Useful Tip - Interior

Buying a new home is one of the most important investments you will make, and you need to make sure there are no unexpected surprises when you move-in. As the industry leader in professional home inspections, our certified inspectors know what is required for a home to function efficiently and properly according to local building standards.

This month's tip is regarding the interior of a home and what areas you should inspect when showing a home to buyer or you potentially should have repaired when listing a home for a seller.

Painting Touch-Ups: Paint Touch ups are probably the most frequently noted items on a walk through, which isn’t surprising as they are usually the most visible. Some new homes may require minor painting touch-ups where there are stains, scuffs or scratches. Look for uniform color and even coverage on the interior as well as the exterior.

Doors Doors should open and close easily without binding. Check to see that exterior doors shut properly with no light coming in through the seals. Make sure that doors are painted or sealed on all six sides: front, back, sides, top and bottom. This will ensure that in the future the door will not absorb moisture and warp. Make sure that the dead bolts latch easily and completely into the jamb.

Windows: Windows should open and close properly. Check for cracked or scratched glass. Scratches in glass have to be visible from 10 feet before replacement will be required.

Cabinets/Countertops: Open and close all cabinets. Check for secure installation of cabinets and knobs. Drawers should glide smoothly and doors should close squarely. Shelves should be supported at all 4 corners and at the center stile for the double wide cabinets. Make sure that cabinet doors close and touch the bump stops at top and bottom. Failure to touch at top and bottom can indicate a warped door. Look for nicks and scratches. Same goes for the countertops, check for scratches nicks or blemishes. Countertops should be securely attached to the cabinets and caulked to the walls.

Floors/Carpet: Walk the entire floor area and listen for creaks. Check hardwood floors for scuffs and scratches. On carpeted floors, be sure seams match and there are no snags. Look for rips, tears or seam gaps on vinyl or linoleum flooring. Depending on the style chosen, floor tile should have consistent color and should be level with uniform grout lines.

Condensation/Mildew: Condensation on windows indicates high humidity levels during winter months. This can sometimes lead to rot. Walls, particularly in comers and areas of dead air should be checked for evidence of condensation and mildew indicating high humidity levels within the house. Water stains on interior finishes should be noted. If the source cannot be detected, they should be monitored.

Please note this may not be complete or suitable checklist for your needs and is not meant to replace a professional inspection preformed by a certified home inspector.

One of the main reasons there is great value in get a home inspection from a Peace of Mind certified inspector is because home inspections let you prepare for the future. If you obtain an inspection report that lets you know that the home needs work that you hadn't originally anticipated and the seller refuses to remedy the situation in order to close the deal, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you shouldn't buy the home. It does, however, let you know that at some point in the future you will need to make these repairs to the property. By getting a home inspection, you can prepare yourself for any additional costs that may arise.

Source: A Comprehensive Guide to Your Final Walk Through

Real estate agent and buyers looking at the interior of a home during a walk through.

Useful Tip -- Heating

As the industry leader in professional home inspections, our certified inspectors know what is required for a home to function efficiently and properly according to local building standards. This month learn about furnaces!

How to Inspect the Furnace:

• Locate the furnace. Is the furnace even there? Don't laugh; theft for scrap metal is pretty big these days!

• If possible, identify the manufacturer along with the make and model of the furnace. You then want to determine, based on the manufacturer's sticker and the age of the house, how old the furnace might be. All peace of mind certified inspectors will recommend that with any unit fifteen years or older should have the heat exchange checked for any cracks or leaks of carbon monoxide, this service is typically offered for free buy your local utility company.

• Check around the furnace's location for noticeable water stains, this could potentially mean the furnace condenser is leaking.

• Check the thermostat. The thermostat should be located out of direct sunlight (i.e. hallways). The thermostat should be level and attached properly to the wall to work properly.

• Test the thermostat by turning on the furnace. Upon turning the system and listen for unusual sounds while feeling how warm the air is and how strong the air flow is from the vents. Move around the house, verifying the vents are pushing adequate air throughout the home.

