Latest News from Home Inspection Services Group
A beautiful Italian wood burning stove from the 1980's, that I inspected this morning in my capacity as a WETT certified Level 1 Inspector.
Insurance companies want to know that there is no risk, so they ask their clients to have them inspected.
The terminology that is commonly used by insurance companies and realtors, is "WETT Inspection", "WETT certificate" and other similar ones. These are all incorrect.
The correct term is "Inspection by a WETT certified inspector". All wood burning appliances and fireplaces should be inspected whether required by insurance companies or not. If you need more information about what a Level 1 inspection is, please feel free to contact me.
#homeinspection , #homeinspections , #woodstove , #realtor , #realestate , #realestatebroker , #realestateagent , #realestatebrokerage #realestatetraining
Some Inspectors don't use thermal imaging because they don't believe in it🤔.
Others charge extra, so that they can take advantage of their clients needs.🤨.
I do neither. If I didn't believe in thermal imaging and did not offer it as part of my service, I wouldn't have found the heat duct under the bathroom cabinet 😉
#homeinspection, #homeinspections , #thethingsiseeinhouses , #thermalimaging , #realtor , #realestate , #realestatebroker , #realestateagent
Who wouldn't want a heated driveway and walkway in this weather??
Had the opportunity to inspect a house with heated driveway this week. Sweet!!!!
#homeinspection , #homeinspections ,#homemaintenance , #realestate , #realtor , #realestatebroker #realestateagent , #realestatebrokerage , #thermalimaging , #heateddriveway
A big Inspection company name means absolutely nothing, if the inspector does not do a proper job, especially when doing a Pre-Listing Inspection.
My client bought this house last August and trusted the pre listing inspection report from a VERY well known and respected Canadian company. There was not one picture of the attic and vague comments about insulation , ventilation and NO comments about the roof sheathing and the mold. This issue is not recent. For mold to get to this stage, it has been happening for a few winter's now.
My Pre-Listing reports are as detailed as any other of my reports. That's why they are trusted by Realtors all over the GTA.
#homeinspection, #homeinspections, #certifiedmasterinspector, #realtor , #realestate , #realestatebroker , #realestateagent, #atticmold
This I have never seen before. The black pipe is the furnace vent. Over time, the moisture in the gases from the furnace, is damaging the brick at the adjacent house. This is only a 15 year old home.
This could have been easily avoided if the vent pipe was installed with a goose neck, instead of being extended like that.
#certifiedmasterinspector , #homeinspection , #homeinspections , #homemaintenance
What is so important about these white pipes?
If you have a high efficiency furnace and water heater, then you most likely have these 3 white pipes coming out of your house.
The two on top vent the combustion gases from your water heater and furnace and the other one brings combustion air in your furnace. It is VERY important that these pipes are not damaged, not obstructed and not altered. There are very specific rules for the installation of venting pipes and if you are planning any changes around them ALWAYS consult an HVAC technician.
#homeinspection , #homeinspections , #homemaintenance , #certifiedmasterinspector , #realtor , #realestate , #realestatebroker , #realestateagent, #realestatebrokerage
When you open the attic hatch and see this, it's time to put the mask on. 😷
The client asked me to take a mold sample and send it to the lab. A sample is a MUST in cases like this, because we need to know what type of mold it is. There are many different types of mold and some are far more dangerous than others. The lab test will help with the remediation decision.
In this case the issue is caused by heat loss and improper ventilation of the attic. Don't underestimate the importance of these two issues. Lots of work needed to be done here, and most probably replacement of the roof sheathing.
#homeinspection , #homeinspections , #certifiedmasterinspector , #atticmold , #homemaintenance , #realtor , #realestate , #realestatebroker , #realestateagent , #realestatebrokerage
It is really very simple to install a furnace filter!
The two arrows should point towards the same direction, towards the furnace.😁
Oh please and remember to change your filter every three months. That is the way to have a healthy environment in your home.🏘️😷
#homeinspection , #homeinspections , #homemaintenance , #certifiedmasterinspector , #realtor , #realestate , #realestatebroker , #realestateagent , #realestatebrokerage , #healthyhome
New home, never lived in. Doesn't need an inspection some may say.
NEVER skip the Inspection no matter what the age of the home.
#homeinspection , #homeinspections , #certifiedmasterinspector , #realtor , #realestate , #realestatebroker , #realestateagent , #realestatebrokerage , #roofleak
Don't underestimate the power of condensation!!
You may want to read the full post to understand the history of this home. This is a 2 year old home and it is the second time I am coming to help the home owner figure out why there is moisture damage in his home.
