When does the home inspector invoke the dreaded Structural Engineer? In my career as a home inspector, I have probably only had to recommend a Structural Engineer about six times. So it doesn’t happen very often. In fact, when a home inspector says that a Structural Engineer is needed, it is typically the death nell […] The post When does the home inspector invoke the dreaded Structural Engineer? appeared first on First Choice Home Inspection.

Recently, I inspected a 150 year old home located exactly next to a busy road – a state highway in fact. When the house was first built, the road was only a dirt road, and only hosted horses and carriages. But over the years, the road was built up, encroaching ever closer to the house. […] The post Are there any issues with a house being located right next to a road? appeared first on First Choice Home Inspection.

Sorry I haven’t blogged in a while! We have been so busy this past year. Every month of 2024 set new records for home inspections. New Hampshirites can certainly claim that we live in an interesting state. The state motto of New Hampshire is “Live Free or Die.” Many that live here are very proud […] The post Home Inspectors vs. Code appeared first on First Choice Home Inspection.

What Does “At the time of the inspection” Mean?   There is a phrase that we use in the home inspection trade during every inspection. Home Inspectors use the phrase “at the time of the inspection” whenever we are referring to the conditions that we have encountered during the course of the home inspection. Essentially […] The post What Does “At the time of the inspection” Mean? appeared first on First Choice Home Inspection.

The Pros and Cons of Buying an Old House I am always surprised when we are asked to conduct a home inspection on a 100+ year old home, and the buyers happen to be under the age of 30. And furthermore, it’s going to be their first home! I’ve learned over the years that a […] The post The Pros and Cons of Buying an Old House appeared first on First Choice Home Inspection.

When I first discovered termites at my home, I initially said, “Wow! Look at these white ants!” Within a moment of saying that, I realized that there are no white ants. Over the past 6 months, I have come across a significant amount of Termite damage / activity while conducting home inspections. The activity was […] The post Ughh, We Have Termites! appeared first on First Choice Home Inspection.

Hello again! A few months ago, I addressed a frequently asked question – should a client attend the home inspection? Both then and now, my conclusion was without hesitation, of course the client should attend the home inspection. It is vital / essential for the client to be present for the inspection. If for no […] The post Follow-up: Should a client attend the inspection? appeared first on First Choice Home Inspection.

Hi folks! I conducted a home inspection yesterday where the MLS listing listed that the roof was brand new. Now I didn’t know that when I first arrived at the home. I usually will not look at the MLS listing in order to prevent any bias on my part regarding the home. So I simply […] The post Brand New Roof? Yeah right, and monkeys might fly out of my ***…. appeared first on First Choice Home Inspection.

As home inspectors, we are often called up to inspect very old homes. Now my friends who live in England laugh when I refer to an old home here in the United States – the oldest homes we have are 400 years old. In England, there are homes that had stood for centuries! Anyway, I […] The post The Art of Inspecting Old Homes appeared first on First Choice Home Inspection.