• Look at the air intake located indoors to verify the filter is properly installed and the cleanliness of the filer itself. If the filter looks unclean, the filter most likely needs to be cleaned or replaced. Make note of the filter type, there are many types of filters to choose from.

How to Perform Regular Maintenance on Your Furnace:

Seasonal furnace maintenance is essential to make sure your furnace is running efficiently and safely. We'll walk through some of the steps in maintaining your furnace. It is also a good idea to locate a Carbon Monoxide detector badge at the furnace to monitor its safety.

• Turn Off Gas and Electricity to Furnace -- As with all home repairs, the first step is to turn off the power and in this case, the fuel. There should be a switch near the furnace, if not, check the electrical service panel and shut off the appropriate breaker. The gas line will be connected to the furnace in a black pipe and will have a shut off valve nearby. Turn the valve so it is perpendicular to the gas line to shut it off.

• Vacuum the Furnace Interior -- Open the furnace door. With a vacuum cleaner having a long snorkel attachment, vacuum out the base of the furnace and the gas burners. Get all the crevices cleaned of any loose dust or debris.

• Change the Air Filter -- The furnace filter is the one component that needs to be checked and possibly changed monthly during the heating season. Replace it as part of this seasonal maintenance.Watch the step by step video below by Liberty Home Builders!

• Check the Fanbelt -- Just as on your car, fanbelts wear and get loose. Check the fanbelt on your furnace that drives the blower. Inspect the belt for glazing, cracking or fraying. If any of those signs are evident, replace the belt. Also check the belt tension. By pushing down in the center of the belt, it should feel taut and only deflect about 1/2" - 3/4". If it deflects more than that, tighten the belt by loosening the attachment bracket. Then, move the motor assembly so the belt tightens and hold the motor assembly in place while maintaining tension on the belt. Tighten the attachment bracket.

• Lubricate Oil Bearings -- If your furnace is older or if it has a motor without permanently sealed bearings, the bearings will need to be oiled. Find the oiling caps. They may also be on the bearing shaft. Drop a few drops of lightweight household oil in the oil spout below the caps. Don't over oil.

• Replace Furnace Cover and Reconnect -- Once completed, replace the furnace cover and turn the electrical power back on along with the gas. Relight the pilot if necessary.

Source: About.com Guide

How to Change Your Furnace Filter:

To learn more about Peace of Mind Home Inspections, please visit http://www.peaceofmindhi.net.

Copyright © 2011 Peace of Mind 

Components to a Home Inspection: Heating

What is the heating component of a home inspection?

The heating component purpose is to identify major deficiencies in the central heating system which does not require detailed heat- loss analyses. The certified inspector inspects and reports information about the heating equipment, operating and safety controls, combustion product disposal system, distribution system, heat source per room. 

The certified inspector shall:

1. Open readily openable access panels.
2. Inspect:
1. Installed heating equipment.
2. Vent systems, flues, and chimneys.
3. Describe:
1. Energy source(s).
2. Heating systems.

The certified inspector is NOT required to:

1. Inspect:
1. Interiors of flues or chimneys that is not readily accessible.
2. Heat exchangers.
3. Humidifiers or dehumidifiers.
4. Electronic air filters.
5. Solar space heating systems.
2. Determine heat supply adequacy or distribution balance.

To learn more about Peace of Mind Home Inspections and to view a sample home inspection report, please visit http://www.peaceofmindhi.net.

Peace of Mind certified inspector inspecting one of the twelve components of a home inspection, the furnace.

Copyright © 2011 Peace of Mind

Useful Tip - Structure

Behind every home is a solid structure or is there?

Every house moves, but the question is whether the movement is typical or represents a structural problem. This month's tip is regarding the structure of a home and what areas you should inspect when showing a home to buyer or listing a home for a seller.