When we did the 30 day warranty Inspection we identified a huge list of issues. A year later a vent stack was causing moisture damage because it got disconnected.
Today a different location where the lack of ventilation has caused condensation that turned into moisture damage. Look at the drip marks on the insulation and then look at the rusted nails on the roof sheathing!! They shouldn't be like that in a 2 year old home. This area did not have insulation when we did the 30 Day Inspection and the builder sent someone to blow in insulation and they blocked the soffit vents completely.
Not all water damage is from a roof leak.
#homeinspection , #homeinspections , #certifiedmasterinspector , #realtor , #realestate , #realestatebroker , #realestatebrokerage #realestateagent
Is your sump pump ready for the warm weather?
The warm weather these couple of days, and hopefully more 🙏, will start melting the snow and may start thawing the ground, which means your sump pump will start seeing some action 💦.
Test your sump pump by adding water in it and make sure your discharge pipe is not obstructed and directing the water AWAY from the home. In areas where the houses are built very close together this may not be easy, but there is always a way. In some jurisdictions, the sump pump discharge is directed into in ground pipes that are connected to the storm sewers (not my favorite but allowed by local municipalities).
#homeinspection , #homeinspections , #certifiedmasterinspector , #realtor , #realestate , #realestatebroker , #realestateagent , #sumppump , #basementflooding
Where should deicing cables be used on a roof?
This is my home. When we renovated and rebuilt the garage, this was the only configuration the roof structure could be done. The sun doesn't shine in this area, therefore the snow and ice built up can cause ice damming issues, and they did the first year.
I have the deicing cables running through the eaves, downspouts and across the lower areas of the roof, and I have them on all winter long.
During Inspections, I recommend deicing cables in similar situations and at some low pitch roofs like back splits and side splits, that ice can create issues. Low cost, easy installation and peace of mind.
#homeinspection , #homeinspections , #certifiedmasterinspector, #realtor , #realestate , #realestatebroker , #realestateagent , #realestatebrokerage
If you bought a new construction home and did not have a professional Inspection done, then chances are you have missed a lot of issues.
The Pre Delivery Inspection only covers about 10% of what we check.
A typical new construction Inspection will reveal 40 to 50 deficiencies in a home.
We can help you at all the stages of your Tarion Warranty process.
Mold can cause serious health effects! If you have mold or suspect you have mold, we can help.
A thorough inspection of the home and mold testing in combination with an Indoor Air Quality Test, will provide you with solutions.
Removing drywall or other material that has mold, is not the complete solution. You need to know what is causing the issue and how to clear the air in your home.
Call us at 416-997-3644 or message us on Facebook to book your appointment right away.
Living space over the garage. Half is over the garage and the other half over interior living space. Why is it always colder?
No matter what, a garage will be colder than living space. Insulated garage walls, ceilings and doors will do a lot keeping the cold out, but a typical garage is not heated.
#homeinspection , #homeinspections , #realtor , #realestate , #certifiedmasterinspector
Some pictures from the great training session at Century 21 Green Real Estate brokerage in Mississauga.
Great group of Realtors, eager to learn how to identify the age and type of different components of the home.
So much interaction and so many questions, during and after the session.
#homeinspection , #homeinspections , #certifiedmasterinspector , #realtor , #realestateagent, #realestate , #realestatetraining , #realestatebrokerage , #realestatebroker
Getting ready for a Lunch and Learn at Century 21 Green Real Estate Brokerage in Mississauga.
Training never ends and I am making my part to help Realtors with learning more about the Inspection process and keeping their clients happy and protected.
Inspection Fact #10: There is no such thing as a perfect home.
Real houses are not like what you see on TV shows. They will have issues, they will most probably need updates and they NEED MAINTENANCE.
Have your buyer's expectations reset to reality when showing houses.
#certifiedmasterinspector , #homeinspection , #homeinspections , #realestate , #realtor , #realestateagent
Inspection Fact #9: Limitations.
Winter Inspections will always have limitations, and there is nothing an inspector can do about this.
1. If the roof is covered with snow, we can't see the roof material.
2. If there is a foot of snow on the ground, then the Inspection of many things is limited.
3. The AC cannot be turned on to test.
4. The windows may be frozen shut.
Buying a home in the winter is a challenge!!
#certifiedmasterinspector, #homeinspection
#homeinspections , #realtor , #realestate , #realestateagent
A home, is the biggest investment of your life.
Is this the time to choose the cheapest Inspector or the most qualified?
Ask the right questions and "How much do you charge?" is not the right one.
Realtors, trust a professional, full time Inspector who is Certified, Insured and who has talked to 1000's of buyers.
