The real estate industry is booming and as we wait to hear back on our competitive offers, how do I find and determine the best home inspector as quickly as possible?   Finding a trustworthy home inspector is crucial to a seamless purchasing process, arming you with a proper negotiation tool to purchase with confidence!  

To assist you in this process, we at Magnolia Home Inspections have put together a checklist to help you vet home inspectors. This checklist is based on our experience of working with over 3,000 home buyers in the Middle Tennessee area including Nashville, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville and Thompson Station. This checklist is also intended to be a tool for hundreds of folks who found us through the internet and looking to qualify a local home inspector in their area.    

The Ultimate Home Inspector Vetting Checklist Inspector Name: ___________________________________________________________  

1. Business Information

__ The company is licensed and insured

__ Does the company have stated core values?

__ Do these core values align with your values?

__ Find out how many years the company has been in business Years in business: __________

Note: According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of U.S. small business fail within the first year. By the end of their fifth year, roughly 50% have faltered. (LendingTree.com)  

2. Industry Experience

Ask the following questions of the home inspector:

1. How many inspections have you completed since starting the business? __________
2. How many inspections did you complete last year? _________
3. Of those inspections, were there any complaints? __________
4. What is your construction experience?  What is your experience fixing the issues that are included in a home inspection report?____________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________

3. Report Quality  – Request a copy of a Sample home inspection report and look for the following:

1. Are house defects worded in a way that provides you with leverage in a negotiation? __________
2. Are defects distinguished between DIY project and a contractor repair? _________
3. Are repair recommendations specific enough for you to know what action you need to take next? ________
4. Would you feel comfortable using this report as a professional document in a legal situation?________

4. Reviews and Ratings

__ Collectively, the home inspector has at least a 5:1 good review to bad review ratio

__ Read the negative reviews

__ Was the negative review a personality conflict or the result of a lack of professional service?

__ Did the home inspector respond reasonably to all negative reviews? What do the best reviews say about the core ethos of how this home inspector conducts business? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________  

5. Services Provided

__ Will you walk the roof on my inspection

__ If no: How will you protect me with an accurate description of the roof age and any existing damages that currently need repaired?

__ Do you have an inspector on the team with an FAA 107 Drone License?

__ Do you offer Sewer Scope inspections?

__ Does a licensed and bonded Pest Control company complete your Termite Letter Inspections?

__ Do you offer Radon testing? What relevant facts can you provide regarding the risk level of Radon gas for the location I am purchasing?_____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

What will you not inspect?____________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________  

6. Service Guarantee

What is your Service Guarantee?_____________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

What should I expect in the event I have an issue with my report?________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

How have you handled client complaints in the past? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________  

7. Things That Are NOT All That Important

• Number of Reviews: Any rating that is below 4.5 should be a red flag, however the number of reviews should be judged with an eye of skepticism.  Take Yelp for example:  We don’t pay Yelp a fee and are penalized by having the vast majority of our reviews hidden (only available at the bottom of the page listed as ‘not recommended’), any negative reviews are moved to the top and the contact information of our competitors who pay the fee is listed on our page.

We hope you find this helpful!  Any feedback you have with utilizing this checklist as a tool we would welcome.  Please email us your feedback at trust@trustmagnolia.com

The post Ultimate Home Inspector Vetting Checklist appeared first on Nashville Home Inspection | Magnolia.

A friend who owns a number of rental properties recently asked me to help provide him a checklist of issues to inspect that would keep the properties well-maintained.  Whether you are preparing your rental property for a new tenant to move in or seeking to maintain the home, there are certain steps every landlord should take. If you get into the habit of reviewing this checklist, misunderstandings and complaints tenants will be minimized.

1. Maintain Health and Safety Issues

Reducing Health and Safety Issues should be a primary concern for landlords.  As owners, landlords, agents, and managers of rental property, you play an important role in protecting the health of your tenants and their children. Safety issues include verifying that there are two forms of exit from the unit and that all carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are in working order. Health issues include checking for signs of mold and, for buildings constructed before 1978, that there are no lead-based paint hazards.

Smoke Detectors are discussed in every Magnolia Home Inspection report, here are the recommended locations:

The National Fire Protection Agency recommends installing smoke alarms inside each bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.  On levels without bedrooms, install alarms in the living room (or den or family room) or near the stairway to the upper level, or in both locations. For more information visit: Installation and Location of Smoke Alarms

Carbon monoxide is heavier than air and the location of the detector below breathing level is extremely important.  In effect, if the house were flooded with carbon monoxide, every human or animal below the carbon monoxide detector could essentially die before the monoxide.

