Complete Home Inspections Blogs

I am a member of ActiveRain and I started posting to that site long before I really got into blogging. So, if any of you are from the Active Rain blogging network are reading this post, I am sure that most of you know EXACTLY what I am talking about when I mention Marathon Blogging… A classic scenario of what I am talking about is; you have just worked you butt off for the last hour working on your post, posted it to your blog, go to the a|r blogroll, and within a few seconds, some Yahoo has just decided to do his 10 posts for the week… And, just to add insult to injury, another Yahoo has just decided to do the same… The blog you have just busted your butt off on for the last hour is gone from the blogroll faster than a New York minute… Zip! Poof! Asta la Vista BABY!

I have had this happen to me on several occasions. I don’t know about you but this really highly upsets my urinary tract…

I know that a|r has an open forum and currently does not limit the amount of posts one can post at a time and I am not advocating that stance. And we do not need more stuff for the self-appointed a|r police to gripe about. But in fairness to other bloggers in the community, shouldn’t marathon bloggers be a little more considerate towards their fellow bloggers and the rest of the community? There are others out there who want to have people read their posts as well. Furthermore, how effective is it to do all 10 of your posts at one time?

Marathon Bloggers… it is not all about you or your blog… ActiveRain is a social community in which all we need to share the limited face time on the blog roll. Shouldn’t there be a little more self constraint and sense of fairness in posting or do we need to get the real a|r police involved and impose a limit of how many posts one can make in a day? Personally, I would hate to see this happen.

What do you think?

Thanks, Michael

Copyright © 2008 by Michael Thornton; Complete Home Inspections, Inc. Brentwood, TN, All Rights Reserved.

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As a licensed home inspector for the State of Tennessee and an ASHI certified home inspector, I am continually in and out of properties almost daily; some new - some old. Generally, it is the older properties that I find really fascinating.

I entered the master bath of an ‘80’s style ranch and flipped the light switch on as I entered the room. The dark room instantly became aglow in a brilliant light that momentarily hurt my eyes. Then I noticed the intense heat. There must have been a minimum of 25 - 60 watt bulbs surrounding a 48×48 mirror.

I understand that some women like to have a lot of light while putting on their make-up, but goodness, the heat coming from that area was enough to melt your mascara not to mention the sunburn that you could get in the meantime! Maybe this was the forerunner to the tanning bed!

While checking the outlets for polarity and GFCI functionality, I could not help but notice the placement of one of the outlets in relationship to the tanning array. Most properties have a plethora of hair dryers, curling irons and other things that the fairer sex uses to enhance their beauty. Nevertheless; the insulation on appliances and light bulbs are not a good mix and can have disastrous results especially around water. I suggested putting a blank socket plug here.

Tags: Electrical, Photo of the Day by admin
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In the ongoing saga of the misadventures of ‘Bubba’ the unhandy handyman, it looks as if our ‘ol buddy was up to his shenanigans once again. Yeah buddy! While inspecting a property in the Brentwood, TN area, was playing at being a plumber. Yeah Buddy!

Now traps are a good thing for keeping the odor of sewer gas out of your home, but in the case of garbage disposals, they need a direct rout out of the grinding system to the sewage pipe. The trap by the disposal can cause debris to get clogged in the bottom of the trap causing backed-up sinks and calls to the REAL plumbers for repairs. Needless to say, this one made it into the report…

I really love inspecting homes, it gives me something new to write about daily…

Michael Thornton

Inspector and General Manager

Copyright © 2008 by Michael Thornton; Complete Home Inspections, Inc. Brentwood, TN, All Rights Reserved.

Tags: Photo of the Day, Plumbing by admin
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Having read several articles about the rising cost of fuel and how it is affecting people in the service industries and taking a personal inventory on how it is adversely affecting mine, I was wondering how it is affecting your business and what are you going to do to combat the situation?

Personally, it cost me about $37.00 to fill my tank where before it was costing about $24.00, but the real increase that I have seen is in the cost of supplies that I need to run the business. My other inspectors are feeling the pinch at the pump more so. I feel that I have no choice but to increase the cost of inspections and pass some of the increase to my other inspectors who do not have as fuel efficient vehicle as I drive.

Funny, when I purchase my Prius, many people wagged their heads and called me an idiot. Now a few years later the same people are calling me a genius. Quite a difference a few years and a few dollars at the pump makes…

What’s your take?

Thanks, Michael

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

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mind-set n.

1. A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person’s responses to and interpretations of situations.
2. An inclination or a habit.

I started blogging in November 2007. Like so many new bloggers, I was both curious and nervous about the time commitments necessary for this new venture. Being a highly motivated over achiever, there was something deep inside of me that also said, “Wouldn’t it be great to have an outside blog to help spur my business on to the next level?”

Oftentimes, I hear or read articles about some new blogger getting discouraged because no one replies to their blogs or they do not get the desired results within a certain time frame. I understand because I have experienced the same thing. However, there is something to be said about doing any activity for the purpose of giving with no expectations of anything monetarily or socially in return. Once this mind-set is adopted, it’s very hard to feel any sense of dissatisfaction, which is why I recommend that all new and old bloggers alike.

Developing a positive attitude or mind-set toward any goal you pursue is nothing more than a conscious choice. It’s not a creed or some tom-foolery to trick yourself into doing something you do not want to do; it’s simply a mind-set you can apply to your daily routine to make blogging more pleasurable even when you do not see any returns for your efforts. I choose to blog daily. Whether it be in Active Rain or my WordPress blogs. I find it a good outlet and it does fill a niche market not supported by the mainstream media. Besides that, I find it fun.

