Rick was great! As a first time homebuyer, he walked me through all aspects of the home inspection as well as giving me pointers on different things to watch for as I take on this new home. I very much appreciate his thorough evaluation and professional but friendly nature. I will definately refer Rick in the future!
Archive for October, 2009
Plugged Soil Stack
I came across this on three homes this month. Plumbers pressure check the plumbing system for leaks prior to turning the water on in new construction. As you can see, there is a yellow plug in the soils stack. Sometimes they forget to remove the soil stack plugs. One of the homes I found this on was 3 years old. Wonder if the previous owners ever has problems with drains draining?
Rick Erickson, Home Inspector. HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942
Melissa T, Rochester, MN
I really appreciated the pictures that were provided in your inspection report that showed everything that needed to be fixed. As a first time homebuyer, I really felt that Rick took the extra time to make sure I understood everything about the home.
Jenna and Matt, Dodge Center, MN
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and years of experience with us. The home inspection and report were very clear. The information you provided us helped us to make a final decision on purchasing our new home, and we know we are going to love living there.
Flat Rubber Roof
Here is a good example of a flat rubber roof that is part of an addition to a home. It was raining while I performed this inspection so I was able to see that there was a low area in the center of this roof. The home owner was made aware that this is something that he should keep an eye on, also as you can see on the video… the gutters were plugged with leaves.
Rick Erickson, Home Inspector. HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942
A Little Caulk Can Go a Long Way
Energy leakage and water damage are a constant threat to homeowners. Simple caulking and insulating of leaks and openings can help to reduce energy loss by up to a third.
As I suggest during the process of a home inspection, don’t buy the cheap caulk. Buy a good quality caulk that will last a lifetime. There are several products available at your local Rochester and Southeastern MN hardware or home supply store.
Once a year do a complete inspection of your home exterior for potential leaks or openings. Areas around windows, doors, and utility entry points are the first place to look. Home Owners that take the time to protect their homes can increase resale value and enjoy low maintenance exteriors. Preventative measures now rather than later can eliminate big repair bills in the future. If you keep at it, you can stay ahead of mother nature.
Rick Erickson, Home Inspector. HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942
Mike H. St Charles, MN
Being a first time homebuyer and having our first home inspection, you really took the time to explain in detail and helped us to understand everything. You really went above and beyond what we expected. Thanks Again!
Use Your Ceiling Fan To Save Energy
As our summer temperatures are cooling down, it doesn’t necessarily mean the energy bill is going to magically disappear, but there are some things we can do to minimize them.
Use your ceiling fans. Ceiling fans help to circulate the air in a room, taking away the heat in the process. The expense of running a ceiling fan versus the Air Conditioning will result in several hundred dollars savings per year. In the fall you can set your thermostat at 78 degrees and turn on your ceiling fan. The air movement will make it feel like 72 degrees, (kind of like wind chill). Or you could just use the ceiling fans and turn the Air Conditioning all together. Also, only use fans in the rooms you are occupying to save energy. Did you know that there are several ceiling fan models that even have built in heating to help out with cold rooms in the winter?
If you do not have ceiling fans in your home and are in the market to purchase one, do your homework first. Because it will last for years, there are many considerations when deciding on a ceiling fan. How big is the room you will be using the fan in? How high are the ceilings? Would you like the fan to blend in to the décor, or become a major focal point? Will the fan be replacing a lighting fixture? Do you want manual or remote control operation features?
All ceiling fans, because of their design and low energy consumption, will start to save you money from the day you have it installed. The new Energy Star-qualified models will increase those savings even more. Before purchasing a product, read labels. Products that have undergone rigorous testing and meet the government’s strictest new guidelines for efficiency will have an Energy Star label. All products that have met the Energy Star requirements will have an easy to read consumer guide right on the label. When shopping for products, make sure that you read package labels carefully when comparison shopping to make sure you understand all information and make informed decisions.
Rick Erickson, Home Inspector. HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942