• Mount the detectors on the walls at least a couple of feet below the height of the ceiling
• An alarm should be installed on every level of the home and in sleeping areas.
• Place the alarm at least 15 feet away from fuel-burning appliances.
• Make sure nothing is covering or obstructing the unit.
• Do not place the unit in dead air spaces or next to a window or door.

For more information visit: https://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm

Landlords must give prospective tenants of buildings built before 1978:

• An EPA-approved information pamphlet on identifying and controlling lead-based paint hazards,  Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home (PDF).
• Any known information concerning lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards pertaining to the building.
• For multi-unit buildings this requirement includes records and reports concerning common areas and other units when such information was obtained as a result of a building-wide evaluation.
• A lead disclosure attachment to the lease, or language inserted in the lease, that includes a “Lead Warning Statement” and confirms that you have complied with all notification requirements.
• Sample Lessor’s Disclosure of Information in English (PDF)and in Spanish (PDF) .

2. Practical Repairs Insure the Value of the Home

Water is the single most destructive element to a home.  Simple monitoring, as little as once a year, can insure that the structure and value of the home are maintained.  Here are two suggestions that might save you tens of thousands of dollars in the long-run:

Downspout Extensions

The lack of downspout extensions on a guttering system is the number one cause of foundation failure in my experience as a home inspector.  Roofs are a very large square footage of area that catch an enormous amount of water that is then caught in gutters and funneled to very specific locations, primarily the corner of the foundation of your home.  Magnolia home inspection note: “Excessive moisture levels in soil near the foundation can compromise the ability of the soil to support the weight of the structure above resulting in a high potential for structural damage in the future.”

Wood Rot

Identify all wood trim on the exterior of the home, around windows, doors, soffit, and corners of the home.  It is important to note all exposed wood from peeling or deteriorating paint.  A common Magnolia home inspection note: “Accelerated deterioration of the wood will occur if not properly coated.”   L

Personally, if I owned a property with excessive wood trim, I would hire a metal contractor and wrap as much as possible.  Metal wrap on houses is extremely common in Middle Tennessee with high humidity climate and reduces paint maintenance to virtually zero.

3. Know the Plumbing

Most often rental properties are older homes with plumbing that may be antiquated.  Hopefully you already had your home inspected and know the material of the plumbing pipes inside the home and the material of the main supply line bringing water from the city plumbing into the home.  It is important to have a game plan before flooding, a clogged pipe or other emergencies arise.

Galvanized Steel Pipe

This plumbing pipe on supply lines will need to be replaced at some time in the future. Galvanized steel corrodes with exposure to water reducing the inside diameter of the pipe and the total volume available.  Over time less and less water can be delivered.  A good indication of when to replace galvanized plumbing can be concluded through this test: In the bathroom, turn the shower and faucet ON – does a person have enough water to wash soap out of their hair when the toilet is flushed at the same time these fixtures are both on?  If not, call a plumber for a quote of replacement of the galvanized plumbing.

Copper Pipe

It is important to keep all metal piping that is exposed in the crawlspace insulated.  Copper is a great material for water supply piping but the biggest weakness is the softness of the metal.  Copper piping will split open if the water inside freezes, resulting in flooding when that ice melts.  Taking the preventative measure of insulating these pipes will prevent very costly repairs in the future.

These 3 areas of focus will get you off to a great start as a Landlord or on a more effective plan of managing your property & keeping your Tenants happy. In the next posts in this series we’ll touch on 7 other very important focus areas so don’t miss those posts. If you haven’t already, sign up for our mailing list here & get the blogs straight to your inbox.

The post I Just Purchased A Rental Property, Now What? appeared first on Nashville Home Inspection | Magnolia.

10.  These are pictures of shadows from the eclipse in 2017, one of the few odd occurrences during a total eclipse of the sun.  As the remaining sunlight passes through small holes, such as the space between leaves of a tree, an image of the light source is projected over the shadow.  The same effect can be produced by holding a tightly woven basket up toward the eclipse.

9.  Bird perch on a new construction roof.  For safety purposes roofers fasten boards directly to a finished roof.  This was discovered on an 11-month Warranty inspection for a client that had used another home inspector when purchasing the home.