How to Inspect for Structural Issues:

Inspecting the structure of the home is the most important concern to buyers because much of the structure of the home is buried below the ground or hidden behind the coverings, it is important to inspect these hidden structural components by looking at clues to what is going on under the surface. Such clues would be inspecting the following areas:

• Flooring: To check the floor, walk around the room with stocking feet to feel for sags and slopes. Sagging or buckling can indicate failing structural members.
• Ceiling: To check the ceilings, walk around the home looking for any cracks in the Sheetrock and/or plaster. A ceiling crack can indicate deflection of the floor above or movement of a wall where it intersects with the ceiling.
• Interior Walls: To check the interior walls, walk around the home looking for any cracks on the walls or signs of movement. Movement in interior partition walls is more common and less troublesome than in exterior walls. When walking around the home, look for door misalignments; door frames that are no longer square and cracks starting at the top corner of door frames and running diagonally to the ceiling.
• Exterior Walls: To check the exterior walls, walk around the home looking for any cracks or signs of movement. When walking around the exterior of the home, look for any walls that are not vertical, gaps more than 1/4-inch wide or wider at the top of where interior and exterior walls meet, and any cracks on the interior finishes that show up on the outside of the wall.
• Chimneys: Check around chimneys for cracks in the brick, separations at nearby windows, and repaired mortar joints. At areas where brick and siding meet, check the original paint line on the brick to see if the brick and siding are still aligned where they were when paint was applied.

Additionally, many people go to great lengths to hide foundation settlement indicators, so these guidelines are no substitute for a professional inspection by a qualified and experienced Peace of Mind Inspector.

How to Avoid Structural Issues:

The structure is a fancy sounding name for a house and it’s components. The key components of a home’s structure are the foundation, floors, walls, columns, piers, ceilings, roof structure and attic. Every home has a structure and there are quite a few things a homeowner can do to reduce the chances of structural damage to their home. These things include:

1. First, is having proper downspout drainage directing the water flow away from the foundation. With this being said, it is important to monitor moisture in the crawlspace and basement. Often time moisture issues occur due to improper drainage and over watering.
2. Monitor wood structural members such as joists, beams, columns to be sure wood is solid and free from decay. You may want to hire a licensed Peace of Mind pest inspector yearly to be sure your home is free from wood destroying organisms.
3. Monitor the driveways and walkways for cracks, breaks, or erosion that may cause damage. Be sure to pay attention to any growth in the cracks and/or length of the cracks.
4. HVAC systems circulate the air through your home, however; with brush and debris blocking the unit the air movement around the home may be blocked.
5. Regular Yard Maintenance can also have an effect on the structure, it is important to trim all shrubs and bushes at least one foot from the foundation walls.
6. Monitor masonry walls, looking for cracks or weakened, crumbling mortar.
7. Monitor fences, gates, and retaining walls for ease of operation, condition of structure, and materials will also benefit you in the long run to ensure there are no new changes to these areas.
8. Continuous cleaning of the foundation walls and doorways from debris and leaves will also reduce the potential of moisture problems arising.
9. Lastly, cracks will occur because homes do move, but what is most important is to monitor these cracks and confirm the cracks are not growing larger or increasing in length.

Components to a Home Inspection: Structure

What is a structural inspection?

A structural inspection is a detailed report of all the aspects of the structure's integrity. A Peace of Mind certified inspector will inspect the slab or pier and beam foundation, inspect the interior walls, exterior veneer, and roof system.

The key components that a Peace of Mind certified inspector will inspect during the structural portion of each home inspection are the foundation, floors, walls, columns, piers, ceilings, roof structure and attic. We also check for signs of abnormal or harmful water penetration into the building as well as signs of abnormal or harmful condensation on building components.



The inspector shall inspect:

• the structural components including the foundation and framing.
• by probing a representative number of structural components where deterioration is suspected or where clear indications of possible deterioration exist. Probing is NOT required when probing would damage any finished surface or where no deterioration is visible or presumed to exist.

The inspector shall describe:

• the methods used to inspect under-floor crawl space and attics.
• the foundation.
• the floor structure.
• the wall structure.
• the ceiling structure.
• the roof structure.
  

The inspector is NOT required to provide any engineering or architectural service or analysis or offer an opinion as to the adequacy of any structural system or component.

