Effective July 1, 2013, you'll need to be more careful when choosing a home inspector in the state of Kansas. State Registration for Kansas home inspectors comes to an end at the end of this month. That means that just about anybody will now be able to claim to be a home inspector in Kansas.
The best way to protect yourself is to choose a home inspector certified by a national organization, such as ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors). This not-for-profit professional
association for home inspectors advocates high standards of practice and a strict code of ethics for its
members. ASHI is the most respected
professional association for home inspectors in North America. Through ASHI’s
continued efforts, ASHI's Standards of Practice—covering all of a home's
major systems—are
recognized by consumers as the authoritative standard for professional home
inspection.
Miki Mertz was among the first women in the nation to become an ASHI certified home
inspector, earning her certification in 1993. She also was the first woman to serve as a member of the ASHI National Board of Directors. So she not only adheres to the ASHI standards of practice and code of ethics, in many cases she helped create and enforce them.
Choose a home inspector you can trust, not someone who just decided to call himself a home inspector. It's the best way to ensure peace of mind in your home-buying process.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Deadly radon gas
Two recent examples speak of the dangers of radon gas and the importance of you getting a radon test on the home you're living in or the home you're looking to buy -
1) A couple from Winfield, KS, wrote a letter to The Kansas City Star that said, in part, "Our adult daughter has stage IV lung cancer. Because she never smoked, the likely cause is radon gas, which, according to the surgeon general, is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. This colorless, odorless, radioactive gas is created as uranium in the ground breaks down. If it collects in your basement, it can be lethal."
2) A couple, while scheduling their Complete Home Inspection on the house they were looking to buy, said that they DEFINITELY wanted a radon test. In their previous house, their family dog had developed lung cancer from radon gas and all of the time the dog spent in the basement.
Statistically, on either side of the state line in the Kansas City area, one of every three houses tested is found to have elevated radon levels. Miki Mertz is a certified radon tester, certified by both the National Radon Proficiency Program and by the State of Kansas. A radon test conducted by Complete Home Inspection costs only $100, and uses a continuous radon monitor that takes hourly samples over a period of two full days. The test unit is placed in the lowest livable level of the house. Windows are kept closed throughout the time of the test. The test results are then averaged into an overall number for your final report. If the radon level is higher than 4.0piC/l, then it should be fixed, or "mitigated". Inexpensive do-it-yourself test kits are not what you want to rely on when it comes to your family's health and well-being. Instead, rely on the knowledge and competence of a certified radon tester like Miki.
Fortunately, radon is a fixable problem. A small suction fan is installed in a pipe that goes through the basement floor to suck out the radon from under the house and vent it to the exterior of the house. That way, the radon gas isn’t in the breathing air inside the house. The system becomes a permanent part of the house and uses about the same amount of electricity as a clock radio.Such a radon mitigation system costs about $700-900 in the Kansas City area. If you are buying a house, test for radon as a part of your home inspection process. If the test shows a high radon level, you might negotiate with the seller to correct it. If it comes in low, you have peace of mind knowing that you’re buying a healthier house.
Regardless of whether you're in the process of buying or selling a house, have the level of radon gas tested in the house you're living in. It's too important to your family's health to be put off for some other time.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, complete with a radon test, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
1) A couple from Winfield, KS, wrote a letter to The Kansas City Star that said, in part, "Our adult daughter has stage IV lung cancer. Because she never smoked, the likely cause is radon gas, which, according to the surgeon general, is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. This colorless, odorless, radioactive gas is created as uranium in the ground breaks down. If it collects in your basement, it can be lethal."
2) A couple, while scheduling their Complete Home Inspection on the house they were looking to buy, said that they DEFINITELY wanted a radon test. In their previous house, their family dog had developed lung cancer from radon gas and all of the time the dog spent in the basement.
Statistically, on either side of the state line in the Kansas City area, one of every three houses tested is found to have elevated radon levels. Miki Mertz is a certified radon tester, certified by both the National Radon Proficiency Program and by the State of Kansas. A radon test conducted by Complete Home Inspection costs only $100, and uses a continuous radon monitor that takes hourly samples over a period of two full days. The test unit is placed in the lowest livable level of the house. Windows are kept closed throughout the time of the test. The test results are then averaged into an overall number for your final report. If the radon level is higher than 4.0piC/l, then it should be fixed, or "mitigated". Inexpensive do-it-yourself test kits are not what you want to rely on when it comes to your family's health and well-being. Instead, rely on the knowledge and competence of a certified radon tester like Miki.