8.  This is a welcoming Southern porch… even the deckboards are waving hello!

7.  Buyer Beware!  This is a $100 toy that can be purchased on Amazon to read Radon levels.  A well-known company in Nashville is using these to provide free Radon tests and then recommending that they perform the mitigation when this toy read HIGH…  If you see these toys as a Realtor, know that there is a tremendous amount of risk and liability when an individual poses to be a Radon professional but is operating outside the bounds of the guidelines provided by the EPA and the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP).

6.  This situation took a while to get sorted out.  The termite inspector was the first to enter the crawlspace and identified a 1 ½ inch line that was continuously discharge water into the crawlspace.  The realtors were then informed that a main water line was potentially flooding the crawlspace.  In actuality, the neighbor was tired of water being pumped onto his driveway and shoved the sump pump line back through the hole in the side of the wall into the crawlspace.   The sump pump was running continuosly spraying water back into the giant pool under the home.

5.  Can’t.. quite… reach it…  What is astonishing about this situation is that this was a serious leak causing mold growth in the past.  Notice the white paint on all the joists.  Someone took the time to treat the mold issue but didn’t have the integrity to fix the http://tr5tm4gn0.wwwmi3-sr26.supercp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/computer-pc-workplace-home-office-159760-1.jpg cause of the issue.  If you have been told that repairs have been completed to a home… get it inspected!!

4.  It is not very often that we encounter live termites in a home.  Most often termites have built a shelter tube up the foundation wall and then retreated for better opportunites elsewhere.  On this particular house, not only was there termites actively eating away at the walls and structure of the home, the highway from the ground into the house was a giant ¾ inch mud tunnel.  This is the largest tunnel I have ever seen, active or inactive.  The termites made their way through the walls into the roof framing.

3.  Talk about abandonment issues…..

2.  Walking the line…  this million dollar home was not free of defects.

1.  Funhouse!  This was one of three supporting beams that were crushed under the floor system.  The floor bounced like a trampoline.  Issues like this are not difficult to fix.  The problem is finding a contractor that is willing to leave a profitable job to crawl into a crawlspace that is no higher than 18 inches to perform load-bearing structural repairs.

And here are a few more fun ones we couldn’t leave out..

BONUS 1.   Sally the salamander.  Note, if you see one of these guys in your crawlspace you have a moisture issue!  This particular house was half way down a large hill with water being channeled by the street and grading features, directly toward the foundation of the home.  There was such a large amount of water passing through the foundation and into the crawlspace of this home that the piers were noted as possibly being compromised from erosion.  Sally here was very healthy (see her fat belly) – moisture attracts insects in addition to other negative impacts.

BONUS 2.  This ended up being an embarrassing photo taken on an 11-month Warranty inspection.  11-month Warranty Inspections are performed on new construction homes a month or so before the Builder’s Warranty expires.  After a somewhat emotional conversation with the builder and the plumbing contractor, it was eventually discovered that the new owner had placed the clothes washer discharge into the floor drain located in the pan under the clothes washer… some people need more direction than others.  (After the discharge was placed in the proper drain the plumber did extend this back up drain to the exterior of the home)

BONUS 3.   These termites, and the ‘developer’, do not deserve a clean plate award.  An important aspect of performing a good home inspection is being aware of your surroundings – gathering information from clues about the potential condition of the home from evidence that is not necessarily in or on the home itself.  In this case old floor framing was removed and hidden under the vapor barrier.  Less experienced home inspectors may see a large section of structural floor framing with new lumber , take a picture of it with a thumbs up for the report.  We treat this condition, however, as a red flag (an obvious condition of a flipped house) requiring a slower process with more attention to detail on what may be covered up.  Working in a tight crawlspace is not a fun work environment.  This is a location in which even important  repairs integral to the long-term structural integrity of the home can often being rushed.

Don’t miss out on spotting these nightmares before making an offer on a home.

Trust Magnolia with your home inspection.

The post Top 10 Home Inspection Pictures Through The Years appeared first on Nashville Home Inspection | Magnolia.

As I began creating a list of items that Isaac should consider when looking for his new home, I realized how valuable this list could be for anyone considering purchasing a new home. Our goal at Magnolia Property Consultants is to partner homebuyers with construction industry expertise. We do this because we understand not everyone has a brother, uncle, parent or family friend with construction experience that they can get honest, unbiased advice from when making such an important decision. Buying a home is often the largest investment a person will make in their life, and having a trusted ally that understands not only what is wrong with a house, but why it is wrong, can make all the difference between a sound investment and a terrible mistake.

