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Pre-listing Inspection

8/18/2015

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Here are some advantages of having your

 home inspected before you list it:
 

  • You can choose an InterNACHI Certified Professional  Inspector® to inspect your home first, which may prompt the buyer to waive his own inspection contingency.  And even if he doesn't, a Seller Inspection means you won't be in for any surprises.
  • You can schedule your inspection at your own convenience, rather than accommodate a buyer and his inspector.
  • You can assist your inspector during the inspection, which is something not normally done during a buyer's inspection.
  • A Move-In Certified™ Seller Inspection may alert you to any immediate concerns, such a broken pressure-relief valve or an active termite infestation.
  • The Seller Inspection:
  • allows you to take the time to shop for competitively priced contractors to make repairs, rather than making rushed decisions to get things fixed in a hurry.
  • lets you attach repair estimates or paid invoices to the inspection report; and
  • removes over-inflated buyer-procured repair estimates from the negotiating table.
A Move-In Certified™ Seller Inspection is the ultimate gesture in forthrightness on your part.
 
There are other distinct advantages of having a Move-In Certified™ Seller Inspection report:

  • You're given the opportunity to correct any issues in the inspection report before it's distributed to real estate agents and prospective buyers.
  • The report provides an unbiased, third-party, professional opinion about the condition of the home to potential buyers.
  • The report may encourage the buyer to waive his own inspection contingency, so the deal is less likely to fall apart the way they often do when a buyer's inspection reveals unexpected problems at the last minute.
  • The report can help you realistically price the home if problems exist.
  • The report can help you substantiate a higher asking price if problems don't exist or have been corrected.
  • The report may relieve a prospective buyer's unfounded suspicions and concerns before he walks away from an otherwise great deal.
  • The report provides full-disclosure protection from future legal claims.
  • I will offer the buyer a walk thru inspection at a reduced rate to go over any questions or concerns they may have and to assure them repairs, if any, were made.  
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CLEAN  AC UNIT OF COTTONWOODS

6/26/2015

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Clean the AC Unit Now!

Now that the cottonwood season is almost over you should clean the outside fins of your air conditioner condenser, this will help your air conditioner to function better.  Most cleaning involves just spraying the outside of the condenser unit(the outside part) with water using a slow side to side motion and starting at the top and working your way down, kind of like spray washing a car.  I have used a shop vac also, just be sure not to damage the fins. You should clean it every thirty days or so during the summer and give it a good cleaning in the spring.
Be sure to insulate the refrigerant return pipes (the big pipe) and clean your condenser (just like a radiator) fins. Check my web site for other tips.  www.homeinspectpros.com   (Dogs may damage your condenser.)

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Is Your Dog Destroying Your Air Conditioner? 

4/7/2015

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Is Your Dog Destroying Your Air Conditioner? When we consider our furry four legged friends and the destruction that they can cause, we often think of torn up furniture and pillows and yellow stains on the carpet. We may train our dogs to mind their manners indoors and teach them to do their business outdoors, but many of us are forgetting to protect one of our most expensive investments from the effects of our pets. The air conditioner is especially vulnerable to damage done by male dogs and their urine. Although it is not pleasant to picture, dog urine could be literally eating away at your air conditioner, and the longer the problem goes unchecked, the more damage that is done. Many air conditioners suffer this fate, and with another air conditioning season on the way, there are sure to be many more. Damaged Condenser Dog urine contains chemicals that are very good at eating away at metals, especially aluminum. Unfortunately, many air conditioner fins and coils are coated in this metal, and with time the fins become dust and the coils begin to leak. A leak in coils means that the unit is no longer a closed system. The refrigerant will leak out, and in a matter of hours or days the system could be emptied completely. When this happens to your unit, you risk burning out the condenser, and the holes created by the urine are often enough to destroy the unit completely. This entire process could happen in about a year’s time, and once that damage has reached this magnitude, replacement is really your only option. How Can I Protect My A/C? If you already have this problem or if you notice your dog has been using your air conditioner as a toilet, you need to call an HVAC technician. If the problem has not yet progressed to a leak or destruction of the fins, you may be able to save the system. First an expert technician will clean the coils and repair any issues that the unit may have. Next, you will need protective fence installed around the air conditioner to keep your dog from repeating the problem. An HVAC technician can install a protective fence for your air conditioner that doesn’t restrict air flow or get in the way of annual maintenance checks. It will keep your pup a safe distance away and still allow the unit to cool your home efficiently. It is difficult to stop a dog from destroying the air conditioner on your own, but with the help of an HVAC technician, you can protect your unit easily and quickly before a major investment is needed.
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Which way should my ceiling fan turn?

3/9/2015

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 In the winter months, the leading edge of the fan's blades should be lower than the trailing edge in order to produce a gentle updraft, which forces warm air near the ceiling down into the occupied space below. In the summer, the leading edge of the fan's blades should be higher as the fan spins counter-clockwise to cool occupants with a wind-chill effect. On most models, the fan direction can be reversed with an electric switch located on the outside of the metal housing.

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12 Common Defects‘ in Home Inspection

2/13/2015

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‘Home Inspect Pros’

John Olson Inspector

A Dozen Common Problems Found During a Home Inspection.

In my experience as a Home Inspector, I have compiled a list of the twelve common defects I have included in my reports. These are all very inexpensive or no cost repairs, but can lead a potential buyer to scrutinize the rest of the home more closely.

1.      Furnace needs serviced and cleaned-filters need changed. Often times furnaces are in hard to reach places like a crawl space or attic, and therefore neglected by the homeowner.

2.      Landscape grading-the soil around the foundation should slope away from the structure, approximately 1 inch per foot for at least 6 feet.

3.      Gutters and downspouts not functioning properly. Gutters are often clogged with debris and downspouts do not carry water away from the foundation.

4.      Loose toilets at the floor-toilets should be tightened securely to the flange.

5.      Moisture or water in the crawl space or basement. This is usually caused by #2 or #3 or both. Ninety eight percent of water seepage is caused by roof and yard runoff, the other 2 percent is caused by springs or rising water tables.

6.      Windows with broken seals (dual pane) or binding, sticking, and/or painted shut.

7.      Electrical panels not labeled properly. Remember to label breakers as “north bedroom receptacles”, not “Tommy’s bedroom”.

8.    Receptacles not properly wired, either reversed polarity, or open grounds.

9.      Bathroom vent terminates in attic.  Either the vent simply terminates in the attic, or the flexible plastic piping has been broken or detached, and is not detected by the homeowner.

10.   Fireplace needs to be cleaned/serviced.

11.   Chimney cap needs repaired. The concrete top (cap) of the chimney will crack and deteriorate over time. This will allow water to penetrate the chimney. Annual chimney and fireplace inspection is recommended.

12.   Trees, shrubs, and vines are too close or on the house. The mature size of shrubs and trees should be considered when landscaping. If they will touch or overhang the house, they are too close.

 None of these problems are serious, but can become major defects if not addressed in a timely manner. If you are selling your home, addressing these issues now can save time and money and make your house more marketable to a prospective buyer. 

Call John for your prelisting, just sold, just buying or just want to know Inspection. 920-639-7260

www.homeinspectpros.com

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'Home Inspect Pros'
John V. Olson
310 Fulton St. 
De Pere Wi. 54115
(920)-639-7260
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