Comments for Fort Worth Home Inspections | Builder's Warranty Inspections | Home Energy Audit inspections | House Exam Inspection & Consulting http://www.houseexamdfw.com Service Award-winning Home Inspectors, serving Fort Worth and the surrounding areas Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:21:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Energy Retrofit of Older Home Will Pay Off In Lots of Ways by Victor http://www.houseexamdfw.com/energy-retrofit-of-older-home-will-pay-off-in-lots-of-ways/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Victor Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:21:05 +0000 http://www.houseexamdfw.com/?p=417#comment-45 Again, Thanks, Jeff, But here's the great thing. With our energy audit, we can not only tell the home owner where the leaks and wasted energy sources are, we can actually show them how much money we saved them as soon as we complete an energy audit. We "test in" and "test out." That means we test when we show up at the house to show the home owner where the leaks are. Then we do the seal up, weatherization and duct repairs. Afterward, we test again, and show the home owner the difference in readings on the "blower door" test ratings. It's not rocket science or magic. We do the whole show in front of the home owner, and give them the results. Again, Thanks, Jeff,
But here’s the great thing. With our energy audit, we can not only tell the home owner where the leaks and wasted energy sources are, we can actually show them how much money we saved them as soon as we complete an energy audit. We “test in” and “test out.” That means we test when we show up at the house to show the home owner where the leaks are. Then we do the seal up, weatherization and duct repairs. Afterward, we test again, and show the home owner the difference in readings on the “blower door” test ratings. It’s not rocket science or magic. We do the whole show in front of the home owner, and give them the results.

]]> Comment on Home Energy TuneUp Offers Energy Savings, Tax Savings, Greater Comfort by Victor http://www.houseexamdfw.com/home-energy-tuneup-offers-energy-savings-tax-savings-greater-comfort/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Victor Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:13:07 +0000 http://www.houseexamdfw.com/?p=329#comment-44 Thanks, Jeff, I agree. Money back from Uncle Sam is great. And, until December 31, 2010, there is a 30% tax credit available for qualifying energy improvements to the home. The limit is $1,500, so that means that a home owner could conceivably spend $5,000 for qualifying improvements, and get a $1,500 reduction of tax owed, or refund balance. Talk to your accountant for specifics, but it's definitely worth the conversation. And the utility savings and comfort improvement in your home is well worth it. Thanks, Jeff,
I agree. Money back from Uncle Sam is great. And, until December 31, 2010, there is a 30% tax credit available for qualifying energy improvements to the home. The limit is $1,500, so that means that a home owner could conceivably spend $5,000 for qualifying improvements, and get a $1,500 reduction of tax owed, or refund balance. Talk to your accountant for specifics, but it’s definitely worth the conversation. And the utility savings and comfort improvement in your home is well worth it.

]]> Comment on Fort Worth Home Inspection Company Awarded Angies List Super Service Award – 3rd Straight Year by Victor http://www.houseexamdfw.com/fort-worth-home-inspection-company-awarded-angies-list-super-service-award-3rd-straight-year/comment-page-1/#comment-40 Victor Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:16:26 +0000 http://www.houseexamdfw.com/?p=465#comment-40 Michele, You've made me blush . . . but we are always glad when our Clients brag on our service. It was a pleasure working with you and making sure you had enough information about the house to make an informed decision regarding your purchase. Blessings to you as well, and we'll be here to answer any further questions you might have. Michele,

You’ve made me blush . . . but we are always glad when our Clients brag on our service.

It was a pleasure working with you and making sure you had enough information about the house to make an informed decision regarding your purchase. Blessings to you as well, and we’ll be here to answer any further questions you might have.

]]> Comment on Fort Worth Home Inspection Company Awarded Angies List Super Service Award – 3rd Straight Year by Michele Lin Ray http://www.houseexamdfw.com/fort-worth-home-inspection-company-awarded-angies-list-super-service-award-3rd-straight-year/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Michele Lin Ray Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:26:37 +0000 http://www.houseexamdfw.com/?p=465#comment-39 I am buying my First Home and needed advise on an inspection. You go to who you know, my friend, an inspector, in Cedar Hill-Austin, TX. He gave me a list of things to look for and questions to ask. I started searching the web for a "Home Inspection" and I came across House Exam. They offered you to Download This FREE Report, "8 Things You Must Know To Find The Right Home Inspector." So I did, and it was everything I had been told. So, I perused their website and then asked my dad what he thought. I like their upfront honesty, numerous customer reviews, and their very informational website. I am very impressed with their service. They were personable, forthcoming, helpful, and patient with all my questions which they answered. I recommend them and would use them in the future. Your Character & Reputation is all we have, and they have a GREAT one in my book. God Bless you and your experience along with Victor, Adam and House Exam! I am buying my First Home and needed advise on an inspection. You go to who you know, my friend, an inspector, in Cedar Hill-Austin, TX. He gave me a list of things to look for and questions to ask. I started searching the web for a “Home Inspection” and I came across House Exam. They offered you to Download This FREE Report, “8 Things You Must Know To Find The Right Home Inspector.” So I did, and it was everything I had been told. So, I perused their website and then asked my dad what he thought. I like their upfront honesty, numerous customer reviews, and their very informational website. I am very impressed with their service. They were personable, forthcoming, helpful, and patient with all my questions which they answered. I recommend them and would use them in the future. Your Character & Reputation is all we have, and they have a GREAT one in my book. God Bless you and your experience along with Victor, Adam and House Exam!

