General Home Inspection Information

1. What really matters on a home inspection

2. Three deadly mistakes every home buyer should avoid

3. Is your inspector really qualified?

4. 12 ways to child proof your home

5. 17 ways to save energy

6. The Code of Ethics

7. What's the difference between a Home Inspection and Engineer's Inspection?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What really matters on a home inspection:

Buying a home?  The process can be stressful.  A home inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind, but often has the opposite effect.  You will be asked to absorb a lot of information in a short time.  This often includes a written report, checklist, photographs, environmental reports and what the inspector himself says during the inspection.  All this combined with the seller's disclosure and what you notice yourself makes the experience even more overwhelming.  What should you do?

Relax.  Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections. These are nice to know about.  However, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories:

1. Major defects.  An example of this would be a structural failure.
2. Things that lead to major defects.  A small roof-flashing leak, for example.
3. Things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy or insure the home.
4. Safety hazards, such as an exposed, live buss bar at the electric panel.

Anything in these categories should be addressed.  Often a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property (especially in categories 2 and 4).
Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection.  Realize that sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the report.  No home is perfect.  Keep things in perspective.  Do not kill your deal over things that do not matter.  It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller's disclosure or nit-picky items.

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3 Deadly Mistakes every home buyer should avoid:

Deadly Mistake #1: Thinking you can't afford it.
 
Today, buying the home of your dreams is easier than ever before.  Many people who thought that buying the home they wanted was simply out of their reach are now enjoying a new lifestyle in their very own new home. 
 
Buying a home is the smartest financial decision you will ever make.  In fact, most American and Canadian home owners would be financially broke at retirement if it weren't for one saving grace - the equity in their home.  Furthermore, mortgage rates are more flexible today than ever and tax allowances favor home ownership. 
Real estate values have always risen steadily.  Of course there are peaks and valleys, but the long term the trend is a consistent increase.  This means that every month when you make a mortgage payment the amount that you owe on the home goes down and the value typically increases.  This owe less-worth more situation is called equity build-up and is the reason you can't afford not to buy.
 
Even if you have little money for a down payment or credit problems, chances are that you can still buy that new home.  It just comes down to knowing the right strategies, and working with the right people.  See below.
  
 
Deadly Mistake #2:  Not hiring a buyer's agent to represent you.
 
Buying property is a complex and stressful task.  In fact, it is often the biggest single investment you will make in your lifetime.  At the same time, real estate transactions have become increasingly complicated.  New technology, laws, procedures and competition from other buyers require buyer agents to perform at an ever-increasing level of professionalism.  For many homebuyers, the process turns into a terrible, stressful ordeal.  In addition, making the wrong decisions can end up costing you thousands of dollars.  It does not have to be this way!
 
Work with a buyer's agent who has a keen understanding of the real estate business and who is on your side.  Buyer's agents have a fiduciary duty to you.  That means they are loyal to only you and are obligated to look out for your best interests.  Buyer's agents can help you find the best home, the best lender and the best inspector.  Best of all, in most cases, the buyer's agent is paid out of the seller's commission, even though he/she works for you.
 
Trying to buy a home without an agent at all is, well... unthinkable.
 
 
Deadly Mistake #3:  Getting a cheap inspection.
 
Buying a home is probably the most expensive purchase you will ever make.  This is no time to shop for a cheap inspection.  The cost of a home inspection is very small relative to the home being inspected.  The additional cost of hiring a certified inspector is almost insignificant.  As a homebuyer, you have recently been crunching the numbers, negotiating offers, adding up closing costs, shopping for mortgages and trying to get the best deals.  Do not stop now.  Do not let your real estate agent, a patty-cake inspector or anyone else talk you into skimping here.  
  
NACHI front-ends its membership requirements.  NACHI turns down more than 1/2 the inspectors who want to join because they can't fulfill the membership requirements. 
 
NACHI certified inspectors perform the best inspections by far.  NACHI certified inspectors earn their fees many times over.  They do more, they deserve more, and yes they generally charge a little more.  Do yourself a favor...and pay a little more for the quality inspection you deserve.

 

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Is your home inspector really qualified?

Licensing of home inspectors only sets a minimum standard. Much like being up to code, any less would be illegal. Imaginary people, children, psychics (who claim to "sense" if a house is OK) and even pets can be home inspectors. Other home inspection associations have no entrance requirements and worse, encourage their candidates to go out and perform actual inspections for poor, unsuspecting consumers as the only way to achieve full membership. NACHI finds this practice unconscionable. That is why NACHI front-ends its membership requirements. We turn down more than 1/2 the inspectors who want to join because they can't pass our exam or fulfill our membership requirements.