Below is the list I created for Isaac. Please feel free to bring it with you the next time you are considering purchasing a home or condo. Be sure to ask all these questions below, and be thorough before making an offer.

When Selecting a Home

Walk the exterior of the house at least twice

• #1 Question: Is Water an Issue at this property?
•  Look for cracks below the windows and at the corner foundation of the home
•  Look at the quality and condition of the windows
•  Assess the quality and condition of the exterior (Are the exterior products low maintenance?)
•  Does the grading of the property drain water toward or away from the home? (You always want the law of gravity to be on your side – this is of utmost importance in regards to the landscaping and your roof construction)

Do your best to ignore the cabinets, countertops, and hardwood floor finishes and focus on the structure of the home

•  Are there cracks in the drywall corners of the rooms?
•  Are there elevation changes in the floor system or soft-spots that require further exploration into the framing
•  Door all the doors open and close?  If not, is the door striking the door jamb? (has the wall settled or was the door installed out of alignment?)

Mechanical

•  Ask for Service Records on the HVAC equipment.  Regular maintenance can be a great indication of the condition of the equipment.
•  Open the return register and see how dirty it is (lots of dirt in the ductwork would be an indication of neglect – highly recommend HVAC tech come out to service and diagnose unit at seller’s expense)

Attic

•  Check Insulation Depth
•  Check for leaks in Roof decking

The main purpose of this list is to train your brain and your eye to ignore the superficial and to focus on the important, foundational issues. Our brains can often be seduced by shiny appliances and beautiful floors, so having this list should help you stay focused on what’s important when buying your new home!

The post The Biggs’ Move appeared first on Nashville Home Inspection | Magnolia.

Have you ever wanted to see a home inspector’s schedule before coordinating a time with your client, the seller and buyer’s agent?

Not only is that possible, you can now reserve a spot while making those phone calls with your personal scheduling app from Magnolia Home Inspections.

Make Scheduling an inspection easier with the Magnolia Home Inspections app!

Home inspection, meet technology! At last, real estate professionals can schedule inspections with the touch of a button. Download the Magnolia Property Inspection app and check our availability and schedule an inspection with the press of a button. No coordinating schedules, calling back and forth to firm up schedules, etc. Our app updates in realtime, so any time slot that is available on the app is available to schedule. Schedule the inspection while you chat with your client. It’s that easy!

The Benefits Include:

1. Easy Access: Right from your mobile phone
2. Stay Connected: One touch call or email you or your office
3. Simplicity: Realtors/Agents can update your own information
4. No Hassle: View previous inspection reports
5. Quickly view Inspector availability
6. Best of all: ORDER AN INSPECTION

The concept of RED (Real Estate Dashboard) is for the Agent to be able to view availability and order and inspection with as few clicks as possible.

Reach out to Magnolia by phone or via our contact us page, today. Our office team will send out your personal link to the Magnolia app!  

(615) 630-8268

The post Personalized Realtor App – Finally, the control you desire, at your fingertips. appeared first on Nashville Home Inspection | Magnolia.

The post 2021 Magnolia Home Inspection Photos of the Year appeared first on Nashville Home Inspection | Magnolia.

The post Top 5 Purposes of a Home Inspection appeared first on Nashville Home Inspection | Magnolia.

While the holiday season is a time of joy, it can also pose many dangers. Every year about 8,000 injuries occur from accidents related to holiday decorating activities. Christmas trees alone are involved in hundreds of fires which result in almost 40 deaths each year. Decorating with safety in mind can keep you from becoming one of those grim statistics.

Choosing a Safe Christmas Tree

If a natural Christmas tree is part of your holiday decorations, consider these guidelines:

o   Select a tree that is as fresh and green as possible. The needles on a fresh tree will bend instead of breaking and should not fall off easily.

o   Cut an inch or two off the bottom of the truck before putting it in a stand to allow water to soak into the tree.

o   Use a stand that holds water, and keep it filled to prevent the tree from drying out.

o   Locate your tree away from used fireplaces, radiators, and space heaters

Choosing an artificial tree:

o   Buy only artificial trees that are labeled “fire resistant.”

If tree has lights installed, look for the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) seal of approval to indicate that the proper wiring was used.