]]> Comment on Home Energy TuneUp Offers Energy Savings, Tax Savings, Greater Comfort by Victor http://www.houseexamdfw.com/home-energy-tuneup-offers-energy-savings-tax-savings-greater-comfort/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Victor Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:17:56 +0000 http://www.houseexamdfw.com/?p=329#comment-38 Hi, Gerri, First, let's be clear: it is not a good idea to take tax advise from someone who doesn't DO taxes, and I DON"T do taxes. Second, you should be talking to an accountant or a professional tax preparer about these issues. Third, the BEST thing I can do for you and anyone else who is curious is take you directly to the Form you will need. Click here >> http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf and go get the Form from the "tax man" himself. Are you still here? If you are still here, this is the closest I can come to addressing (not answering) your question. This is MY UNDERSTANDING of the way it works: Tax credits are fairly straightforward. If you qualify and if you file, they send you a refund. If you have already filed your return for 2009, ask your tax preparer if you need to file an Amended Return and send it in. If so, they will send you a check. IF YOU OWE the IRS money, they will take it out of the check before they send the balance (unless you owe them more than they owe you). If you have not filed your return, and have done what is required to qualify for the credit, your tax preparer can include the appropriate form as a part of the overall tax return, and the credit should be included in the mix. Refund if they owe you; less tax if you owe them. Let me say this ONE MORE TIME: I don't give tax advise, and I don't do taxes, and your accountant or tax preparer might tell you that I don't know what I'm talking about. So ask a tax professional. You might just get a bigger refund. Hi, Gerri,

First, let’s be clear: it is not a good idea to take tax advise from someone who doesn’t DO taxes, and I DON”T do taxes. Second, you should be talking to an accountant or a professional tax preparer about these issues. Third, the BEST thing I can do for you and anyone else who is curious is take you directly to the Form you will need. Click here >> http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf and go get the Form from the “tax man” himself.

Are you still here? If you are still here, this is the closest I can come to addressing (not answering) your question. This is MY UNDERSTANDING of the way it works:
Tax credits are fairly straightforward. If you qualify and if you file, they send you a refund.
If you have already filed your return for 2009, ask your tax preparer if you need to file an Amended Return and send it in. If so, they will send you a check.
IF YOU OWE the IRS money, they will take it out of the check before they send the balance (unless you owe them more than they owe you).
If you have not filed your return, and have done what is required to qualify for the credit, your tax preparer can include the appropriate form as a part of the overall tax return, and the credit should be included in the mix. Refund if they owe you; less tax if you owe them.

Let me say this ONE MORE TIME: I don’t give tax advise, and I don’t do taxes, and your accountant or tax preparer might tell you that I don’t know what I’m talking about. So ask a tax professional. You might just get a bigger refund.

]]> Comment on Home Energy TuneUp Offers Energy Savings, Tax Savings, Greater Comfort by Gerri http://www.houseexamdfw.com/home-energy-tuneup-offers-energy-savings-tax-savings-greater-comfort/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Gerri Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:23:44 +0000 http://www.houseexamdfw.com/?p=329#comment-37 Regarding the tax credit, do you still get the tax credit if you don't OWE taxes when you've complted your tax return? Regarding the tax credit, do you still get the tax credit if you don’t OWE taxes when you’ve complted your tax return?