NACHI inspectors:
Have to pass NACHI's Online Inspector Examination every year with a score of 80 or better.
Have to complete NACHI's online Ethics Obstacle Course.
Have to take NACHI's online Standards of Practice Quiz
Have to sign and submit an Affidavit.
Have to adhere to NACHI's Standards of Practice.
Have to abide by NACHI's Code of Ethics.
Have to continue learning (24 hours/year) as per NACHI's Continuing Education Policy.
Have to maintain a member Online Continuing Education Log as per NACHI's Continuing Education Policy.
Have to (if never performed a home inspection) submit 4 mock inspections to NACHI's Report Review Committee before performing their first home inspection for a client.
Have to (within 10 days after joining) login to NACHIs educational message board.
Have to (within 30 days after joining) complete NACHI's comprehensive online Standards of Practice course.
Have to (within 45 days after joining) complete NACHI's comprehensive online Electrical course including all the quizzes within and pass its final exam.
Have to (within 60 days after joining) complete NACHI's comprehensive online Roofing course including all the quizzes within and pass its final exam.
Have to (within first 3 months of membership) apply for a membership photo I.D.
Have to re-take and pass NACHI's Online Inspector Examination again, every year
Have to attend at least one chapter meetings or educational seminars every two years (reasonable exceptions apply).
Have access to Inspector's Quarterly, delivered to their doorstep.
Have access to NACHI's visual aid inspection frames to help them learn.
Have access to NACHI's library for improving their inspection skills.
Have access to NACHI's message board for exchanging information and tips.
Have access to NACHI's What's New section so they can keep up with the industry.
Have access to NACHI's specific-topic advisory boards.
Have access to Dear NACHI for detailed advice.
Have access to a time-tested Agreement which keeps them (and you) away from lawsuits.
Have access to NACHI's Report Review/Mentoring service.
Have to submit passport photos for their membership I.D.
Have access to NACHI's online inspection courses.
Have to have mock inspections reviewed before performing their first fee paid inspection.
Have to carry E&O insurance (if their state requires it).
Have access to a real estate agent hold harmless clause.
Have access to NACHI University.
Have access to The NACHI Mall.
Have a consumer hot-line for their clients.
Have access to an Arbitration and Dispute Resolution Service.
Have access to a Client Satisfaction Survey.

So the next time you need to refer your clients to home inspectors, make sure they are members of NACHI and never use a candidate or associate of any association. NACHI, America's elite home inspection association.

 

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Childproofing Your Home - 12 Safety Devices to Protect Your Children

About 2-1/2 million children are injured or killed by hazards in the home each year. The good news is that many of these incidents can be prevented by using simple child safety devices on the market today.
Any safety device you buy should be sturdy enough to prevent injury to your child, yet easy for you to use. It's important to follow installation instructions carefully. In addition, if you have older children in the house, be sure they re-secure safety devices. Remember, too, that no device is completely childproof; determined youngsters have been known to disable them.
You can childproof your home for a fraction of what it would cost to have a professional do it. And safety devices are easy to find. You can buy them at hardware stores, baby equipment shops, supermarkets, drug stores, home and linen stores, and through mail order catalogues.
Here are some child safety devices that can help prevent many injuries to young children.

1. Use Safety Latches and Locks for cabinets and drawers in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas to help prevent poisonings and other injuries. Safety latches and locks on cabinets and drawers can help prevent children from gaining access to medicines and household cleaners, as well as knives and other sharp objects.
Look for safety latches and locks that adults can easily install and use, but are sturdy enough to withstand pulls and tugs from children. Safety latches are not a guarantee of protection, but they can make it more difficult for children to reach dangerous substances. Even products with child-resistant packaging should be locked away, out of reach; this packaging is not childproof.
Typical cost of a safety latch or lock: less than $2.

2. Use Safety Gates to help prevent falls down stairs and to keep children away from dangerous areas. Safety gates can help keep children away from stairs or rooms that have hazards in them. Look for safety gates that children cannot dislodge easily, but that adults can open and close without difficulty. For the top of stairs, gates that screw to the wall are more secure than "pressure gates."
New safety gates that meet safety standards display a certification seal from the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). If you have an older safety gate, be sure it doesn't have "V" shapes that are large enough for a child's head and neck to fit into.
Typical cost of a safety gate: $13 to $40.