Fortunately, radon is a fixable problem. A small suction fan is installed in a pipe that goes through the basement floor to suck out the radon from under the house and vent it to the exterior of the house. That way, the radon gas isn’t in the breathing air inside the house. The system becomes a permanent part of the house and uses about the same amount of electricity as a clock radio.Such a radon mitigation system costs about $700-900 in the Kansas City area. If you are buying a house, test for radon as a part of your home inspection process. If the test shows a high radon level, you might negotiate with the seller to correct it. If it comes in low, you have peace of mind knowing that you’re buying a healthier house.
Regardless of whether you're in the process of buying or selling a house, have the level of radon gas tested in the house you're living in. It's too important to your family's health to be put off for some other time.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, complete with a radon test, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Friday, June 14, 2013
New Angie's List review
It always means so much when a client takes the time to write and post a review on Angie's List - http://www.completehomeinspectionkc.com/kansas_city_home_inspection_014.htm
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Love this story
Got a great E-mail from a customer scheduling his Kansas City home inspection - "Funny thing I thought I'd mention. Wife and I just moved to KC and decided to purchase a home. I signed up for Angie's List and you came highly recommended. Then my aunt and uncle said, "Don't get anyone off Angie's List, use the inspector we used, she was fantastic!" Lo and behold, you inspected their house as well :)"
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Customer Comment
Following his recent Kansas City home inspection, James sent an E-mail that included: "You did an inspection on my home..(in) Olathe. My wife and I
moved there from Illinois...During the inspection, I was blown away at your depth of knowledge of
residential construction history and enjoyed the walk through with you. You
were very pleasant to work with...".
Thank you, James. And welcome to Kansas City.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Thank you, James. And welcome to Kansas City.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Interesting strategy suggestion for home buyers
The current seller's market for houses can mean that your offer on a home will be competing with other offers. In a May 2013 article titled, "9 Ways to Make Your Home Offer Irresistible", Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine offers strategies to make your bid stand out from the others in the eyes of the sellers.
Suggestion #7 is to make your offer's contingency clauses palatable for the sellers. And one way to do that is to, in the home-inspection contingency clause in the offer you make on a home, tell the sellers that you will cover the cost of any repairs recommended following the home inspection. If those repairs get too pricey, you can back out of the deal. Telling the sellers that they won't get stuck paying for a new roof, or new furnace/air conditioner, or similar repairs on a house they are leaving, might give your offer an edge over others. It's an interesting strategy for the magazine to suggest.
Your real estate professional can guide you as to what would be best for you to do in your individual situation. But here's an explanation of the home inspection process so that you'll understand it all. When you hire Complete Home Inspection to do your Kansas City home inspection, I am NOT the "house police" and can't require repairs to be made. I will thoroughly inspect the property and ascertain whether, at the time of the inspection, the house's appliances and systems are functioning as intended. I will also inspect the structure and exterior of the house. You will receive a complete report following the inspection, including photos and a summary page that lists recommended repairs.
Most people use the summary of recommended repairs as a place to start negotiating. Sometimes repairs are made, other times a change in the price of the home is worked out. If you're working with a real estate agent, ask him or her. It is important to take the age, price and condition of the house into consideration, asking only for important, expensive or safety-related items to be corrected. Obviously, if you follow the Kiplinger's advice, that wouldn't be an option for you.
So, it's an interesting new wrinkle for you to consider in your home-buying process, one that's brought on by the current seller's market in home sales. Ask your real estate professional what your best strategy would be, so that you're protected throughout the process.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Suggestion #7 is to make your offer's contingency clauses palatable for the sellers. And one way to do that is to, in the home-inspection contingency clause in the offer you make on a home, tell the sellers that you will cover the cost of any repairs recommended following the home inspection. If those repairs get too pricey, you can back out of the deal. Telling the sellers that they won't get stuck paying for a new roof, or new furnace/air conditioner, or similar repairs on a house they are leaving, might give your offer an edge over others. It's an interesting strategy for the magazine to suggest.
Your real estate professional can guide you as to what would be best for you to do in your individual situation. But here's an explanation of the home inspection process so that you'll understand it all. When you hire Complete Home Inspection to do your Kansas City home inspection, I am NOT the "house police" and can't require repairs to be made. I will thoroughly inspect the property and ascertain whether, at the time of the inspection, the house's appliances and systems are functioning as intended. I will also inspect the structure and exterior of the house. You will receive a complete report following the inspection, including photos and a summary page that lists recommended repairs.
