by Shawn Chesney | May 17, 2016 | Shawn Chesney Home Inspections Blog
Air-Conditioning Systems A building’s central air-conditioning system must be periodically inspected and maintained in order to function properly. While an annual inspection performed by a trained professional is recommended, homeowners can do a lot of the work themselves by following the tips offered here. Clean the Exterior Condenser Unit and Components The exterior condenser unit is the large box located on the side of the house that’s designed to push heat from the indoors to the outdoors. Inside of the box are coils of pipe that are surrounded by thousands of thin metal “fins” that allow the coils more surface area to exchange heat. Follow these tips when cleaning the exterior condenser unit and its inner components — after turning off power to the unit, of course. Remove any leaves, spider webs and other debris from the unit’s exterior. Trim foliage back several feet from the unit to ensure proper air flow. Remove the cover grille to clean any debris from the unit’s interior. A garden hose can be helpful for this task. Straighten any bent fins with a tool called a fin comb. Add lubricating oil to the motor. Check your owner’s manual for specific instructions. Clean the evaporator coil and condenser coil at least once a year. When they collect dirt, they may not function properly. Inspect the Condensate Drain Line Condensate drain lines collect condensed water and drain it away from the unit. They’re located on the side of the inside fan unit. Sometimes there are two drain lines—a primary drain line that’s built into the unit, and a secondary drain line that can drain if the...
by Shawn Chesney | Apr 28, 2016 | Shawn Chesney Home Inspections Blog
Are you selling your home? Here are some advantages of having your home-for-sale inspected before you list it: You can choose Shawn Chesney Home Inspections (SCHI), an InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector® to inspect your home first, which may prompt the buyer to waive his own inspection contingency. And even if he doesn’t, a Seller Inspection means you won’t be in for any surprises. You can schedule your inspection at your own convenience, rather than accommodate a buyer and his inspector. You can assist your inspector during the inspection, which is something not normally done during a buyer’s inspection. A Move-In Certified™ Seller Inspection may alert you to any immediate concerns, such a broken pressure-relief valve or an active termite infestation. The Seller Inspection: allows you to take the time to shop for competitively priced contractors to make repairs, rather than making rushed decisions to get things fixed in a hurry; lets you attach repair estimates or paid invoices to the inspection report; and removes over-inflated buyer-procured repair estimates from the negotiating table. Move-In Certified™ yard signs, free from your InterNACHI inspector, will attract potential buyers touring homes in your neighborhood. A Move-In Certified™ Seller Inspection is the ultimate gesture in forthrightness on your part. There are other distinct advantages of having a Move-In Certified™ Seller Inspection report: You’re given the opportunity to dispute any misstatements in the inspection report before it’s distributed to real estate agents and prospective buyers. The report provides an unbiased, third-party, professional opinion about the condition of the home to potential buyers. The report may encourage the buyer to waive his own inspection contingency, so the deal is less likely to fall apart the way they often do when a buyer’s...
by Shawn Chesney | Apr 28, 2016 | Shawn Chesney Home Inspections Blog
Think your home is in top shape to sell? Not so fast. There are several unexpected hazards a home inspector can uncover that are enough to make prospective buyers run. Some are literally hidden from view; others sellers simply miss. “People who live in a house for a long time often overlook the defects,” “It’s not that they’re trying to hide them – they just don’t notice them anymore.” To catch these problems before it’s too late, consider hiring Shawn Chesney Home Inspections(SCHI) to conduct a home inspection before putting your house on the market. In fact, having your home pre-inspected could save you money in the long run. “It gives the seller time to obtain estimates and get repairs done, which is an advantage since jobs that are done fast usually cost more, Also, if you deal with these problems in the eleventh hour you may be forced to give the buyer some large credit that’s financially much more than what it would cost to repair these things yourself.” A home that is listed as pre-inspected might also provide a marketing advantage, adds Elizabeth Mendenhall, vice president and liaison to committees for the National Association of Realtors and CEO of RE/MAX Boone Realty in Columbia, Mo. That’s because prospective buyers are given a sense of security knowing that major problems have already been taken care of and won’t cost them a fortune down the line. Read on for eight potential deal-breakers to check for, plus tips on how to fix them. Mold When it comes to mold, it’s the yuck factor that often turns buyers off. “Some people...