3. Use Door Knob Covers and Door Locks to help prevent children from entering rooms and other areas with possible dangers. Door knob covers and door locks can help keep children away from places with hazards, including swimming pools.
Be sure the door knob cover is sturdy enough not to break, but allows a door to be opened quickly by an adult in case of emergency. By restricting access to potentially hazardous rooms in the home, door knob covers could help prevent many kinds of injuries. To prevent access to swimming pools, door locks should be placed high out of reach of young children. Locks should be used in addition to fences and door alarms. Sliding glass doors, with locks that must be re-secured after each use, are often not an effective barrier to pools.
Typical cost of a door knob cover: $1 and door lock: $5 and up.

4. Use Anti-Scald Devices for faucets and shower heads and set your water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent burns from hot water. Anti-scald devices for regulating water temperature can help prevent burns.
Consider using anti-scald devices for faucets and showerheads. A plumber may need to install these. In addition, if you live in your own home, set water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to help prevent burns from hot water.
Typical cost of an anti-scald device: $6 to $30.

5. Use Smoke Detectors on every level of your home and near bedrooms to alert you to fires. Smoke detectors are essential safety devices for protection against fire deaths and injuries.
Check smoke detectors once a month to make sure they're working.
If detectors are battery-operated, change batteries at least once a year or consider using 10-year batteries.
Typical cost of a smoke detector: less than $10.

6. Use Window Guards and Safety Netting to help prevent falls from windows, balconies, decks, and landings. Window guards and safety netting for balconies and decks can help prevent serious falls.
Check these safety devices frequently to make sure they are secure and properly installed and maintained. There should be no more than four inches between the bars of the window guard. If you have window guards, be sure at least one window in each room can be easily used for escape in a fire. Window screens are not effective for preventing children from falling out of windows.
Typical cost of a window guard or safety netting: $8 to $16.

7. Use Corner and Edge Bumpers to help prevent injuries from falls against sharp edges of furniture and fireplaces. Corner and edge bumpers can be used with furniture and fireplace hearths to help prevent injuries from falls or to soften falls against sharp or rough edges.
Be sure to look for bumpers that stay securely on furniture or hearth edges.
Typical cost of a corner and edge bumper: $1 and up.

8. Use Outlet Covers and Outlet Plates to help prevent electrocution. Outlet covers and outlet plates can help protect children from electrical shock and possible electrocution.
Be sure the outlet protectors cannot be easily removed by children and are large enough so that children cannot choke on them.
Typical cost of an outlet cover: less than $2.

9. Use a Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector outside bedrooms to help prevent CO poisoning. A carbon monoxide (CO) detector can help prevent CO poisoning. Consumers should install CO detectors near sleeping areas in their homes. Households that should use CO detectors include those with gas or oil heat or with attached garages.
Typical cost of a carbon monoxide (CO) detector: $30 to $70.

10. Cut Window Blind Cords; use Safety Tassels and Inner Cord Stops to help prevent children from strangling in blind cord loops. Window blind cord safety tassels on miniblinds and tension devices on vertical blinds and drapery cords can help prevent deaths and injuries from strangulation in the loops of cords. Inner cord stops can help prevent strangulation in the inner cords of window blinds.
For older miniblinds, cut the cord loop, remove the buckle, and put safety tassels on each cord. Be sure that older vertical blinds and drapery cords have tension or tie-down devices to hold the cords tight. When buying new miniblinds, verticals, and draperies, ask for safety features to prevent child strangulation.

11. Use Door Stops and Door Holders to help prevent injuries to fingers and hands. Door stops and door holders on doors and door hinges can help prevent small fingers and hands from being pinched or crushed in doors and door hinges.
Be sure any safety device for doors is easy to use and is not likely to break into small parts, which could be a choking hazard for young children.
Typical cost of a door stop and door holder: less than $4.

12. Use a Cordless Phone to make it easier to continuously watch young children, especially when they're in bathtubs, swimming pools, or other potentially dangerous areas.
Cordless phones help you watch your child continuously, without leaving the vicinity to answer a phone call. Cordless phones are especially helpful when children are in or near water, whether it's the bathtub, the swimming pool, or the beach.
Typical cost of a cordless phone: $30 and up.

