Dave’s Diggs
Blog
I’m doing my first deal as a Realtor!
No, I’m not getting into real estate, but rather helping my significant other buy a home. The main advantage is to help someone very close to me buy the home, but I am also learning the ropes after having a real estate license for over 5 years. Thus far the process...
How to Determine the Age of Major Appliances/Systems
The ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections requires home inspectors to report on components near the end of their service lives. To figure this out, we need to determine the age of appliances such as water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, and boilers. Once...
What are reverse polarity outlets?
When we inspect houses where an amateur has been doing electrical work, there’s a good chance we’ll find outlets with reversed polarity. This happens when the hot and neutral wires get flipped around at an outlet, or upstream from an outlet. Reversed polarity creates...
You are too picky…
Recently I received a comment from a real estate agent that I have become all too accustomed to hearing. After teaching a lunch and learn at a real estate office, one of the agents said to me as we were walking out together “That was great information. I heard you’re...
New Construction Nightmares – Changes in Approach
As inventory woes continue, many home buyers are moving towards new construction and our inspection counts in this area are up significantly. As a result – and as you would expect - this brings all of us a different set of challenges than those for existing homes....
Who owns the Inspection Report?
Who owns the Inspection Report? I’d love to have more time to blog, as I think sharing thoughts and ideas promote conversation and change for the better. The market it crazy and we’re all busy, so the time just isn’t there right now. However, there is one thing that...
2021- Let’s Do This!
Been a minute. Over the holidays I improved our template. Reaching into January, I continued to review templates of other companies around the country using Spectora. The thing that sets us apart most is our team. However, our reports are also unlike any other. My...
Bootleg Grounds – Is your Inspector checking for them?
Buying a flipped house? Often Home Buyers walk into a flipped home and they are overtaken by the renovations and the visible areas in the home. However, it is the things you do not know that make the flip house one that requires special tools and knowledge to inspect....
90 Day Warranties – The Truth
Many local inspectors have been adopting the trend of offering 90-day warranties. In fact, some new companies are moving in and offering the same. WE WILL NEVER OFFER THESE PRODUCTS! Why? The warranties come at a cost. Generally, $20 per inspection. All inspection...
Committed to Fail – A 24/7/365 Work Life
One of the things I have always done is work hard. I am not afraid of it. However, as I have aged and matured both as a person and a business owner one of the greatest lessons, I have learned is that sometimes you can work too much. Many inspectors are advertising...
Breaking All the Rules…
Wow it is busy! No new blog last week as I was more focused on inspections and continuing to review and improve our template in Spectora. This weekend I took the opportunity to work on our template in a cabin in Tennessee. Turns out I chose the perfect place – there...
Load Bearing Walls: Removal Issues & Warning Signs of Problems
Removing a load bearing wall may create structural problems in a home, including sagging ceilings, unleveled floors, drywall cracks and sticking doors. Recognizing the warning signs is important. Even removing a portion of a load bearing wall to create a wider door or...
Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and The Beast Using a play on words of course, recently I have had many thoughts about serving clients and our interactions with Realtors and what their expectations are relative to home inspectors. I get it – in some cases we make the deals harder. Not...
Why Change Report Formats? Quality and Capacity
Now starting our third week into providing our updated report format from Spectora, there is a few things we have learned, and I welcome you to share your feedback as well. The most common question I have received, is why did you change? There are several reasons....
The Truth About Home Inspectors
Are you preparing to purchase a home? You will want to have it seen by a professional. New homes too! Here are 7 truths about the home inspection process that will leave you with sound advice – trust me – my reputation is built on offering sound advice. Inspectors...