Complete Home Inspections Blogs

At least once a week, I run across an appliance that is on a recall list from some major appliance manufacturer. This week, I ran across 2 GE dishwashers that are on the Consumer Product Safety Commissions (CPSC) list of recalled appliances. With about 2.5 million of these manufactured, there are still bound to be several of them out there.

If you have a GE dishwasher check the serial number see below. The serial number will start with a three letter sequence followed by numbers. The serial number starts with two letters. First check to see if your model number is in the recall series. Then check the first two letters of the serial number. If you have a match on both then contact General Electric toll-free at (877) 607-6395 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday. They are offering $150.00 towards the replacement of the unit.

The money that will be saved avoiding potential fire damages, will more than pay for the cost of the home inspection. I urge you to forward this on to your favorite home inspector and request that you have them check for this units. Your buyer will thank you for it.

Have you joined my birthday alarm? It is fast painless and the best part of all, you will be helping me out.

Because I need your help, subscribe to my blog.

Thanks, Michael

Helpful Hyperlinks

ASHI - American Society of Home Inspectors

Find an ASHI Home Inspector

CPSC - Consumer Products Safety Commission

Recalls.Gov - Product Recalls

GE Appliance Recalls

Recalls Related to Household Products – Listed most recent first

Maytag® and Jenn-Air® Dishwasher Recall

Maytag® and Samsung™ Brand Front Loading Washing Machine Recall

Copyright © 2008 by Michael Thornton of Complete Home Inspections, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

Tags: Interior Inspections, Miscellaneous by admin
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Last week was a long week for me. Just so-o-o-o much to do! I was in a 5 year old condo for on my third inspection for the day, and was staring at a scuttle hole access for the attic. Being bone tired from the previous two very challenging properties, I really did not feel like trekking down 2 flights of stairs to get the ladder out of the back of my vehicle and hauling it back up. Nevertheless, I made the trek and I was glad that I did. When I opened the access and popped my head in, it appeared as if the builder forgot to insulate the attic. So much for QC!

At the end of the inspection, the anxious sell asked me if I had found anything major that would “Kill the deal.” Generally, I do not tell the sellers anything as the contract is between my clients and myself. In this case, I made an exception and stated that there wasn’t any insulation in
the attic.

The owner stated, “I was wondering why the utility bills were so high.”

I asked her if she had had the property inspected when she purchased the property. She said, “No. I was told by the Realtor and the builder that the property had been inspected by their QC department and the codes department. I was told that I did not need to waste my money on an inspection.” One of the requirements for obtaining a CO in this area is having the proper amount of insulation in the attic. OOPS! It seems as if the QC department and codes official did not want to get their ladders either!

What she wasted in energy costs and having to have the attic insulated would have more than paid for having the property inspected before the closing at escrow.

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton an ASHI Certified inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing home inspections for Nashville, Brentwood and the Middle Tennessee area. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment. View other posts that I have in ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social for real estate professionals. Other posts are submitted to Blogger and Real Estate 411. Information is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions.   

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The ASHI standards of practice mention one more item while inspecting the interior of a property. They state that the home inspector does not have to inspect  any interior recreational facilities. This covers items such as an indoor swimming pools, the surface of tennis courts or bowling alleys, or any sort of special indoor sports facilities that may be found within the property.

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton an ASHI Certified inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing Nashville home inspections, Brentwood home inspections, and Middle Tennessee home inspections. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment. View other posts that I have in ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0 and Blogger. Information is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions. 

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Although considered to be part of the heating inspection, the inspection of fireplaces and wood stoves is typically included in the interior inspection of the property. Our inspectors will identify the type of fireplace and give the fireplace a visual examination to check the condition of its hearth, mantel, firebox, and damper. We are not required to ignite or extinguish a fire. When the flue can be seen with a flashlight and inspection mirror, the inspector examines it for creosote and soot buildup. However, this is not always possible, and ASHI guidelines state that the inspector is not required to inspect the interior of the flue.

Some fireplaces have a metal insert, which is really a stove with a door on the front. This insert may sit all the way or partially in the fireplace. There can be problems with the connection between such an insert and the chimney, but it’s virtually impossible to inspect this connection during a visual inspection of the insert. Therefore, ASHI guidelines state that the home inspector is not required to observe fireplace insert flue connections.
 