 

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17 Ways To Save Energy
by Mark H Roe

With the rising cost of energy cost, here are some easy to do tips to help lower your energy bill.
1. Get a home energy audit every couple of years from a Certified NACHI Home Inspector to find ways to cut costs.
2. Check with your utility company for rebated whenever you install energy-saving equipment.
3. Add more energy-efficient insulation to your attic, perferably with a resistance rating of R-21 to R-30
4. Turn down your home thermostat two degrees and save 24 -kilowatt hours a month. It might not sound like much, but it adds up.
5. Buy a programmable thermostat, especially if your home is vacant most of the day. Set it to turn on a half hour before anyone arrives home.
6. Adjust your thermostat to a comfortable temperature and wait. Turning your thermostat up or down dramatically wasted energy and increases your heating costs.
7. Lower you hot water thermostat 10 degress, but no less than 120 degrees. You'll still get all the hot water you need and save 25-kilowatt hours a month.
8. Fix leaky faucets. One drip a second is 20 kilowatts a month.

9. Invest in weather-stripping kits if you've got drafty doors, and windows.
10. Trade your standard incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs. They are more energy-efficent, last for years instead of months, consume little power and generate little heat.
11.Turn off your computer when not in use, or use the energy-saving"sleep"mode.
12. Seal energy leaks. Caulk over cracks and small holes around windows and exterior walls. Look carefully around plumbing pipes, telephone wires, dryer vents, sink and bathroom drains and under counter tops.
13. Participate in your power company's special energy-saving program. Some programs shut down electric appliances for short bursts of time during peak hours. You hardly notice the difference at the time, but you will notice a difference when you get your bill.
14. Buy major appliances that sport the "Energy Star" sticker. That shows the appliance meets or exceeds standards set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
15. Consider a front-loading washing machine. They use 50 percent less energy and one-third less water. Plus, they remove far more water in the rinse cycle, and that translates into big savings in dryer time.
16. When building a home or replacing a roof, select a roof based more on energy efficiency than how it looks. Light-colored roofs, such a white, galvanixed metal or cement tile, do the best job of reflecting the sun, and cool quickly at night.
17. Landscaping with the right mix of trees and shrubs can lower your energy bills by blocking winter winds or the summer sun.

 

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NACHI Code of Ethics

The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI) promotes a high standard of professionalism, business ethics and inspection procedures. NACHI members subscribe to the following Code of Ethics in the course of their business.
Duty to the Public
The NACHI member shall abide by the Code of Ethics and substantially follow the NACHI Standards of Practice.
The NACHI member will not engage in any practices that could be damaging to the public or bring discredit to the home inspection industry.
The NACHI member shall be fair, honest, impartial, and act in good faith in dealing with the public.
The NACHI member will not discriminate in any business activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, sexual orientation, or handicap and shall comply with all federal, state and local laws concerning discrimination.
The NACHI member shall be truthful regarding his/her services & qualifications.
The NACHI member will have no undisclosed conflict of interest with the client, nor will the NACHI member accept or offer any undisclosed commissions, rebates, profits or other benefit, nor will the NACHI member accept or offer any disclosed or undisclosed commissions, rebates, profits or other benefit from from real estate agents, brokers or any third parties having financial interest in the sale of the property nor shall the NACHI member offer or provide any disclosed or undisclosed financial compensation directly or indirectly to any real estate agent, real estate broker or real estate company for referrals or for inclusion on lists of preferred and/or affiliated inspectors or inspection companies.
The NACHI member will not communicate any information about an inspection to anyone except the client without the prior written consent of the client, except where it may affect the safety of others or violates a law or statute.
The NACHI member shall always act in the interest of the client, unless doing so violates a law, statute or this Code of Ethics.
The NACHI member shall use a written contract that specifies the services to be performed, limitations of services and fees.
The NACHI member shall comply with all government rules and licensing requirements of the jurisdiction where he/she conducts business.
The NACHI member shall not perform or offer to perform, for an additional fee, any repairs or associated services to structure on which the member or member's company has prepared a home inspection report, for a period of 12 months. This provision shall not include services to components and/or systems which are not included in the NACHI standards of practice.
Duty to Continue Education
The NACHI member will comply with NACHI's current Continuing Education Requirements.
The NACHI member shall pass the NACHI's Online Inspector Exam once every calendar year.
Duty to the Profession and NACHI
The NACHI member will strive to improve the Home Inspection Industry by sharing his/her lessons and/or experiences for the benefit of all. This does not preclude the member from copyrighting or marketing his/her expertise to other Inspectors or the public in any manner permitted by law.
The NACHI member shall assist the NACHI leadership in disseminating and publicizing the benefits of NACHI membership.
The NACHI member will not engage in any act or practice that could be deemed damaging, seditious or destructive to NACHI, fellow NACHI members, NACHI employees, leadership or directors. Member(s) accused of acting or deemed in violation of such rules shall be reviewed by the Ethics committee for possible sanctions and/or expulsion from NACHI.

 

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