What Does “At the time of the inspection” Mean?

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 Pros and Cons of Buying an Old House

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 […]

Ughh, We Have Termites!

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 […]

Follow-up: Should a client attend the 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 […]

Brand New Roof? Yeah right, and monkeys might fly out of my ***….

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 […]

Inspecting Generational Homes

We have been inspecting a lot of what I call, “Generational Homes” of late. A Generational Home is defined in most of the internet searches I conducted, as a home that has housed 2 – 3 generations of the same family. We had the honor of inspecting a home in Goffstown a month ago that […]

Climate Change and Inspecting Homes

I know this is a controversial topic, but as a home inspector, I have to say that the most popular question I get during home inspections is: “Is my basement going to flood?” I never got this question when I first got started as a home inspector 11 years ago. But now, it comes up […]

The “Practiced Eye” of a Home Inspector

If someone were to ask me what the most important trait is for a home inspector, I would say he or she needs a “Practiced Eye.” So what exactly does that phrase mean? I found several definitions online. The definitions usually revolved around the following: Having a Practiced Eye is referred to as having a […]

Asbestos Tiles

So with the crazy real estate market, and dwindling inventory levels, it’s no surprise that people are turning toward old homes as starter homes. Older homes often come with charm, intricate workmanship, interesting architectural features, and unfortunately the occasional hazardous item. We have been inspecting a lot of older homes lately. And we have been […]

Plastic Electrical Panels? Plastic & Electricity?

On occasion, I come across the Unicorn of electrical panels – the Trilliant model plastic electrical panel. I have talked to numerous master electricians in New Hampshire that have never even seen one of these panels, yet I’ve come across 4 – 5 now in my time as a home inspector. Now, even if you’re […]