Why the Cheapest Inspector is Often Not the Best

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Home inspections are a stressful part of any home-buying process. An inspection report could show that your dream home is full of nightmare problems! But it could also save you thousands of dollars and years of unwanted surprises.

The Realtors over at Round Table Realty help buyers through the inspection process everyday. Buyers rely on RTR agents to help them meet home inspection deadlines and to decide on what types of inspections a home requires. Those agents are relying on us here at Inside & Out to highlight anything that could affect the value of a home or it’s insurability. Using modern tools like an infrared camera to find hiding issues, combined with years of experience, we can help Realtors save their buyers from surprises.

Not long ago, Round Table Agent Alan Levinson told us a story of a buyer he helped with the purchase of a home. He recommended Inside & Out for the inspections, but the buyer chose a company that offered less for a lower cost. Alan respected the buyer’s decision and after receiving the inspection report (which was minimal), he reminded them that they would not have any negotiating power after the sale of the home if unseen problems popped up.

Sure enough, several months later the buyer was surprised to find that an ongoing leak under the guest bathroom sink led to a full-on bathroom flood! The bathroom floor had to be replaced, not to mention the sink had to be fixed! Alan was devastated for his client, but was reminded why tools like infrared cameras cost a little more up front but save buyers in the end. Round Table Realty agents recommend Inside & Out Inspectors by name regularly thanks to our thorough, accurate, and professional reports. They get exactly what they need in order to continue to negotiation process on behalf of buyers, ensuring that big ticket items be address in the price of the sale.

No matter how many times you buy a home, getting that inspection report is scary! But we at Inside & Out want you to know the good, the bad, and the really really bad long before you sign on the dotted line.

Wind Mitigation and Homeowners’ Insurance

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If you live in Florida, then you have probably heard about wind mitigation – the process of
implementation of specific building methods and techniques focused on limiting and reducing the
damage that comes as a result of intense winds.
Unfortunately, Florida has a long history with hurricanes. According to official statistics, the State of
Florida has been hit by over 200 hurricanes in the last 150 years. In addition, the occurrence of strong
winds that cannot be classified as hurricanes (under 74 miles per hour) can cause damage to buildings
too and these strong winds are not rare in Florida.

 

What does wind mitigation include?

The wind mitigation techniques are focused on different parts of the home. For instance, they are
reinforcing the garages by strengthening the windows, checking door-track strength and more.
Furthermore, replacing glass doors with impact-resistant doors is another great technique that can
protect homes against strong winds. Roof deck attachments, roof shape, roof covering, secondary water
resistance, protection of openings – these are just some of the many wind mitigation techniques used
today in Florida.

Wind mitigation and homeowners’ insurance – is there any connection?

The answer to this question is affirmative. The insurance rates are closely related to the level of risk
associated with a certain item – in this case, homes. So, to put it in simple words, insurance is focused
on evaluating and handling risk. Obviously, if you live in an area where strong winds are able to cause
damage to your property like Florida, you should expect higher homeowners’ insurance rates. However,
by using wind mitigation techniques, you will be able to cut these expenses.
Wind mitigation techniques are used to make any home less vulnerable to the risks brought by strong
winds. By taking good care of the windows, doors, walls, and roofs, your home can be prepared for
these winds.

Using wind mitigation inspection

In order to reduce the homeowners’ insurance rate, you should call a professional home inspector that
provides wind mitigation inspection. The main objective of an inspection like this is to find out the
preparedness of a home to deal with strong winds. A wind mitigation inspection will analyze the
features of the building that are usually affected by hurricanes and strong winds like concrete block
construction, hip roof, the presence or absence of shutters and similar protective items for the
openings, and few other things.
A Florida homeowner looking for homeowners’ insurance can provide the results of the wind mitigation
inspection to the insurance company in order to get discounts. Of course, if you want to get discounts
like this, you should follow the recommendations of the home inspector you have hired. These
professionals will suggest changes, upgrades, and repairs in your home that will make it harder for
almost any type of wind to cause damage. Those interested in using wind mitigation inspection services
should look for a licensed home inspector with experience in this field. By doing this, they can
significantly reduce the cost of homeowners’ insurance and protect their homes.