 

Lighting Safety

Holiday lights not only present a fire hazard but can also pose the risk of electric shock. Keep these tips in mind when buying and putting up lights:

o   Select only lights that have been tested by a reputable testing lab (such as UL approved) to be sure they conform to safety standards.

o    Check each strand for broken bulbs, cracked sockets or frayed wires. If damage is apparent, discard the lights.

o   Always unplug lights when replacing bulbs.

o   Do not link more than three strands of lights unless the instructions indicate it’s safe.

o   Make sure extension cords are rated for the amount of load they will carry. Cords and light wires should not be warm to the touch.

o   Don’t run cords under rugs or across open floors or doorways.

o   Keep pets and small children away from cords and lights.

o   Connect lights to a circuit that is protected with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) or use a cord or plug that has GFCI protection built into it.

o   Avoid using metal fasteners (like nails or tacks) to secure outdoor lights. Instead use plastic clips, hooks, or insulated cable staples available at home centers and hardware stores.

o   Be sure that lighting used outside is recommended for outdoor use.

o   Turn off all lights before leaving home or going to bed. If a timer is used to turn lights off, make sure it is set correctly and working.

 

Decorating Fireplaces and Mantels

While fireplaces and mantels are often used for holiday decorations, it’s important to make sure you take proper precautions to prevent fire:

o   Don’t leave lit fireplaces unattended, regardless of the time of year.

o   Stockings and other combustible decorations, such as pine garlands, can present a serious fire hazard when a fireplace is being use, so be sure to remove them before starting a fire in the fireplace.

o   Resist the urge to burn wrapping paper or pine boughs in the fireplace as their floating embers can escape chimney and could ignite your roof or a neighboring roof

 

Candle Safety

Candles can add a cozy touch to your home during the holidays, but they should be used with caution:

o   Make sure candles are firmly secured in sturdy, non-combustible holders that will not tip over.

o   Keep candles well away from flammable decorations, especially pine garlands and other dry, natural arrangements.

o   Don’t leave lit candles unattended.

o   Keep children and pets away from lit candles.

o   Check lit candles frequently to make sure they haven’t burned down too far.

o   Do not use lit candles on or near Christmas trees.

 

Enjoy a safe & Happy Holiday Season!

The post Holiday Home Decor Safety Guide appeared first on Nashville Home Inspection | Magnolia.

The “Our commitment during COVID-19” should be a link that opens up our letter to realtors sent on March 23rd.  I think hosting this letter as a blog post would keep it simple.

Magnolia Home Inspections will be safely conducting business this week as an essential business, defined in the “Safer at Home Order” that is to take affect tonight at 12 a.m.  Magnolia Home Inspections provides a legal service, not only in consulting clients about mitigating the risks of one of the largest investments they will make in a lifetime but also with the creation of the home inspection report.  At Magnolia Home Inspections we treat a home inspection report as a legal document specifically tailored with the expectation that each report will be read by multiple parties including:

• Buyers;
• Sellers;
• Buyers’ Agents;
• Sellers’ Agents;
• Structural Engineers;
• Contractors;
• Attorneys;
• Judges or Arbitrators.

Magnolia Home Inspectors will be continuing with safety protocols and optimizing social distancing as suggested by health organizations.  If the owner of a property has any questions or concerns about our safety measures please have them call me directly at my personal cellphone at 615-946-5407.  To review our earlier announcement of safety protocols released last week, please see this list:

• Everyone involved in the inspection process will be washing their hands with hand-sanitizer before entering the home and immediately after exiting the home, before entering our trucks
• Cell phones will be sanitized and left in the truck
• Everyone will be avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth during the inspection
• Outside of our normal job duties all inspectors will be avoiding contact with large groups
• Anyone involved in the inspection process who is not feeling well will be staying at home

Last week every individual we came into contact with (Realtors, Sellers and Buyers) were all very happy to have us in the home to help move the purchasing process forward.  I am very encouraged to believe that our community is on the same page, optimistically cautious about the cycle of this virus.

One of the most important services we can provide our community today is to maintain a strong, optimistic attitude and WORK!  We will continue to do our part to keep our strong economy moving forward even if at a slower pace!

Keep hustling!

http://tr5tm4gn0.wwwmi3-sr26.supercp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/shutterstock_1899874807-FB-1.jpg

Owner, Magnolia Home Inspections

The post Magnolia Home Inspection’s Commitment During COVID-19 appeared first on Nashville Home Inspection | Magnolia.