roof Inspection, and get the Peace of Mind you are looking for.

Call (817) 797-2461

 

Attention DFW Home Buyers…

Home buyers all over Tarrant and Parker Counties – from Weatherford to Arlington, from Keller to Crowley, from Azle to Mansfield, from Southlake to Benbrook – have relied on our accurate, down-to-earth information BEFORE they made up their minds to buy a particular home. Our home inspections have helped some families decide not to buy that particular house, and to keep looking for one that matches their needs and expectations … and their budgets.

Let’s be clear, the vast majority of the homes we inspect are just fine. Every home needs a little TLC. We are talking about the occasional “surprise” home, where even the owner didn’t know how bad things were. What we find in those homes even shocks us sometimes. We keep an ongoing blog of some of those surprises. We call them “Surprising Inspection Discoveries.”

No one wants to end up with a “money pit.” The only thing worse is finding out too late. That’s why we tell you calmly, carefully, and thoroughly what needs further attention. We’ll help you understand how serious some of the things could be, if left unattended. We work with you and your real estate agent. And we’ll stick with the conversation as long as it takes to help you decide.

Truth is: some of our clients have actually decided to go ahead and buy a home, even though there were lots of surprises. But they did so after we helped them see the whole picture. Let us provide that kind of confidence for you when you are ready to buy. Isn’t it all about confidence, after all?

Call now (817) 797-2461

OR, you can

Schedule a home inspection online 24/7

Newest Satisfied Client From an Inspection in East Fort Worth

We couldn’t wait to get this most recent review up on the site. This California investor needed extra photos, extra information and got a private phone consult on a property he was wanting to buy in East Fort Worth. Listen to his comments on our service.

Dear Mr. Sedinger,

Thank you for this unusually thorough inspection report. I’ve had a number of inspections run in Texas and California, but yours is easily the most thorough I’ve ever read. As an out of state purchaser, the inspection is that much more important since I can’t see the property first hand, and you have helped us significantly. If you ever need an out of state reference, I’d be very pleased to describe what a great job you’ve done for us.

Best regards,
Steven B
San Jose, CA

Call now to book an inspection for your Fort Worth Area home inspection. We serve the Fort Worth, Arlington and mid-cities areas.

(817) 797-2461   OR

Schedule a home inspection yourself online

Vintage Home Inspections Like Arlington Heights and Berkeley – Our Specialty!

Vintage homes, like those in the Arlington Heights, Monticello, Fairmount, Berkeley and TCU sections of Fort Worth, are our specialty. As you can see from the business address of our Fort Worth home inspection company, Victor lives in a vintage home. We’ve inspected hundreds of pier and beam foundations. Yes, we are qualified to inspect it for you, maybe more qualified than most inspectors in the area.

More importantly, we know how to talk to you about what we find. No, it won’t meet modern building codes. You really didn’t expect it to, did you? But, if you like older homes, we know how to talk your language and be both sensitive and sensible about it. We’ll tell you if there is something dangerous or if it’s just old. And we’ll tell you what can most likely be modernized and what can’t. And we can spot a Money Pit, and protect you from buying it.

We love old homes. But we love our Clients, too. So, if you’re wanting to buy a home in the Arlington Heights, Monticello, Fairmount, Berkeley or TCU sections of Fort Worth, we’re your inspection company. Call us NOW at (817) 797-2462, or just book-an-inspection yourself 24/7.

Pre-Listing Home Inspections Make Perfect Sense

Can a home inspection help me sell my home?

Fort Worth area home owners are discovering how to sell a home faster and for prices closer to their asking price. A pre-listing inspection performed BEFORE you put your home up for sale can help you sell faster, for closer to your desired sale price.

Most buyers in today’s market are going to get an inspection of the home they want to buy. so, it makes sense to have your home inspected prior to placing it on the market. Why wait until some buyer’s inspector finds something that can delay your sale? Maybe there are things about your home that you aren’t sure about. If you find out ahead of time, YOU can act accordingly. Get it fixed by a contractor of your choosing. Tell the buyer what’s wrong and price it as is. YOU can be in more in control!

House Exam Inspection has been working for buyers for over seven years. Why not call us and let us go to work for you when you decide to SELL? Call now at (817) 797-2461 or click here to order your inspection online.

This Home Inspection Client Was Buying For A Loved One

If you were buying a home for your children and grandchildren, wouldn’t you want to be CONFIDENT about the information you were getting on the house you are considering? Sure you would!
Just listen to what this concerned mother had to say about the information we provided when our inspectors performed this south Fort Worth home inspection, where her daughter and grandchildren are now living.

Dear Victor,
Thank you very much for the helpful and informative inspection you and Adam did on our home. Having never purchased a home on my own before this, your services were critical in my decision. We did close on May 9 and moved our daughter and grandchildren into the home that week. They are enjoying their new place very much. We have already addressed most of the items mentioned in your report, however, there is always something more to do!! I will call you next time I am in FW about your pest control services.
Thanks again for your help.
Kathie A.

