Home Inspection Services

Sewer scope:
Still not a popular thing in the California housing market yet. We have done video sewer inspections for years. However it's not part of a general home inspection. Many plumbing contractors offer this services for a fee, from $200 -$400 depending on length of line and accessibility. But how important is it? Well when you consider that the average services call to clear a drain runs $50 to $100. Couple that with clogs on a monthly bases and it adds up quick. In California we have earthquakes. We have had many earthquakes. This alone would be reason enough to get the sewer line scoped. Another reason is tree roots. When a sewer line cracks it allows tree roots in infiltrate the line causing clogs and sewer backups. Other things that can cause a sewer line to become damaged would be heavy landscaping, over watering of the yard and city works of improvement in the street near the curb.

Here is a good testimonial on why you should have your sewer scoped.
Just as getting a home inspection is important for countless reasons so is a sewer line inspection. There are several companies in who only perform these inspections and not the repairs.
When we purchased our home in Corona California it was beautiful. It was only 5 year old. But shortly after moving in we started to have issues with the sewer backing up. Come to find out that the sewer line was damaged by heavy equipment used to build the pool in the back yard. Had I paid $225 to David Home Inspection "homeinspectionservices.org"for the sewer scope to begin with I would have saved the $4,635 in repairs, permits and landscape repairs. Scope before you close so you can go back to the negotiating table with all parties concerned.

Trisha M Trask
Dhi Client

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Chimney Diagram
Ever wonder what your fireplace looks like? Here is a cut away view? Click to enlarge pictures.
As a home inspector you will need to identified and describe all of the components of the fireplace and chimney to your client. Customers have many questions as it pertains to the fireplace in the home. Remember only 47% of the people who buy a home with a fireplace have ever use one for themselves.
Home Buyers should make sure their home inspector checks the functionality of the damper assembly and overall cleanliness of the fire box and flu stack. Another big part of the inspection is the chimney cap and screen. Here inspectors find many deficiency. Cracks in mortar missing spark catchers, screens or undersized screens are common finds.
Some chimney inspections turn up major defects such as bricks that have deteriorated, missing mortar that causes bricks to come loose. Structural defects caused by settlement or earth movement. Cracked or damaged flu liners. At times a home inspector will find chimneys that have pulled away from the home completely. Another form of fire place is the combination wood and gas burning firebox. Similar to wood burning in the form of maintenance and cleaning. This type of system will have a gas log lighter add to help with lighting the fireplace. On the other hand many homes today are built with Gas only fireplaces. This is a big departure from the wood burning fireplace. Modern gas fireplaces are easy additions to most remodeling projects. Using only a fraction of the floor space need by a traditional masonry fireplace, their efficiency and heat output can rival a traditional furnace. 40,000 Btu units, for example, can heat a small home. Some units will come as a direct-vent or even vent-free models are available. If you need a inspection on your fireplace or chimney contact us.

David Home Inspection Service
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At DHI we use a state of the art electronic home inspection program that allows us to group deficiencies by city and neighborhood. After 11 years and 4600 home inspections we are able to see trends in building defects and deficiencies. I wanted to give you the top 17 fixes to a better home inspection. Take a look around your home and make repairs as need. Remember you only get one chance at your first inspection. If you plan on listing your home for sale, this repair list the worth it's weight in gold.

1. Wood Rot damage due to deferred maintenance. (replace and paint as needed on wood trim)
2. Roof leaks caused by deferred maintenance. ( Seal roof penetrations and flashing's)
3. GFCI, AFCI missing safety devices. (Install GFCI outlet per NEC for safety)
4. Improper breaker size for circuit. (Call an Electrician to properly size and install breaker)
5. Improper grounding of main/sub electrical panel. (Call an Electrician to properly ground panel)
6. Water leaks at sink trap. (Replace or repair plastic "P" trap)
7. Water leak and corrosion at angel stops (Replace angle stops under sink)
8. Water supply line connection under sinks, toilets and washer. (Should be replaced with steel braided type)
9. Dishwasher damaged or missing proper air gap. (Install approved air gap)
   