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton an ASHI Certified inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing Nashville home inspections, Brentwood home inspections, and Middle Tennessee home inspections. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment. View other posts that I have in ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0 and Blogger. Information is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions. 

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The inspector operates doors in the home to find defects such as defective hardware, deteriorating finishes, unlevel installation, and water penetration around sliding doors to the exterior. Separation doors between the dwelling and the garage are examined for fire resistance and applicable standards or requirements for when the property was built. Note that building standards have changed through the years. What was
acceptable years ago may not be acceptable today.

Our inspectors identifie the type of windows present in the home and opens a representative number of them to check operation. Our inspectors watch for leaking insulated glass, missing hardware, and rotted sills and sashes. As a courtesy to our customers, we also evaluate the condition of exterior doors and lighting fixtures. Home inspectors are not required to observe or report on the condition or suitability of draperies, blinds, or other window treatments. Window treatments are a matter of interior decoration and beyond the scope of the home inspection. Besides, our inspector’s tastes aren’t necessarily any better than anyone else’s (they could very well be a lot worse).

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton an ASHI Certified inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing Nashville home inspections, Brentwood home inspections, and Middle Tennessee home inspections. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment. View other posts that I have in ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0 and Blogger. Information is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions. 

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The kitchen of the home is thoroughly inspected, including the condition of the countertops and the built-in cabinets.  Cabinets doors are opened to examine door operation and any hidden defects which may be hiding inside, especially defects such as leaking plumbing and wood
rot found underneath the sink. Drawers are pulled out and checked for smooth operation.

Note: Although ASHI standards of practice don’t require the home inspector to observe household appliances, a good property inspector is going to inspect some selected appliances. As a courtesy to our customers, we cursory inspect built-in items such as garbage disposers, built-in microwave ovens, ranges, cook tops and built-in ovens, trash compactors, dishwashers, and refrigerators. Ovens, microwaves, and ranges are not tested on every setting and self-cleaning cycles are not evaluated. Appliances are tested for functionality only! We do make comments in our reports if the appliances are at or approaching the end of their service life so that our clients can budget for eventual age replacement of major items.

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton an ASHI Certified inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing Nashville home inspections, Brentwood home inspections, and Middle Tennessee home inspections. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment. View other posts that I have in ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0 and Blogger. Information is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions. 

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All interior steps, stairways, balconies, and railings are inspected for condition and safety hazards. The inspector examines treads and risers for proper measurements, headroom, proper lighting at stairways, and general condition.

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton an ASHI Certified inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing Nashville home inspections, Brentwood home inspections, and Middle Tennessee home inspections. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment. View other posts that I have in ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0 and Blogger. Information is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions. 

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A good home inspector will virtually inspect every space within the living area of a property, including all rooms, closets, foyers, hallways, and stairwells.  It should be noted that the home inspector will be checking plumbing fixtures and faucets, the electrical switches and outlets, and presence of heat and cooling sources in each room during the interior inspection.

Walls, ceiling, and floors: The home inspector examines the condition of walls and ceilings in all and finished spaces, noting defects in the plaster, drywall, or other facings and watching for cracking and evidence of leaking.  Floors are examined to determine if they’re level, show evidence of structural problems, and for deterioration. Particular attention is paid to evidence of leaking and wood rot in the kitchen and bathroom where plumbing is present. A good inspector must keep an eye out for and be sure to report signs of water penetration into the building and any
signs of abnormal or harmful condensation on building components.

The home inspector also inspects separation walls and ceilings between a dwelling unit and an attached garage or other dwelling unit for proper construction, wall and ceiling coverings, and safety requirements.

Note that the inspector is not required to observe paint, wallpaper, other finish treatments on the interior walls, ceilings, and floors, or carpeting. In general, the home inspector does not comment on decorative touches in a home. These issues are subjective and a matter of taste and play no role in the home inspection.

This posting and the contents written here are the intellectual property of Michael Thornton an ASHI Certified inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. providing Nashville home inspections, Brentwood home inspections, and Middle Tennessee home inspections. The views and opinions expressed are just that - views and opinions of Michael Thornton and those who comment. View other posts that I have in
ActiveRain Real Estate Network, which is a social network highlighting the best of Web 2.0 and Blogger. Information is provided with the intent of educating and assisting home owners, home sellers, home buyers and real estate investors with information they can use to make better real estate decisions. 

Tags: Interior Inspections by admin
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