One of the great bonuses about this attitude is how it affects the quality of your writing. With no motivation for anything in return you can blog naturally and reveal your true personality. Ironically, it’s with this attitude that you will build a foundation that will attract readers who will comment on your posts and like you for who you are. Personally, I feel that it is best to stick to giving - so much to be said for the creed "Givers Gain.’   Give, whether it is advice, marketing conditions or just for fun blogs. In other words, give to your blogging audience what you are best at. Your goal is to build a readership and following. I promise you, it will not happen overnight, but it will happen if you perceiver. Enjoy freely expressing yourself and I guarantee, in time, your blog will start to bear fruit.

So what is your blogging mindset?

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

Thanks, Michael

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

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In our newest Photo of the Day, it looks as if our ‘ol buddy ‘Bubba’ has been hard at it playing plumber again once again. Yeah buddy! While inspecting a “flipper” in Nashville, TN, I could not help but laugh and shake my head at another one of his ongoing misadventures. The picture below shows how installing a drain line for a dishwasher ain’t supposed to be done. Yeah buddy!

I guess that all ‘ol Bubba had in the back of his “pick ‘em-up truck” was a section of old garden hose most likely left over from his last misadventure. So much to be said for recycling… At least he IS thinking green in more ways than one…

I had to debate on whether give him a grade of ‘I’ for injunewity or ‘L’ for laziness on this one. I particularly liked the fact that he did take time to ‘kinda sorta’ color coordinate or disguise the hose to match the rest of the cabinet. I guess that he ran out of spray paint finishing the disposal… I didn’t even want to begin to wonder what he was thinking on this one…

Let’s go easy on the ‘ol guy as sometimes he is just not wrapped too tight…Especially when he runs out of duct tape!

Y’all come back to see what ‘Bubba’s’ next misadventure will be in our next Photo of the Day…

Thanks, Michael

ASHI - American Society of Home Inspectors

Find an ASHI Home Inspector

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

Tags: Photo of the Day, Plumbing by admin
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I like most of the consumers in the US and world, use computers based on some version of the Microsoft operating system. Microsoft seems to have developed an either you love it or hate it mentality with most of their consumers. We will not even get into Vista as this is whole other bag-of-worms. I probably will be the last person on the planet to change over to THAT system.

That being said, I have two rants in particular about Microsoft that really chaps my…

One – Those annoying pop-up balloons that some ‘genius’ at Microsoft developed. UG! They seem to pop up at the most inconvenient time. Furthermore, why do we need to be reminded that a particular feature or hardware is turned off? DUH! I know that I have turned off my wireless connection or have done thus and so, maybe the programmers at Microsoft think that we are just a bunch of idjets, as Bubba would say. Any way, I wish that whomever came up with that ‘brilliant’ ideas would have all those annoying balloons blown up their _$$!

Two – The automatic update pop-up… You know the one I mean. Windows has just done an update and needs to be restarted and this annoying pop-up tells you that the system needs be restarted? Uh, NO! Five minutes later, it pops up again, Uh, NO! Can’t you see I am busy writing a blog about how annoying you are? Five minutes later… It’s B-a-a-a-ck! UG! Just what part of NO doesn’t it get? I will restart the computer when I get good and ready! This is another pop-up that I would like to see get inserted sideways up some ‘brilliant’ developers _$$!

If it were not for some proprietary software that ONLY runs under the Windows OS, I certainly would be writing on a MAC.

What is your gripe about Microsoft?

Michael Thornton

General Manager

Copyright © 2008 by Michael Thornton; Complete Home Inspections, Inc. Brentwood, TN, All Rights Reserved.

Tags: Miscellaneous by admin
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As we all feel the pinch at the pumps with no end in sight, is it possible that we might be looking at another Federally Mandated reduction in speed limits? Looking back at the 70’s, I can remember when the big lead sleds were being pumped out of Detroit while Japan was importing more fuel efficient vehicles. As the oil embargo got into full swing and motorists were faced with long lines at the pumps and escalating fuel prices, consumers began dumping the lead boats and began snapping up the imports. Seems reminiscent of today doesn’t it?

There are some organizations that want to re-adopt that policy; however vehicles have certainly come a long way since the ’70’s — they are much quieter and faster. So what do you think about reduced speed limits? Would you be satisfied puttering down the freeway at 55 to save fuel?

Michael Thornton

General Manager

Copyright © 2008 by Michael Thornton; Complete Home Inspections, Inc. Brentwood, TN, All Rights Reserved.

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In our newest Photo of the Day, we all know, art is 95% inspiration and 5% perspiration, but in the case of ‘Bubba’ our unhandy handyman, it’s probably the other way around… While inspecting a rehab on the east side Nashville, TN, I was mused by this resemblance to an old screen saver. I guess that since ‘Bubba’s’ TV went on the fritz, he has had to turn to an alternative source of entertainment. Yeah buddy…

Now mind you, there are some issues in this picture, such as the dryer vent discharging to the crawlspace instead of outside the property and lack of proper strapping to support the plumbing. But for our ‘ol buddy ’Bubba’ this is quite a work of art.

What say ye…

Thanks, Michael

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

Tags: Photo of the Day, Plumbing by admin
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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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