10. Water heater not vent properly (Call plumber to vent water heater)
11. Water heater Supply lines corroded (Replace with steel braided supply lines)
12. Water heater temperature and pressure relief valve missing discharge pipe. ( Call plumber to install discharge pipe per local building codes)
13. Fire Place Chimney flu needs sweep.
14. Chimney cap and screen missing (Install approved chimney cap and screen)
15. Toilet not secure to the floor bowl wax leaking. (replace bowl wax secure toilet properly)
    
16. Smoke Detectors need new batteries.

17. Shower tub enclosure needs caulking. (Use approved caulking to seal around tub and shower)

We know that no home is perfect. A good home inspector is likely to find more deficiencies than what I have listed here. However if you you take care of the small things your report will be much more appealing to potential home buyers.

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Danger of Fire or Electrocution:

Federal Pacific electrical panels are something we see a lot of in Southern California. The main defect of this type of panel are the circuit breakers. Although buss bars have also been known to fail. Stab-Lok breakers fail to trip during short circuit and or overload conditions. Note Stab-Lok has a failure rate that exceeds UL test. Furthermore they fail at a rate 99 time higher than breakers of like equipment manufactures. Test show that the rate of failure is close to 82%. UL Tested other major brands and found them to only fail to trip in response to an over-current or short circuit only 0.85% of the time.

When an overload or short circuit occurs in an electrical device, the circuit supplying electricity to the device is supposed to be interrupted by the breaker. This interruption of electrical power is intended to minimize the resulting fire hazard of electrical overloads or short circuits. With the federal Pacific electrical panels this does not happen. A circuit breaker that fails to trip is unsafe. It fails to protect the electrical circuit and the building and building occupants where that circuit breaker is installed.

It is always recommended to remove and replace this type of panel as well as others that have a high failure rate. Names like Bull Dog Push-Omatic and Zinzco are panels that need to be inspected regularly to insure the panel is in good working condition.

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Trees And Your Home:

Keep Them Small...
I recently did a home inspection in Newport Beach Ca. This was a high profile home with 5 bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths. The home was well kept and clean throughout. When I pulled in front of the home I was able to see a beautiful pine tree to the rear of the home. Upon further inspection it was evident that this tree was causing major damage to the homes roof system. The home had two layers of roofing. The first layer was a heavy wood shake roof with a 30 pound felt under-layment and 1x6 skip sheeting. On top of that was two layers of 15 pound felt and a 30 year composition shingle. When walking the roof it was very spongy in the location of the tree. There was visible sagging as well. Pine needles from the past 10 years lay piled up along it's valley. This caused water to back up under the shingles and soak the wood shingles below. The water could not evaporate as it should. This caused a wood fungus to grow on the shingles sheeting and rafters. Although the home was well maintained both in and out, the home owner was unable to view the roof system from the ground and the tree was never trimmed back. Over all, nearly 25% of the roof and deck will need replacing on a 5,500 square foot home.
Any tree planted within 10' of a home can cause major damage. Not only is the roof at risk but so are the walls, foundation and under ground plumbing.

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Two Prong Three Prong:
Homes built before 1960 often have ungrounded and polarized receptacles. These are two-plug outlets. You cannot change out a two-prong for a three-prong outlet without grounding the receptacle or installing a GFCI protected outlet. Check with a local licensed Electrician or contact your city official for code requirements.

While there is nothing wrong with two prong outlets, it's not a good idea to plug in sensitive electronic equipment such as computers or televisions to an ungrounded outlet, much less appliances that draw a lot of power such as microwaves or newer refrigerators. It's always best to run dedicated circuits for such loads in the home.

When inspecting a home built before 1960 remember to count how many outlets have been swapped out to three prong and note it on the report. Always use a circuit analyser to find false grounds and shared neutrals. Most electrical products on the market today are double insulated and offer extra protection from electrical shock and grounding issues.