Most people use the summary of recommended repairs as a place to start negotiating. Sometimes repairs are made, other times a change in the price of the home is worked out. If you're working with a real estate agent, ask him or her. It is important to take the age, price and condition of the house into consideration, asking only for important, expensive or safety-related items to be corrected. Obviously, if you follow the Kiplinger's advice, that wouldn't be an option for you.
So, it's an interesting new wrinkle for you to consider in your home-buying process, one that's brought on by the current seller's market in home sales. Ask your real estate professional what your best strategy would be, so that you're protected throughout the process.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Monday, April 8, 2013
New or Existing, get it inspected either way
The March 2013 issue of Money magazine included an article examining the pros and cons of buying a just-built home versus an existing home. While the article focused on Sales Price, Speed of Transaction, Cost of Ownership, and Chance for Near-Term Gains, what it didn't talk about was that just-built homes and existing homes each need to be inspected by a certified home inspector before you buy.
A March 2012 post on this blog showed the attic in a new house I had inspected recently -
No insulation at all. Now, is that something you would check as soon as you move into your new home?
Probably not. Instead, you'd be wondering why it cost so much to cool and heat your new place.
In another new construction, I couldn't get the kitchen sink spray hose to extend from its resting place. The dishwasher's drain hose and the spray hose were tangled up under the sink. Further, the dishwasher was susceptible to backflow from the sink's garbage disposal because of the way its drainage hose had been placed. Again, you don't usually move into a brand new house and immediately check under the kitchen sink.
And a July 2009 post on this blog detailed a new house where I filled the whirlpool bathtub in the master bath as part of the inspection. As the water drained, it ran out all over the bathroom floor and flooded the rooms underneath. The tub's drain pipe hadn't been connected to anything. In another new house, I found that the control wire for the furnace had been connected to the doorbell instead of the house's thermostat. A couple of weeks into your first winter in the house, you'd wonder why the house only felt comfortable when the pizza guy rang the doorbell. And one more just-built house horror story for you - the kitchen garbage disposal had no power cord connected to it.
Yes, your builder's warranty covers things in your just-built home. Yes, you have a year to make a list of what needs to be repaired. Getting a Kansas City home inspection from Complete Home Inspection BEFORE you move in, though, gets you a jump start on that list and allows you to get many of those things fixed before you take occupancy. While warranties may protect you, the time lost, the inconvenience and the frustration you'll experience can only be handled by getting a Complete Home Inspection for your new property. So let me handle you final walk-through for you. Put my experienced eye to work for you and your family.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and new construction final walk-throughs, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
A March 2012 post on this blog showed the attic in a new house I had inspected recently -
No insulation at all. Now, is that something you would check as soon as you move into your new home?Probably not. Instead, you'd be wondering why it cost so much to cool and heat your new place.
In another new construction, I couldn't get the kitchen sink spray hose to extend from its resting place. The dishwasher's drain hose and the spray hose were tangled up under the sink. Further, the dishwasher was susceptible to backflow from the sink's garbage disposal because of the way its drainage hose had been placed. Again, you don't usually move into a brand new house and immediately check under the kitchen sink.
And a July 2009 post on this blog detailed a new house where I filled the whirlpool bathtub in the master bath as part of the inspection. As the water drained, it ran out all over the bathroom floor and flooded the rooms underneath. The tub's drain pipe hadn't been connected to anything. In another new house, I found that the control wire for the furnace had been connected to the doorbell instead of the house's thermostat. A couple of weeks into your first winter in the house, you'd wonder why the house only felt comfortable when the pizza guy rang the doorbell. And one more just-built house horror story for you - the kitchen garbage disposal had no power cord connected to it.
Yes, your builder's warranty covers things in your just-built home. Yes, you have a year to make a list of what needs to be repaired. Getting a Kansas City home inspection from Complete Home Inspection BEFORE you move in, though, gets you a jump start on that list and allows you to get many of those things fixed before you take occupancy. While warranties may protect you, the time lost, the inconvenience and the frustration you'll experience can only be handled by getting a Complete Home Inspection for your new property. So let me handle you final walk-through for you. Put my experienced eye to work for you and your family.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and new construction final walk-throughs, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
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