by Shawn Chesney | Apr 28, 2016 | Shawn Chesney Home Inspections Blog
Pool Safety Each year, hundreds of young children die and thousands come close to death due to submersion in residential swimming pools. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has estimated that each year, about 300 children under the age of 5 drown in swimming pools. Hospital emergency-room treatment is required for more than 2,000 children under 5 who were submerged in residential pools. The CPSC did an extensive study of swimming pool accidents, both fatal drownings and near-fatal submersions, in California, Arizona and Florida — states in which home swimming pools are very popular and used during much of the year. In California, Arizona and Florida, drowning was the leading cause of accidental death in and around the home for children under the age of 5. Seventy-five percent of the children involved in swimming pool submersion or drowning accidents were between 1 and 3 years old. Most of the victims were in the presence of one or both parents when the swimming pool accident occurred. Nearly half of the child victims were last seen in the house before the pool accident occurred. In addition, 23% of the accident victims were last seen on the porch or patio, or in the yard. This means that 69% of the children who became victims in swimming pool accidents were not expected to be in or at the pool, but were found drowned or submerged in the water. Sixty-five percent of the accidents occurred in a pool owned by the victim’s immediate family, and 33% of the accidents occurred in pools owned by relatives or friends. Seventy-seven percent of the swimming pool accident victims had been missing for five minutes or...
by Shawn Chesney | Apr 28, 2016 | Shawn Chesney Home Inspections Blog
Elderly Safety in the Home “Aging in place” is the phenomenon describing senior citizens’ ability to live independently in their homes for as long as possible. Those who age in place will not have to move from their present residence in order to secure necessary support services in response to their changing needs. As the baby boomers age, the 60+ population will spike from roughly 45 million in recent years to more than 70 million by 2020. Research shows that baby boomers’ expectations of how they will receive care differ from that of their parents’ generation. Overwhelmingly, they will seek care in their own homes and will be less likely to move into assisted-living settings. Many corrections and adaptations to the home can improve maneuverability, accessibility, and safety for elderly occupants, as well as those whose mobility is limited for reasons that are not age-related. Some such alterations and recommendations for a home are as follows: Appliances: microwave oven in wall or on counter; refrigerator and freezer side by side; side-swing or wall oven; controls that are easy to read; raised washing machine and dryer; front-loading washing machines; raised dishwasher with push-button controls; stoves having electric cooktops with level burners for safely transferring between the burners; front controls and downdraft feature to pull heat away from user; light to indicate when surface is hot; and replace old stoves with induction cooktops to help prevent burns. Countertops: base cabinet with roll-out trays; pull-down shelving; wall support, and provision for adjustable and/or varied-height counters and removable base cabinets; upper wall cabinetry lower than conventional height; accented stripes on edge of countertops to...
by Shawn Chesney | Apr 28, 2016 | Shawn Chesney Home Inspections Blog
When you get a Shawn Chesney Home Inspection, you get a long list of items inside and outside the home checked for functionality and also safety. Our Home Inspectors look at many things to insure you are well informed and are aware of simple things to insure you are as safe as possible in any situation. One of the things to consider is should there ever be an urgent need for emergency responders to attend your home, you want them to be able to find it as easily as possible. Clearly labeling your home with the house number is vital. Exterior Safety: House Numbers House numbers should be clear enough so that police, the fire department, paramedics, etc., can quickly locate properties in an emergency. House numbers are often the only way that first-responders can identify their intended destinations. A number of jurisdictions have begun enforcing laws through strict fines for homeowners who do not comply with laws that impose requirements for house numbers. Common Requirements Many municipalities and counties have implemented ordinances requiring property owners to standardize the display of their house numbers or face stiff fines. Typical requirements include displaying street numbers in block numbering at least 4 inches tall and ½-thick, with a reflective finish or with a source of night-time illumination. In order for house numbers to be visible from the street, they should: be large; be of a color that contrasts with their background. Reflective numbers are usually helpful because they are easier to see at night than numbers that are not reflective; not be obscured by any trees, shrubs, or other permanent objects; face the...
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