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"Pre-listing Home Inspections" are similar to the general home inspection or GHI for short. All of the points to the inspection are the same, except that the seller of the home makes the request for the home to be inspected. The importance behind this is the the seller has the upper hand going into the sale transaction. Many buyers use the repairs needed on a home as leverage to negotiate the final sale price. This puts them at a strong advantage over the seller. Remember the seller wants to sell. So they often take the low ball offer and move on. As a seller, with a home that's been pre-inspected you have an advantage over other homes in the market at the same price. You are telling your potential buyers that you have confidence in the property you are listing. The inspection will uncover any issues before hand and repairs can be made. The seller can then provide the inspection report and any invoices for the repairs made. The home will more than likely sell for the asking price with multiple offers and close much sooner. The buyers may still request their own home inspector and that's OK. You have done your part to be ready for their inspection. Pre-listing home inspections can range from $350 to $600 depending on the size of the home to be inspected.
DHI offers web linking to home inspection reports. The best Realtors use this as a listing tool on MLS. This also informs buyers that you represent a quality property. Most seasoned Realator's require it. The last thing you want to do is list a house, exhaust your efforts to sell it then find out the foundation is compromised.


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Frequently, we get the request in our office for a "partial" inspection. This is another of those things that truly escapes my logic. While I am sure that the basis for this request is the desire to reduce the expense of the inspection, partial inspections are often a high-risk event for everyone concerned. Let me explain by way of example.

The most common partial inspection request is the roof inspection. This is due primarily to the high replacement cost of the roof and the probability of extensive damage to the interior of the home should the roof fail.

Here's where the problems begin. Most folks assume that the roof inspection takes place on the roof. It is true that walking on the roof is an important element of the roof inspection. But, to really judge the past history and future performance of the roof, the interior of the home as well as attic space should also be inspected.

More often then not, roofs leak for quite some time into the attic before the leak is detected in the interior living space. Some leaks begin so small that for years the wood roof sheathing is kept wet and rotting. The water my also have dripped onto wires causing corrosion and ductwork causing mold! How are these additional discoveries disclosed in the context of the "partial" inspection?

To ignore them is clearly irresponsible; to disclose them is to surely expand the inspection beyond its requested partial scope. In either scenario, it is certain to create confusion. Had these initial symptoms of problem been discovered and disclosed in the context of a full inspection it would be a more professional process. One Could provide a clear and complete picture for integration into the contract. Seldom are partial inspections good for anyone in the transaction or a home other then follow-up to the initial full home inspection.

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Home & Pest Inspection

Along with the home inspection, it would also be in your best interest to inspect for wood boring insects, such as termites and beetles.

A pest inspection is also required by the lender before they proceed with a loan.

A pest inspection is done separately from the home inspection and is done through a different company that specializes in pest inspections.

Not only are home and pest inspections required by the lending institutions, but it would be in your best interest even if they were not. They cost anywhere from $350.00 to $600.00 depending on the size of the home, and you are aloud to be present and ask questions through the entire inspection.

Imagine if you found your dream home and loved it so much that you purchased it without having the home inspection done. On the day that you and your family move in, it is the happiest day of your lives. Than, three days after you move in, you get your first rain fall while in your new house. Than, the next thing you know, you have rain coming through the ceilings up stairs.

After something like this, you’ll be wishing you had the home inspected.

Believe me, this stuff happens. So be smart, and get a home inspection. It beats paying $15,000.00 to $20,000.00 for a new roof.

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Real Estate Due Diligence:

A home inspection is your way to find out if the home you are purchasing is really what it seems. The home inspection is part of your due diligence, in other words, to make sure you are buying what you expect. If you are purchasing what you expect then you will have piece of mind that you are making a wise home purchasing decision. If the inspection report is not acceptable then you have the opportunity to move on or make changes to the conditions of your contract. That is, if you have an inspection contingency in your purchase agreement.
In making a purchasing decision, information is power. A thorough home inspection will give you the information you need to make a wise decision. The information you receive from the report should be unbiased, accurate, and from a qualified inspector.

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You are selling your home. Great. But before you place that for sale sign on the front lawn, you should ensure that your house is ready for a potential home inspection. You would be surprised how many homes are listed for sale without any previous preparations.

Most home inspectors have seen it. We go perform a home inspection for a potential buyer and find the home is not ready even for the most superficial of inspection. This could cause buyers to walk away from a deal. Before putting your house on the market, make sure that is in good shape and take care of any maintenance or repairs that need to be addressed. A potential buyer may get scare when they see the home inspection report filled with a long list of miscellaneous defects, even if these defects are minor.