(1) https://fcit.usf.edu/florida/lessons/hurricane/hurricane.htm

(2) http://www.floridadisaster.org/Mitigation/Documents/Wind%20Mitigation%20Booklet%20.pdf

Florida Maintenance Tips

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Home maintenance is crucial for keeping a home in top value. Even though the climate in Florida is mild
and doesn’t cause problems, homeowners should still take care of their home on a regular basis. Of
course, some of the maintenance activities should be conducted more frequently than the others. The
following is a list of Florida maintenance tips divided into different categories.
On a monthly basis

– Replace the air filters of your HVAC system

– Inspect, and after that, clean or replace kitchen ventilation hood filters
– Flush all the toilets and run warm water through the sinks. This is especially important in the
bathrooms that are not used frequently.
On a quarterly basis
– Inspect your home’s exterior drainage. In this way, you will ensure that there is nothing that
causes standing water to puddle for over 24 hours and that all water regardless of its source is
not ending in your home’s foundation.
– It is highly recommended to test the GFCIs (Ground fault circuit interrupters) for normal
operations by tripping the test buttons and resetting them after that manually. In case they
don’t trip or rest, call a licensed electrician.

– Inspect and clean all the exterior vents. Check whether the air flows freely and that each vent
has a fully functioning damper to prevent back flow of outside air and to keep insects or small
animals from entering your home.
– Lubricate all overhead garage door hinges with high-quality garage door lubricant.
– Inspect and clean all weep holes on the windows to ensure proper water drainage.
On a seasonal basis
– Call a licensed HVAC contractor to service your HVAC system every six months. In this way, you
will extend the lifespan of your HVAC system and optimize its work.
– Inspect and caulk these areas two times a year as needed:
 Bathrooms and kitchen
 Flushing areas
 The siding
 Around all wall penetrations (fireplace, duct work from vents, faucets, hose and chimney
vents)
 Around window and doors
 Interior settling or shrinkage cracks on the sheetrock and trim
 Mortar or stucco cracks

– Make sure that the gutters are free of debris that could prevent free water flow. In addition,
make sure that you have splash blocks at the base of the gutter downspouts to help deflect
water away from your home’s foundation.
– Inspect and adjust the sprinkler system to avoid spraying your home. Adjust the timers for your
county’s watering days to optimize the use of water.
On an annual basis
– Drain and refill your hot water heaters. It is possible that you will have to do this more
frequently – it all depends on the current water conditions in your area.
– Inspect and test the hot water heater TPR valve.
– Inspect the garage door/s, rails, and lock system. Adjust and lubricate if needed.
– Clean the faucet aerators and inspect the plumbing fixtures for potential leaks.

– Clean and sharpen the garbage disposal by running a tray of ice cubes and depositing a cleaning
(foaming) product into the disposal.
– Inspect your home’s fire extinguishers and replace if needed.
– Replace the batteries in your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors.
Follow these maintenance tips to keep your home’s value and your quality of life.

How to Choose the Right Home Inspector

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In order to make sure that you are paying a reasonable price for the home you want to buy, you should definitely hire a home inspector. There are hundreds of home inspectors out there ready to help you with this task. However, not all of them are equally skilled, experienced and reliable. Good home inspectors will help you learn more about this process, keep you safe from making poor real estate decisions, anticipate future repairs and more. In other words, hiring a home inspector is one of the smartest things that you can do. So, how to choose the right one?

 

  1. Experience

     Just like in the case of many other professions, the experience is one of the most important things when selecting a home inspector. The home inspector you choose should have at least a few years of experience.

  1. Certificates/Credentials

     Another thing that you should take into consideration is their credentials and certificates. The perfect home inspector must have a formal training and they also must possess a certificate that will confirm the completion of a reputable licensing program. These training programs are usually complex and they confirm their capability to conduct a proper home inspection. (1) In addition, the best home inspectors are following the latest trends and news in this area and they are upgrading their education all the time.

3. Charges

Every future homeowner has a certain budget and every home inspector has specific charges for the home inspection services they provide. Before hiring one, you must learn more about these charges. There are situations when the home needs major improvement that was noticed by the home inspector. After the repairs are done he (or she) will have to come back and conduct another inspection. It is good to know whether they will charge you for the revisit or not. You definitely don’t want to work with a home inspector that charges hidden fees.

4. Check a sample of their inspection reports

If you want to make sure that you are dealing with a reliable home inspector, you should also ask them for a sample of their reports prepared for other clients. Generally speaking, thorough reports contain between 20 and 50 pages. They also include high-quality photos of the problematic parts of the home. Make sure your inspector has a modern, easy-to-understand home inspection report so you’re not left scratching your head trying to sift through a 100-page PDF.

 

5.Guarantee 

Many people agree that it is a smart idea to ask the home inspector whether he is providing a guarantee for the work done and the home inspection report that he presents. In this way, you can determine whether he is a true professional

6. Full-time home inspector

     Finally, it is highly recommended to work with a full-time home inspector. We can all agree that the best home inspection services are provided by full-time home inspectors.