]]> Comment on New Construction Final Inspection Gets Rave Reviews by Victor http://www.houseexamdfw.com/new-construction-final-inspection-gets-rave-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Victor Sun, 03 Jan 2010 18:09:47 +0000 http://www.houseexamdfw.com/?p=367#comment-19 Brad, Thanks for raising these issues. You can tell, from looking around the website, that we do both construction phase inspections AND End-of-Warranty inspections. So my answer will address your dilemma from both angles. Assuming the home was under construction and/or ownership was transferred prior to September 15, 2009, you should have some leverage with the now-defunct Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC). Yes, you read it correctly ... "now defunct." But that's another blog. The State legislature "sunsetted" TRCC last year, but if your home was under construction during any time period while the agency was operating, your home builder would have been obligated to comply with the agency's warranty provisions, or come up with a substitute warranty provision with which you would have had to agree in writing. I've dug up a couple of excerpts from the TRCC website which may partially address your concerns. 1. Whatever "express" warranty you and the builder signed must be complied with. When you dig out the twenty-six pounds of documents you signed with your builder, there should be a document which specifically lists the warranty terms that bind both the builder and you. Go there first, Brad. You should see something that resembles the following three categories of warranty: Workmanship and Materials (one-year), Mechanical and Delivery System (two-year), Structural (10 year). Start there. 2. Before the TRCC was ever established, the Texas courts recognized an implied warranty for materials and workmanship, and for habitability. In other words, your builder should build you a home constructed in a manner that compies with basic, industry-wide construction standards, and that is safe and healthy to live in. That's where your fundamental rights as a home-buying consumer begin. And that is where a professional home inspection can be of lasting effect for you. If it's not safe now, it may not have been constructed properly. We can track down those mistakes and deficiencies, and you can use our Report to persuade the builder (even if you have to hire an attorney) to fix such problems. 3. Every builder relies on a reputation, whether it's the company that built your house or Uncle Bob's Custom-built Outhouses. The old saying is true: One negative comment will cancel ten or more positive ones. If you and your neighbors whose builder was the same raise enough fuss, it'll make waves for builder, the sub-contractors, for the contractors. Heck, it might even make the local news consumer reporter's special report. 4. Unless you live outside a city limit, there should be a local Chief Building Official, or building permit office, which was responsible to inspect the various phases of the construction of your house. Even if you live outside a city limit, the TRCC regulations applied by way of third-party inspectors the builder was required to have inspected and passed or failed these same phases. If a professional home inspector now locates issues which were overlooked or not completed correctly, there MAY be some recourse to the permitting official/agency. I know that's iffy at best, but it's possible. 5. Finally, as to the idea of "wasting" the money for an inspection: look around this website, especially the blog called "Surprise inspection Discoveries." We don't find scary things on every inspection, but we didn't EXPECT to find them on any of these. It's our job to hunt down the problems. So, I ask you: If there are safety or health issues in your home, don't you want to know, no matter whether the builder pays for it or not? That kind of peace of mind is worth a lot, especially if you have kids. believe it or not, we are always happy when we can tell our Clients, "The home is in good shape." Hope this helps, Brad, and if you want, keep up the blog talk. It never hurts to put these discussions in public. Other folks may be having similar questions. And be sure to call us at (817) 797-2461. We can talk further. Even if you don't schedule us for the inspection, I'd like to help you in any way I can. Brad,
Thanks for raising these issues. You can tell, from looking around the website, that we do both construction phase inspections AND End-of-Warranty inspections. So my answer will address your dilemma from both angles.
Assuming the home was under construction and/or ownership was transferred prior to September 15, 2009, you should have some leverage with the now-defunct Texas Residential Construction Commission (TRCC). Yes, you read it correctly … “now defunct.” But that’s another blog.
The State legislature “sunsetted” TRCC last year, but if your home was under construction during any time period while the agency was operating, your home builder would have been obligated to comply with the agency’s warranty provisions, or come up with a substitute warranty provision with which you would have had to agree in writing. I’ve dug up a couple of excerpts from the TRCC website which may partially address your concerns.
1. Whatever “express” warranty you and the builder signed must be complied with. When you dig out the twenty-six pounds of documents you signed with your builder, there should be a document which specifically lists the warranty terms that bind both the builder and you. Go there first, Brad. You should see something that resembles the following three categories of warranty: Workmanship and Materials (one-year), Mechanical and Delivery System (two-year), Structural (10 year). Start there.
2. Before the TRCC was ever established, the Texas courts recognized an implied warranty for materials and workmanship, and for habitability. In other words, your builder should build you a home constructed in a manner that compies with basic, industry-wide construction standards, and that is safe and healthy to live in. That’s where your fundamental rights as a home-buying consumer begin. And that is where a professional home inspection can be of lasting effect for you. If it’s not safe now, it may not have been constructed properly. We can track down those mistakes and deficiencies, and you can use our Report to persuade the builder (even if you have to hire an attorney) to fix such problems.
3. Every builder relies on a reputation, whether it’s the company that built your house or Uncle Bob’s Custom-built Outhouses. The old saying is true: One negative comment will cancel ten or more positive ones. If you and your neighbors whose builder was the same raise enough fuss, it’ll make waves for builder, the sub-contractors, for the contractors. Heck, it might even make the local news consumer reporter’s special report.
4. Unless you live outside a city limit, there should be a local Chief Building Official, or building permit office, which was responsible to inspect the various phases of the construction of your house. Even if you live outside a city limit, the TRCC regulations applied by way of third-party inspectors the builder was required to have inspected and passed or failed these same phases. If a professional home inspector now locates issues which were overlooked or not completed correctly, there MAY be some recourse to the permitting official/agency. I know that’s iffy at best, but it’s possible.
5. Finally, as to the idea of “wasting” the money for an inspection: look around this website, especially the blog called “Surprise inspection Discoveries.” We don’t find scary things on every inspection, but we didn’t EXPECT to find them on any of these. It’s our job to hunt down the problems. So, I ask you: If there are safety or health issues in your home, don’t you want to know, no matter whether the builder pays for it or not? That kind of peace of mind is worth a lot, especially if you have kids. believe it or not, we are always happy when we can tell our Clients, “The home is in good shape.”