Preparing your home for a potential home inspection is not as difficult or costly as you may think. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

It may sound obvious, but ensure that all the electrical circuits in the home are turned on. It is not the job of a home inspector to flip breakers on and off.

If your home or appliances use gas, make sure it is on and all the pilot lights are working. Again, a professional inspector will not waste time on this.

Your water should be on and all your fixtures should be functional. If there is a leak, repair it.

Do not leave burned out light bulbs in any lighting fixtures. Make sure all the lights can be turned on easily.

Try to de-clutter your cabinets and storage space under the sinks.

Ensure that your attic access is clear and easily accessible. If the access is through a closet, clear away the all your personal effects and remove any shelves that may block the access hole.

Check all your doors and windows and tighten any loose hardware. Make sure that every door and window opens easily and without noise.

Go up on the roof and remove any accumulated leaves from the gutters and any lost toys that may have ended up on the roof.

If you have any leaks under the sinks or drains, particularly in the basement, bring in a professional to have them repaired before you put your house up for sale.

If your heating, air conditioning and fireplace were not serviced in the last few months, do it now and keep the receipts on hand for proof.

It may also be worthwhile to put a fresh coat of paint on all the walls, particularly if the paint is dated and/or dirty. Have your carpets shampooed and make sure your home smells nice. There is nothing worse for a potential buyer than walking into a home that reeks of cats or old shoes. If you take care of these minor repairs before you list your home for sale, you will greatly increase your chances of selling your home rapidly. Your home will look great, seem well maintained and more importantly, the home inspection report will not be filled with endless minor defects.

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Can I Test For Mold Myself?:

Yes, most home supply stores have do-it-yourself mold testing kits readily available. These kits can be used to test the air quality in your home. Although not a substitution for professional inspections they can be used in between professional inspections allowing for more time between the more costly professional inspections.

Essential Preventative Measures: The most essential preventative measures may sound like common sense. They include but are not limited to: ridding your home of any standing water, scrubbing appliances (like refrigerators, humidifiers, etc) with antibiotic soap, cleaning your AC unit regularly, regularly changing your floor mats and shower curtains.

As you can see, conducting routine mold inspections should become a part of your routine home maintenance schedule. If left unchecked, mold can cause enormous issues with not only your health but you home as well.

Taking care of your health is never too important. By cleaning up mold you will improve the health of you and your family in your home.

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Electrocution Fire Loss of life!

That should be enough reasons to employ a fully qualified electrician to undertake any electrical installation, repair or maintenance of electrical systems in your home or business.

Electricians spend 4-5 years going through a tough training program that covers the many and varied aspects of electrical work, as well as meeting strict licensing rules and regulations, and comprehensive insurance cover for any potential mishap.

Anyone contemplating electrical do-it-yourself would be well advised to reconsider undertaking such a task because there are numerous pitfalls that can have disastrous consequences – and it is illegal. Is your life, or your family’s lives, worth the few dollars you might save?

And if you do manage to install a couple of power points, or rewire the patio, you will have difficulty selling your home if you do not have certificates of compliance for all electrical work completed. Then you will have to employ an electrician to rewire what you have attempted, possibly even costing you more if it’s a botched job.

And if it is a botched job your house and everyone’s safety is seriously threatened by potential electrical shocks and fire. Don’t expect your insurance company to compensate you for any loss or damage to your property, or life, if you do not have a certificate of compliance.

When you are selling your home, the idea that your house could be burgled or vandalized might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, there are people out there who pose as buyers in order to gain access to your home and figure out its weak spots for a visit later that night or even several weeks from the time they first look it over. By utilizing some of the following strategies, you can minimize the risk of a home intrusion and theft.

Use a Realtor®

By using a Realtor®, you will ensure that your prospective buyers will first go through someone who will inquire as to their identity and their motives for wanting your home. Since Realtors® can be targets of theft and violence while showing homes themselves, they tend to be cautious when showing homes to anyone, keeping copies of drivers licenses and taking a second agent with them for added safety. This also gives your home more security when it is being shown, as the people touring the property know that there are people watching out for the house and the people representing it.

