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This is soap box month, info combined with advertising, combined with opinion. And, it's about home inspection.
Most of you have experienced at least one home inspection. You used the inspector's training and knowledge as tools to help you make a buying decision. But is there any other way you can use those tools? Here are some that most people don't think of:
Having your home remodeled is a stressful experience, and a lot of the angst comes from the fact that you and the contractor don't speak the same language. If you're dissatisfied with the way your project is going, consider having the inspector in to look over the work and help get things back on track. Unfortunately, I usually get involved in homeowner-contractor disputes after all communication has broken down, all work has stopped, and the lawyers are involved. This is an expensive and time-consuming way to work out problems. You can keep it from getting to this point by having good inspector look over contract documents, spot possible disputes before they are set in lumber, and make sure everybody has the same set of expectations. This is especially important for those types of jobs that you may not be able to get a good look at. The September 2000 issue of this newsletter (find it at www.inspectmichigan.com) points out a common roofing error that most homeowners are not aware of until the roof fails or they try to sell the house. Such an error caught during installation is easily corrected.
Another good example is basement waterproofing. If you call a basement contractor at the first sign of water, chances are you will end up with an extensive, expensive system that may solve the problem. If there is a simple, inexpensive solution, you probably won't hear about it from the contractor. After all, he gets paid for installing systems, for laying pipe and fixing walls. The inspector gets paid to know the right answers. Calling the inspector first could save you a pile of money.
For condominium boards, these advantages are multiplied. Calling the professional inspector before contracting the work can save the association tens of thousands of dollars.
But how do you find a good inspector (besides the obvious answer- your writer)?
Michigan has no licensing program for home inspectors. In the states where licensing laws have been enacted, there is little evidence that licensing has improved the quality of service to the public. If home inspection were simply a matter of knowing codes and filling out forms, this would not be a problem. However, a good home inspector needs far deeper and broader knowledge than that, in order to grasp complex mechanical issues in homes, understand obsolete systems and methods, and be familiar with the various ways homes age and are abused. And of course, all that knowledge is useless if it isn't communicated to you. So, who are the good guys?
Start with The American Society of Home Inspectors (www.ashi.com). Becoming a member of ASHI isn't easy. It takes verified experience and proven expertise to get Member status. The continuing education needed to maintain membership involves a hefty commitment of time and money. Is that a guarantee that every ASHI inspector is a prince? No, it means that by choosing an ASHI inspector, you'll get someone who takes inspection seriously. The people who think inspection is an easy way to make a buck, who think they already know all there is to know, or who do it as a part-time adjunct or retirement pastime are not on the ASHI membership lists. ASHI members are serious about inspecting.
OK, down off the soapbox, on to more pressing needs.
Is your basement getting a bit muggy about now? It's easy to misconstrue summer condensation as basement leakage, and the mistake can be costly. Check out this www.inspectmichigan.com/watsonsj/June99WJ.htm back issue for more info
.Reminder: Is your humidifier still running? If it's a rotating-drum type, the water valve should have been shut off over a month ago. If it's a flow-through type, you just need to turn the humidistat to "off". In the last couple of weeks, I have been in several homes where the air conditioning and humidifier are both running, fighting each other.
I missed the monthly nag last month. As a matter of fact, I missed the entire April issue! Sorry 'bout that! Now, we need to catch up. When you moved the clocks ahead in April, did you remember to replace smoke alarm batteries? Good! How about the batteries in the digital thermostat? Ok, now, did you cycle all the breakers in your main service panel? That's one way to ensure they're not stuck, and it should be done twice a year. Just turn them off and back on again. Of course, that messes up every digital timer in the house, so it's best to do it when you are resetting all the clocks anyway.
Gotta go, I can hear the grass growing! Keep up the good work!
Matt
Copyright 2001, Matthew J. Bezanson.
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