Call now (817) 797-2461 to set up your Tarrant County home inspection, OR
Click to Schedule Online for yourself right now

Fort Worth Home Inspector Finds Hazards Caused By A New Roof Installation

At a recent home inspection in northeast Tarrant County, our inspector saw these safety hazards in the water heater closet. He knew right away what had happened. When new roof shingles were installed a few months earlier, the workers on the roof knocked the gas flue vent pipe loose, dislodging it from the top of the water heater inside the house. No one noticed it from inside the house, because the water heater was in a garage closet. The roofing crew saw enough of the vent pipe sticking out above the roof that they thought everything was OK. So no one suspected a problem.

Since this savvy home buyer decided to have a professional home inspection, however, our inspector saw several things wrong. Let’s count them.

First, the gas water heater has heated gas fumes coming out the top of the unit when the burner is fired up, and the water is heating. See the open draft hood at the top of the unit in the photo? That’s where the pipe was that ran all the way through the roof. With that pipe gone, there is nowhere for the heat to go but the drywall ceiling inside the closet – fire hazard!

Second, if the gas burner is not burning efficiently, there may be carbon monoxide byproducts hanging around in the air – health hazard.

Third, since the vent pipe at the roof is not fitting properly, water is coming down the pipe when it rains, wetting the drywall inside the closet. In this photo, you can see that the ceiling has been wet. Look a little lower on the wall and you can see that it has been wet there, too. If a moist, dark, unvented area stays that way for long, it will create a perfect condition for mold – health hazard.

Our client, the home buyer, was very pleased that we found these deficiencies while he was still in his option period, because he and his real estate agent can ask the home seller to make the necessary repairs before they proceed with the purchase. We have found such problems, worth thousands of dollars for our previous clients.

In our seven years in the inspection business, we have learned that it is a good idea after a new roof is installed to have an experienced home inspector come around and look things over. In fact, a professional inspector can help you make sure that any home repairs are done properly and safely. If you have questions about home repairs, call us, or post a reply below, and we’ll be glad to respond. At House Exam Inspection and Consulting, we’d like to be your home inspection and maintenance consultants for life.

Water Pressure Too High When Measured During a Grapevine Home Inspection

Why Is This A Concern?
By nationally accepted building codes, water pressures at residences should be between 40 and 80 psi. Engineers design plumbing fixtures for this range of pressure. So, in theory, high pressures could cause premature wear or failure of fixtures such as toilets, faucets and water heaters, etc. There is not a lot of hard data to support this. One problem we frequently observe during a home inspections where pressures are high is “fogging” at the lawn sprinkler heads. High pressure causes this “mist” effect, and water droplets are so tiny that breezes carry the water onto the neighbor’s yard or down the street. This particular problem can (and should) usually be remedied by turning the pressure down at the sprinkler zone valves. Leaky faucets may be a little more prevalent with higher pressures, also.
Why Are the Pressures So High?
Water districts (municipal or co-op) are responsible to get the water to the neighborhoods and to the curbside meter bases. Water districts face distribution challenges, such as the number of houses in a subdivision, distance from distribution points, peak daily demand, etc. The most frequent reason for pressures being above the 80 psi range is that the distribution point (usually a water tower) is in relatively close proximity to the neighborhood. The farther away from the distribution point, the lower the pressure, unless pumps or design features can boost the pressure along the way.
What Can a Home Owner Do About It?
First, call the water department and ask for information, and perhaps for a courtesy call to test pressures in your neighborhood. If they don’t have the proper monitoring systems in place, they may not know they have a problem. Sometimes calibration and other distribution problems arise to cause the problem. In those cases, municipal water departments may need to be notified of pressure problems. Sometimes municipalities simply “amend the code” for the conditions which exist within their jurisdictions. This is why we strongly suggest calling the local water department for information on their specific operation and policies.
If you are experiencing high water pressure as a problem, or if you are just sufficiently concerned about it, call a licensed plumber. If a plumber evaluates the issue and recommends repair, he or she can install a pressure regulating device on the supply line, lowering the water pressure to the house. BUT – ONE MORE TIME – call the water department FIRST. You don’t want to spend the money to fix your pressure, when the city needs to fix the neighborhood instead!

This Type of Duct Wastes Energy AND Money

Our Fort Worth inspector found “grayflex”-type insulated flex duct in this 1980s Arlington home recently. The early versions of insulated flex duct were marketed too soon, because the defects didn’t show up until hundreds of thousands of feet of it were installed in attics all over the country. As you can see from the video, with attic heat and exposure to minimal amounts of UV light, it begins to shred and then fall apart.

We find it often in early 1980s homes, and we recommend our Clients consult a heating and cooling specialist, BEFORE THEY DECIDE. Take a look and see how energy-efficient you think a house would be with this installed.

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