We hope that these tips will help you make the right decision.

  1. https://icaschool.com/state-licensing/florida-home-inspection-licensing/
  2. https://www.angieslist.com/articles/whats-included-home-inspection-report.htm

Using IR to help find hidden damage or moisture

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Using IR to help find hidden damage or moisture

     Home inspections are conducted for many different reasons. For instance, they are used to help get

homeowner’s insurance and they can help you determine the condition of the home too. That’s why

there are thousands of home inspections conducted in the USA every year. Of course, not all of them

are the same – some of these inspections are better than the others.

 

     In the recent period, many homeowners use home inspections to identify hidden damage or moisture

with the help of infrared technology. This is what every successful home inspection company has in its

offer and Inside & Out Property Inspectors is not an exception. Infrared technology or IR technology is

focused on detecting infrared radiation which is a type of electromagnetic radiation just like UV

radiation, radio waves, microwaves, and X-rays. (1) But, how exactly does IR help people find hidden

damage or moisture?

     During this process, home inspectors use special infrared devices that are able to see heat. So, they are

non-contact devices that can identify infrared heat and turn it into an electronic signal which is

ultimately converted into an image on the device’s display. (2) Every object radiates a certain amount of

heat and this is how this special IR inspection can help. The heat detected by the IR device is quantified

in a very precise way. An experienced user of a device like this can easily assess the level of heat-related

issues in your home. Obviously, you need professionals like the ones from Inside & Out Property

Inspectors to get the most from this activity.

     Ordinary home inspections where IR devices are not used will determine problems that are visible. With

an IR device, you will bring the home inspection to another level and find problems that are not visible

to the naked eye.

     For instance, if you suspect that there is a problem with moisture in your home, but you cannot detect

the source, you’ve got two options – to drill holes in the walls or to use an IR device. Obviously the latter

is much more helpful. As we all know, moisture can lead to mold growth and mold is associated with

many illnesses. In addition, mold can damage the structure of your home. But, moisture issues are not

the only thing that you can detect with IR technology.

IR inspection can help homeowners detect conditions like unbalanced loads, open circuits, loose

connections, overloads, defective equipment and more.

     Thanks to IR, people will reduce unscheduled downtime and extend equipment life. They will also find

increased levels of moisture even behind walls which mean lower risk of mold growth. This also means

lower repair costs because you will know exactly where the problem is located. The IR technology is

here to prevent disastrous failures and keep the integrity of your home.

Once the IR inspection is finished you can expect at least three benefits. First of all, this inspection gives

you precise information about the current condition of your home without the use of invasive methods.

Finding issues like energy or insulation problems, HVAC issues or occurrence of moisture has never been

easier.

     If you are planning on using home inspection services, make sure that the home inspector uses infrared

technology. This is by far the best home inspection in terms of effectiveness and convenience. Inside &

Out Property Inspectors is offering high-quality IR services to every home owner in Florida at a

reasonable price. The best part is that this activity is part of the regular home inspection provided by

Inside & Out Property Inspectors.

(1) https://www.livescience.com/50260-infrared- radiation.html

(2) https://www.lifewire.com/definition-of- infrared-817726

Florida Home Maintenance Checklist

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Home

Florida Maintenance Tips:

On a monthly basis:

  1. Clean or replace air conditioning filters. If you have an energy recovery system (air exchange system), remember that these filters also need to be cleaned or replaced.
  2. Inspect, clean or replace kitchen vent hood filters (non-charcoal filters).
  3. Flush all toilets and run water through all sinks, especially in bathrooms that are not used on a regular basis.

On a quarterly basis:

  1. Check the exterior drainage conditions to ensure that nothing is causing water to stand in puddles for more than 24 hours and that water from any source is not draining toward your foundation.
  2. Check your GFCIs (ground fault circuit interrupters) for proper operations by tripping the circuit interrupter buttons and then resetting them. If they will not trip and reset, contact your Customer Care Department for service or information on what to do.
  3. Inspect, lubricate and clean all of your exterior vents. Make sure that air flows freely and that each has an operable damper to prevent back flow of outside air and to keep small animals from entering your home.
  4. Lubricate all overhead garage door hinges with white lithium spray.
  5. Inspect and clean all weep holes for water drainage (windows).