Copyright © 2011 Peace of Mind

Components to a Home Inspection: Appliances

What is an appliance inspection?
To identify an appliance’s general condition, correct installation, and apparent function.

The home inspector shall observe and operate the basic functions of the following kitchen appliances:
A. permanently installed dishwasher, through its normal cycle
B. range, cook top, and permanently installed oven
C. trash compactor
D. garbage disposer
E. ventilation equipment or range hood
F. permanently installed microwave oven

The home inspector is NOT required to observe
A. clocks, timers, self-cleaning oven function, or thermostats for calibration or automatic operation
B. non built-in appliances
C. refrigeration units

The home inspector is not required to operate
A. appliances in use
B. any appliance which is shut down or otherwise inoperable

Copyright © 2011 Peace of Mind.

Monthly Tip about Hot Water Heaters!

How well do you know your home and its systems?

As the industry leader in professional home inspections, providing information to help your clients and yourself live better in your homes is what we do. Each month we provide home safety tips and do-it-yourself checklists to inform you what is required for a home to function efficiently and properly according to regulations. You will not only learn what items you should be aware of when showing a home to buyer or listing a home for a seller, but also discover how to properly maintain these items. This month’s checklist is regarding hot water heaters.

How to Inspect the Hot Water Heater:

• Starting at the top and working toward the bottom, do you see any leaks, rust, or corrosion?
• Locate the cold water supply line and confirm a non-leaking shut-off valve.
• Confirm the cold water supply line enters the water heater at the point marked 'Cold'.
• Locate the hot water supply line exiting at the point marked 'Hot'. Try running hot water at the closest tap and check the temperature by feeling the pipe.
• Confirm the Temperature Pressure Relief Valve (TPRV) is connected to an extension pipe that drops to within 6 inches of the floor.
• Inspect the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Check for leaking.
• Confirm a drain pan is positioned under the tank, if on or over the floor of living space. This will allow a forewarning should your tank develop a leak.
• Confirm the water heater itself (if gas) is positioned 18” off the ground on a stand. This is required by lenders if the water heater is located in the garage.
• Confirm there are two seismic straps holding the water heater, they should be place 1/3 from the top and the bottom to ensure it is safely strapped to the wall.

How to Maintenance the Hot Water Heater:

Every few months, you should check your water heater for leaks and flush it out to avoid buildup of sediment inside the tank. If these deposits are not removed periodically, the sediment will create a barrier between the burner and the water, greatly reducing the water heater's performance level.

Steps to success:

Turn off the gas or electrical power and let the water cool down a little.

Close the incoming water valve, and attach a hose to the drain valve to run the water into a large bucket, or to a drain or the outdoors.

Open the drain valve, and turn on one hot water faucet somewhere in the house to let in air.

When all the water has drained from the water heater; turn the cold water valve on and off until the water from the drain runs clear.

Then close the drain valve and the hot water faucet.

Open the cold water valve, and turn the water back on.

Also, this is also a good time to test the temperature-pressure relief valve, which keeps pressure in the boiler from building up too much. Lift or lower its handle. Water should drain from the overflow pipe. If it does not, call in a repair professional as this could result in a potentially dangerous situation.

Copyright © 2011 Peace of Mind.

12 Components to a Home Inspection

There are 12 components to a home inspection by Peace of Mind, in which we cover a wide variety of aspects of the home to provide information for buyers and sellers.

Over the next 12 months, we will be detailing each of these components with important information and insight into how you can make that part of your inspection go as well as possible.

The following are the 12 components of an inspection:
1. Structural
2. Roofing
3. Exterior
4. Electrical
5. Heating
6. Cooling
7. Insulation/Ventilation
8. Plumbing
9. Interior
10. Appliances
11. Fireplace/Wood Stove
12. Pool/Spa

Follow our blog today or “like” us on Facebook to stay tuned for the 12 detailed components of a home inspection. Next, will be the strutural aspects of a home inspection.

The Team at Peace of Mind Home Inspections
(866) 757-8480
www.peaceofmindhi.net

Copyright © 2011 Peace of Mind.