Milestone Home Inspections

06/18/2016

Have you had work done in your attic lately? Have you ever been in your attic? This is a serious fire hazard! There should never be an open junction box with exposed wires anywhere in your home, especially in the attic!! simple fix just buy a cover, the screws usually come with the plate

07/30/2015

Whats in the price:

I have over twenty-two years of customer service experience and
I provide legendary customer service to every customer regardless of price or size of job.

I have over 15 years of building systems experience and I know where to get the answers to keep myself and my customers up to speed.

I provide a thorough written reports within 24 hours that highlight the good, fair, and, poor conditions that I find throughout my inspection

I offer a one year membership to the home owners network a $199.00 value for free. This is way for my customers to get fast help with their home care issues. They simply type in a question, post a picture, and they get answers from an expert.

07/22/2015

To remove efflorescence use water under pressure or one of a number of products available from stone dealers; another is muriatic acid with subse­quent flushing with water. Acid applied to brick masonry, without previous wetting, may cause "burning" or discoloration of the brick and may also eat into the mortar. The Handbook on Reinforced Grouted Brick Masonry Construction suggests the use of light sandblasting for removal of stubborn efflorescence (after many months). Allowing the surface to dry thoroughly and then using a stiff brush, prior to wash­ing with water, has helped prevent re-penetration of the surface by the salt.

as you can see from the video this has gone on for some time and now the wall is need of repair.

07/21/2015

07/20/2015

Somebody asked me why I charge to go into a crawl space so I put together a few reasons why.

Crawlspaces are host to a large number of conditions that may harm the house or inspectors. I never enter a crawlspace without proper personal protective equipment.

Crawlspaces are notorious for the nasty discoveries made there by inspectors, and it isn’t hard to figure out why; for one thing, their cool, dark environment attracts undesirable pests and can promote dangerous conditions. And since crawlspaces are mostly not monitored, hazards can breed there unchecked for long periods of time. Here are a few

mold and fungus: Airborne mold spores can potentially enter the living space from the crawlspace, and Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions.

Pests: Dirt crawlspaces provide the environment that is enjoyed by ants, termites, and various other pests, like Snakes, spiders, bees and scorpions

Hantavirus: rodents that carry the pathogen are attracted to areas that are undisturbed by humans and exposure to hantavirus may lead to Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCS), characterized by headaches, fever, difficulty breathing and, often, death.

asbestos insulation: Prolonged exposure to asbestos insulation can cause mesothelioma

standing water or sewage: microbial growth, odors, damage to stored belongings, and risk of electrical shock.

structural collapse: it is easy to become pinned, trapped or even crushed by unstable crawlspaces

07/13/2015

I inspected the inside walls and found no signs of water intrusion; however I can not see through the walls and fresh paint could hide water marks. It did rain days prior to my inspection so I feel good about my inspection. There does seem to be settling and to prevent water intrusion I recommend patching these cracks by a professional stucco repair person.

07/07/2015

What do you think the number one source of all building damage is? Water intrusion will cause structural damage, rot, termite infestation and microbial problems that can lead to sick building syndrome.
Most leaks can be found in or around the roofing, walls, sealants, doors and windows, waterproofing, decks, grade, and below-grade conditions.
Time is not on your side when dealing with water intrusion 24 to 48 hours depending on the source of water, is your window of opportunity to minimize damage and cost of removal

07/02/2015

What is a home inspection any way?

A general home inspection is a non-invasive, visual examination of the accessible areas of a home, performed for a fee, which is designed to identify defects within specific systems and components defined by the Standards of “The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors,” that are both observed and deemed material defect by the inspector

A material defect is a specific issue with a system or component of a residential property that may have a significant, adverse impact on the value of the property, or that poses an unreasonable risk to people. The fact that a system or component is near, at or beyond the end of its normal useful life is not, in itself, a material defect (INACHI).

Minimum charge $340 up to 2000 sqft that's only 17 cents per sqft
Pool and Spa are an addition combined $100. fee
Crawl space: $50.00

07/01/2015

It is easy to overload electrical sockets I myself have done it once or twice without thinking; You may plug extension cords into extension cords without a passing thought, never considering that you may be overloading sockets until you notice a slight burning smell, or your fuse keeps tripping, or until you’re dealing with an electrical house fire.
Just because an extension plug has space for three or four sockets doesn’t necessarily mean it is safe to use all four, and certainly doesn’t mean it is safe to connect another extension cord to it.
Reduce the likelihood of requiring electrical repairs or experiencing a devastating fire by considering the following tips: Look for damage that may have already appeared; any soot, dark patches or blackened marks around plug sockets, appliances and cables, or any evidence of melting or sparks reveals that an electrical item is creating a fire hazard.
Understand the rating of the extension cord and whatever it is that you are plugging into the cord; if you have a 10A-rated extension lead, do not plug in 4 3A items. ( that would equal 12A )

06/29/2015

Why does that spot keep coming back? STOP!! put the spot remover down!

Lets examine how to permanently remove that dark spot on your carpet
1. Identify the spot is it tacky, sticky or have texture? If not most likely it’s a stain and stains are permanent. (a stain is color either added or taken away leaving a permanent discoloration)
2. Remove any large debris from carpet and using a damp white cloth BLOT the spot applying pressure to the spot and rinsing your towel repeatedly until no more color is transferred to the towel.
3. Lastly to prevent the spot from coming back place a dry towel directly over the spot and place a heavy object over the towel. This will cause the spot to wick into the towel as it dries passing through the carpet.

Large spills may require HOT WATER EXTRACTION method of cleaning

06/26/2015

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector Placement
The International Association of Fire Chiefs recommend a carbon monoxide detector on every floor of your home, including the basement. A detector should be located within 10 feet of each bedroom door and there should be one near or over any attached garage. Each detector should be replaced every five to six years. Carbon monoxide is a flammable, colorless, odorless, tasteless toxic gas produced during incomplete combustion of fuel - Natural Gas, Oil, Coal, Wood, Kerosene, etc. and can not be detected without the use of a carbon monoxide detector.

06/25/2015

It's Hot!!! Time to set the air, but wait if you have not done so in the last 90 days it is time to change your air filters. Your air filters should be changed every 90 days not only for the in door air quality but for the overall performance of the unit. Restricted air flow will cause your outside lines to freeze and prevent you from feeling that cool air you are so desiring.