Hope this helps, Brad, and if you want, keep up the blog talk. It never hurts to put these discussions in public. Other folks may be having similar questions.

And be sure to call us at (817) 797-2461. We can talk further. Even if you don’t schedule us for the inspection, I’d like to help you in any way I can.

]]> Comment on New Construction Final Inspection Gets Rave Reviews by Brad Stoker http://www.houseexamdfw.com/new-construction-final-inspection-gets-rave-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Brad Stoker Sun, 03 Jan 2010 06:11:14 +0000 http://www.houseexamdfw.com/?p=367#comment-18 We purchased a new (Meritage) home about 7 months ago and did not have a home inspection performed before closing. We assumed that because it was a new home and under warranty, it wasn't a necessary expense. We've had some issues and the builder is working with us to get them resolved...not necessarily as fast as we would like. Is there any benefit to having a home inspection performed (now) after we have purchased the home. I have some concerns about what I consider major issues and I don't feel like we are in a position of strength...they already have our money... and concerned the builder may retaliate in some way for getting a home inspection done at this point. We are trying to be reasonable and not to rock the boat since they already have our money. I'm concerned that we will purchase an inspection report, confirm my concerns, but the builder won't take any action. We will be out the money for the report, but no leverage to get anything done. Is the builder obligated to perform the repairs you find? We purchased a new (Meritage) home about 7 months ago and did not have a home inspection performed before closing. We assumed that because it was a new home and under warranty, it wasn’t a necessary expense. We’ve had some issues and the builder is working with us to get them resolved…not necessarily as fast as we would like. Is there any benefit to having a home inspection performed (now) after we have purchased the home. I have some concerns about what I consider major issues and I don’t feel like we are in a position of strength…they already have our money… and concerned the builder may retaliate in some way for getting a home inspection done at this point. We are trying to be reasonable and not to rock the boat since they already have our money. I’m concerned that we will purchase an inspection report, confirm my concerns, but the builder won’t take any action. We will be out the money for the report, but no leverage to get anything done. Is the builder obligated to perform the repairs you find?

]]> Comment on Fort Worth Home Inspector Sings Cash in Jasper Georgia by Victor http://www.houseexamdfw.com/fort-worth-home-inspector-sings-cash-in-jasper-georgia/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Victor Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:48:23 +0000 http://www.houseexamdfw.com/?p=353#comment-15 "Interlocutor" (n.) - Origin: 1505–15; < L interloc?-, var. s. of interloqu? to speak between (inter- inter- + loqu? to speak) + -tor Definition: 1. a person who takes part in a conversation or dialogue. 2. the man in the middle of the line of performers in a minstrel troupe, who acts as the announcer and banters with the end men. 3. a person who questions; interrogator. Thanks for the compliment, I think. “Interlocutor” (n.) – Origin: 1505–15; < L interloc?-, var. s. of interloqu? to speak between (inter- inter- + loqu? to speak) + -tor

Definition:
1. a person who takes part in a conversation or dialogue.
2. the man in the middle of the line of performers in a minstrel troupe, who acts as the announcer and banters with the end men.
3. a person who questions; interrogator.

Thanks for the compliment, I think.

]]> Comment on $8,000 Home Buyer’s Tax Credit Extended and Expanded by Tweets that mention $8,000 Home Buyer’s Tax Credit Extended and Expanded | Fort Worth Home Inspections | Builder's Warranty Inspections | Home Energy Audit inspections | House Exam Inspection & Consulting -- Topsy.com http://www.houseexamdfw.com/8000-home-buyers-tax-credit-extended-and-expanded/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Tweets that mention $8,000 Home Buyer’s Tax Credit Extended and Expanded | Fort Worth Home Inspections | Builder's Warranty Inspections | Home Energy Audit inspections | House Exam Inspection & Consulting -- Topsy.com Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:13:56 +0000 http://www.houseexamdfw.com/?p=351#comment-12 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ZuckerTeam, Barbara Zucker. Barbara Zucker said: $8000 Home Buyer's Tax Credit Extended and Expanded | Fort Worth ... http://bit.ly/4OtKVj [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ZuckerTeam, Barbara Zucker. Barbara Zucker said: $8000 Home Buyer's Tax Credit Extended and Expanded | Fort Worth … http://bit.ly/4OtKVj [...]

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