Do not let strangers into your home on a moment's notice

If someone is serious about purchasing, they will take down the contact information of the Realtor® and leave you in peace. People who try to coerce you into letting them into your home may be really interested in buying, but they might be more interested in stealing or worse. Tell them to contact your agent. Caution your children against letting anyone in who claims that they are there "to see the house".

Less is more in photographs

Before taking pictures or having pictures taken, look critically at each room and remove items that could be an incentive to steal. Examples include your new flatscreen TV and state-of-the-art computer system. Avoid pictures of any family heirlooms and any items you know to be valuable. This not only helps make your home less of a target for thieves; it also helps you avoid a potential buyer saying, "But I loved the chandelier in the picture online!"

Keep your valuables locked up or with you

Valuables - wallets, passports, money, money containers, jewelry, etc. should be in a safe or at least in a place where it takes more than a moment's search to find them. Avoid popular hiding places like the toilet tank or a rubber cabbage. A small safe is a good investment, not only for selling your home, but also for general valuable security. Tell children to put their piggy banks away and any treasured possessions. Most buyers have only the best of intentions, but there are always accidents and people who don't control their children to effect the destruction of a valued object.

Home security is often just common sense. The harder it is to get something without being caught, the less likely people are going to try for it. With sensible supervision of the home, securing of valuables and the avoidance of anything that would catch the eye of a thief, you can make your home and belongings much more secure during home showings.

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Removing Oil-based Makeup:

The household trick for removing oil-based make-up is to use a "pre-wash stain remover" and spray it directly onto the stain. Do not rub the stain! Let the solution soak into the carpet, as most chemicals take some time (Lipstick and Mascara will need more time). After the solution has had time to soak, rinse the stain with warm water and dab the stain (remember do not rub). The stain should be faded or completely gone.

If not, repeat the process. Another option is to use a stronger household detergent. Typically, the more expensive detergents will be best to use in this case. These detergents typically have more punch to remove those tougher stains. If the detergent process does not remove the stain then you can try rubbing alcohol. Use the same process as above and remember not to rub the stain! Let it soak and then rinse with warm water and dab.

The longer you leave the stain untreated, the harder it will be to remove.

Removing Fingernail Polish

Fingernail polish stains are tough to remove and can only be removed with a chemical. Removing these stains takes some patience and skill. The best product to use is an acetone based fingernail polish remover. You should test the acetone on your carpet before you try this process. Good test spots are in a closet or somewhere that is not noticeable. When testing, place a small amount of acetone on your test area and let it sit for a few minutes. Then remove the acetone by blotting it out with a white towel. If there are no imperfections made from the acetone onto your test spot, you'll now want to treat the stain directly.

You should use a dropper to apply the polish remover to the stain. Let the chemical soak, but not too long (most acetone based polish removers evaporate quickly). You should only let it sit long enough so that the polish starts to run. Then blot it with a white towel. The fingernail polish should lift off onto the towel and stain should be lightened. If the stain remains try the process again. Your last resort is to make a trip to your local store where they sell products that may work better. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully. With these types of stains I recommend contacting a professional carpet cleaning service.

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What does a handyman do?

In short, a handyman can do almost anything if it concerns repair, maintenance, renovation, etc. Narrowing down the services of a handyman is not practical. Give him any tool and he will figure out how to use it. This quality is what makes them special in their field – they can think out simple solutions to seemingly difficult problems at the drop of a hat. However, if one was to highlight the common everyday tasks that a Handyman company could carry out, it would definitely include the following –

1. Repairing and remodeling – A handyman can help you get your bathroom, living room or any other living space remodeled, in addition to fixing broken items. This includes carpentry for furniture, plumbing for taps and electrical wizardry for appliances. Roofing and fence repair are other common jobs which can be availed.

2. General home maintenance – If you are too busy to paint that chipped wall or polish the rusty deck, a handyman can do it for you. Garbage removal and cleaning services, flooring and masonry are other basic services. Interiors or exteriors – a qualified handyman working with a reputable company can do several small jobs that are generally forgotten or neglected.

Here is what you need to remember. If the project is over $450 you will need a State License Contractor. Then you will need to check out the License to see if it's valid. Check A License And most of all get references.


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