Posts by Inspector Patterson
Gutters and Downspouts – Common Inspection Defects
Gutters and downspouts are one the most important components in controlling stormwater around your home. Properly installed and functioning gutters and downspouts effectively move water away from the home, preventing it from saturating the perimeter and foundation. Poorly installed and maintained gutters and downspouts can result in water infiltrating the home, resulting in foundation issues,…
Read MoreDishwasher High Loop – Common Inspection Defects
The Dishwasher High Loop Poor dishwasher drain line configuration is a common defect found during an inspection. Thankfully, fixing the dishwasher high loop is typically an easy fix that you can correct in matter of minutes. If you have no earthly idea what the dishwasher high loop is, or why it’s important, your in the…
Read MoreReverse Polarity Outlets – Common Inspection Defects
Reverse Polarity Outlets A common defect found when inspecting the electrical system in a home are reverse polarity outlets. When found, it’s typically a sign of a non-professional repairs completed by a homeowner or an inexperienced handyman. Reverse polarity outlets occur when the hot (black) and neutral (white) wires are flipped. In this situation, the…
Read MoreSell Your Home Faster and Eliminate Surprises With A Pre-Listing Home Inspection
So you want to sell your house and move onto your next dream home? Once you have made the decision to sell your home, there are a lot of moving pieces to navigate. The big question is how difficult is it going to be to get to the closing table, are any issues going to…
Read MoreHome Holiday Safety Tips
The winter holidays are a time for celebration, and that means more cooking, home decorating, entertaining, and an increased risk of fire and accidents. We recommend that you follow these home holiday safety guidelines to help make your holiday season safer and more enjoyable. Holiday Lighting Use caution with holiday decorations and, whenever possible, choose…
Read MoreThree Deadly Mistakes Every Home Buyer Should Avoid
Deadly Mistake #1: Thinking you can’t afford it. 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 homes. Buying a home is the smartest financial decision you will ever make. In fact, most homeowners would be broke at…
Read MoreAvoid Tragedy by Checking Your Swimming Pool Safety
Swimming pools should always be happy places. Unfortunately, each year thousands of American families confront swimming pool tragedies, drownings and near-drownings of young children. At InterNACHI, we want to prevent these tragedies. These are guidelines for pool barriers that can help prevent most submersion incidents involving young children. These guidelines are not intended as the…
Read MoreAttached Garage Fire Hazards and Tips to Prevent Them
The purpose of this article is twofold. First, at InterNACHI, we’d like you to take measures to keep your garage free from fire. Fortunately, there are ways this can be done, some of which are described below. Secondly, garage fires do happen, and we’d like you to make sure that a fire cannot not easily…
Read MoreEssential Tools Every Homeowner Should Own
The following items are essential tools, but this list is by no means exhaustive. Feel free to your inspector during your next inspection about other tools that you might find useful.
Read MoreHow Your Smart Home Can Help You Prepare for the Next Big Storm
As high-tech as our modern homes have become, we’re still at the mercy of Mother Nature every time the next big storm rolls through. While there’s not much you can do to put a stop to strong winds, power outages, and flooding, the right smart home tech can give you a leg up in keeping your home protected in the midst of an emergency.
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