On a seasonal basis:

  1. Every six months, inspect and service either your heating or air conditioning system, depending on the season.
  2. Twice a year, you should inspect and repair the following caulked areas, as necessary.
  • Kitchen and bath wet areas.
  • Flushing areas.
  • Window and door seals.
  • Around all penetrations (hose, faucets, duct work from vents, fireplace and chimney vents).
  • Vinyl, aluminum or wood siding.
  • Stucco or mortar cracks.
  • Interior settling or shrinkage sheetrock cracks.
  1. If you have a basement and it has a sump pump, check to make sure it is operating properly, clean the pump screen and remove any soil buildup from the well.
  2. Clean and repair gutters. Make sure gutters are free of material that could prevent free flow of water. Make sure you have splash deflectors at the base of the downspout to deflect water away from the home.
  3. Inspect and adjust sprinkler systems. Set your timers for the proper season to ensure enough, but not too much water per station.

On an annual basis:

  1. Drain and refill your hot water heater(s). This may be necessary on a more frequent basis if you live in an area with extremely hard water.
  2. Inspect and test your hot water heater safety valve.
  3. Inspect your garage door(s), rails and lock system; adjust and lubricate, as necessary. Consider changing your garage door opener code as a security precaution.
  4. Service your lawn mower and yard equipment (blowers, edgers and trimmers).
  5. Clean your faucet aerators and inspect your plumbing for leaks.
  6. Clean and sharpen your garbage disposal by running a tray of ice cubes and depositing a cleaning (foaming) product into the disposal.
  7. Inspect or have tested your home fire extinguishers.
  8. Replace smoke alarm batteries.

 

Keep Your Windows Working Proper

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How to make sure your windows and doors open, close, lock and unlock easily for years to come.

Don’t you love how easily your windows and doors open and close? Keep them operating smoothly by performing these steps:

  • Vacuum dirt from sill and track areas regularly, and before each washing.
  • Check to make certain that drainage or weep holes are clear of dirt or obstructions. Weep holes can be found outside the window or door in the bottom of the frame. Use a small, soft bottle brush to clear openings.
    Note: If the window is ‘stacked”, there may be weep holes between units.
  • Moving parts in hardware components and tracks and rollers should be lubricated regularly. In salt-air environments like Jacksonville Florida, this can mean at least monthly.
  • Check weather stripping around operable window and door panels to be sure it seals evenly.
  • Adjust sliding door rollers for proper height clearances. Most door rollers can be adjusted with a screwdriver through access holes in either the end or side of the sliding panel at the bottom. Be sure to lift the panel to take the weight off of the roller during roller adjustment.
  • Roller screen doors can be adjusted to glide smoothly. Use a screwdriver – often in all four corners – to make adjustment.
  • After making roller adjustments, it may be necessary to also make adjustments in the lock strike placement. Most strikes may be adjusted by loosening screw fasteners, moving the strike plate and retightening. Check for proper lock operation.


    How to maintain aluminum windows in coastal areas:

  • Use mineral spirits to remove any salt deposits, dirt, etc.
  • Use a light soap and water solution to wash windows, and rinse well.
  • Apply a light car wax solution to the extrusion annually. Do not apply wax without cleaning the windows first. This is especially important in corrosive environments where salt deposits may be sealed to the extrusion by the wax, allowing the salt to continue to do what it is known to do – corrode the extrusion.
    In corrosive environments it is recommended that windows be rinsed regularly to reduce salt deposit build-ups and ease the annual cleaning process. This is especially true for anyone living near the ocean where salt water spray reaches the home.

What is Radon?

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Is This Dangerous Substance Lurking in Your Home?

Radon is a colorless, tasteless and odorless substance that emits alpha radiation, a dangerous chemical that is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. behind cigarette smoking. In fact, Radon is estimated to cause some 20,000 lung cancer deaths every year, according to the Surgeon General’s office. Many homes have radon levels that exceed standards set by the U.S. EPA, but many homeowners don’t know it.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is a result of the breakdown of uranium. It is generally found in soil and rocks and occasionally in well water. Most people are exposed to radon by breathing it in their homes, workplaces, or other buildings. Radon danger is especially high in underground caves, mines, tunnels, etc. Dangerous Radon levels have been detected in every U.S. state, and some 8 million homes – or 1 in every 5 – have high levels. Children seem to be at higher risk than adults for health problems related to the substance.

There is only one sure way to know if there is Radon present in your home, and that is to test it. Unfortunately, there are no symptoms of exposure to Radon and many people are unaware that they are affected until months or even years have passed.

Radon detection kits are available in many stores and online. Home inspectors and certified contractors can also check your home for this dangerous substance. Kits can be short-term (a few days) or long term (several months) and will provide varying amounts of accuracy. The EPA recommends testing every floor below the third floor of a home or building.

The good news is that the problem can be fixed. Levels can be lowered by sealing wall and floor cracks and through more complex steps such as adding pipes and fans below the slab of your home.

For more information, visit the EPA’s site at https://www.epa.gov/radon