Merino's Home Inspection & Education Inc.

Everyone is is always trying to be on the first page on the search engines, if not in that top spot. One way is to have many other websites linking to your website. When a site links to your page it is tantamount to that linking site telling the internet community that you have a site worth visiting. The more links to your site the better your SEO. But, be aware of using link farms, the search engines are much smarter that they used to be and link farms can actually hurt your SEO. You should only link with reputable websites. Many home inspectors around the country exchange links with each other. I will send an email to a home inspector in California, for example, asking if they would like to link. Usually, the answer is yes. I will send my link information to them and they send me theirs and we then place the links on our link page. You get a vote and they get a vote.

Another thing you can do is build a "Link Submission Form". This form allows a webmaster to visit your site and add their info to the form, it also has my link information on that form that they can copy and paste to their site. Then you can add that information to you link page. I have a link submission form on both of my sites, and I get an email when someone fills in the information.

I do not know if AR has an active board for link exchange, but if anyone would like to exchange links with me I would be happy to link. My link submission forms are below or you can send me an email.

www.merinoshomeinspection.com/Oak-Forest-Mokena-home-inspector-link.html

www.orlandparkhomeinspections.com/Orland-Tinley-Park-home-inspector-link.html

MerinosHIE@gmail.com

First, let me acknowledge that this blog will be viewed by some as being controversial. In my opinion, I think it is educational. I want to be clear that I am not accusing ALL real estate agents and home inspectors of wrong doing. But, with any group of people there is going to be those bad apples.

Most home buyers know that a home inspection is a good idea, they just do not know which home inspector to choose. There are a few resources that can be used to find a good home inspector. Some resources are real estate agents, friends, family, lawyers, mortgage brokers, and the internet. This is not an all inclusive list, but gives you a general idea of the resources available.

Home buyers have a lot to do when trying to purchase a home, sometimes it can be overwhelming. The real estate agent many times offers a few names of home inspectors or home inspection companies to the buyer. This can appear to be a beneficial service for the buyer. The problem with this is that the agent and others involved in the home buying process have a vested interest in the buyer purchasing the home, this presents a conflict of interest in my opinion. Why is the agent referring a certain home inspector(s)? Some agents refer certain inspectors because they feel that the inspector will not "kill the deal".

The derogatory phrase "Deal Killer" is used by real estate agents to describe those home inspectors who are objective and provide the buyer with an inspection report which may cause the buyer to renegotiate or cancel the purchase of a property. Many real estate agents believe that the home inspector "Kills the Deal", when in fact, it is the condition(s) of the house that kills the deal. It is the classic "kill the messenger" mentality. Real estate agents believe this hurts their ability to earn income. Real estate agents will use a number of tactics to control which inspector that you select. Be wary of the agent who objects to your desire to use an inspector that they have not referred. Their objection is your clue that your desire to use a different home inspector is the right thing to do.

Some home inspectors are willing to minimize issues that are found with a house so as to not "kill the deal" in order to gain more referrals from the agent. The agents learn which inspectors are willing to minimize issues and will continue to refer them. Some home inspectors are related to or married to the agent, and do not disclose this to the buyers.

Home inspectors are the only service providers involved in the home buying process that do not benefit when a buyer purchases the home. We benefit before the purchase is complete. My job is to inform and educate you on the condition of the home, then you decide what you want to do. 

My advice is to search for a home inspector before, or at least, at the same time you begin to search for the other services needed to purchase a home. Talk to family and friends, co-workers, search the internet and interview potential inspectors. Remember, you have the right and responsibility to choose your home inspector.

This morning I went to the eye doctor for my annual check up. I was driving home feeling good that all is well with my eyeballs, and thinking about fixing the brakes on my daughters bicycle. I get a few houses away from my house, and I noticed something about my house that just made me say, UGH!!!! It is that time of year again. ALREADY!?!? When you think about doing something twice a year it seems pretty easy. But, when it is this. it seems like just yesterday that it was done. If I let it go it can lead to all kinds of problems like water in my basement, rising damp in the exterior brick work, efflorescence, insects and other issues. Whenever I perform a home inspection I suggest to the clients that they perform this maintenance twice a year to avoid the issues already stated. Here is what I saw.....

Time to clean the gutters!!! AGAIN!!

I received a phone call just a few minutes ago from a prospective (hopefully) client. It got me thinking that I should blog this issue. She is looking at a house in Markham, Illinois. She wants to have the house inspected, but her husband said it didn't need to be inspected because the city of Markham requires that the home be inspected by the city inspector, for a $60 fee of course. She wanted to know the difference in the inspections. I told her that the "city inspector is basically going to check for code issues, will probably do the inspection without them present, would most likely only spend about 30 minutes on site, they would receive no education about the systems or components of the house, and that a code inspection does not necessarily mean best practice or safe". A home inspector is a different animal.

Home inspectors may, but are not required to perform a code inspection. But, more importantly, a home inspection is not a code inspection. It is about educating the client about the condition of the home and the components. I will give you an example, the city of Chicago requires that all electrical conductors be installed in metal conduit. Other cities in Illinois do not require this, non-metal clad conductors can be used. Is one way safer than the other? Do the laws of physics work differently in Chicago than other cities? Probably not, the point is that code is dependent upon the municipality. Home Inspectors are more concerned about safety, the condition of the components, and how likely systems will fail. There are other issues that are addressed, but those are the three major areas in my opinion.

If something is code but not safe or best practice, I tell the client that it doesn't matter if it is code. Code means that it is the bare minimum that needed to be done. Using our electrical example above, metal conduit is code in Chicago. This means that most installs will not have a ground wire because the metal conduit acts as the ground conductor. But, best practice would be to install a ground wire anyway. It is safer, and in the case of the metal conduit disconnecting for any reason, it keeps that ground source connected. A city inspector will just check on a sheet of paper that the metal conduit is present, a home inspector goes further.

The real difference is the education. The home inspector will spend an average of at least 2-3 hours performing the inspection with the client present. The client can ask questions and have issues addressed in real time, learn about the systems, an get an unbiased report of the condition.

Many home inspectors advertise that they preform re-inspections. This service seems to generate several questions from both real estate agents and clients; What is a re-inspection? Why have a re-inspection? Why do you offer free re-inspections? I will try to offer my opinion on how the industry answers these questions and how I answer them.

A re-inspection is when you have a home inspector come back and inspect a property that the home inspector has already inspected for a fee. This is an inspection that can range from component(s) to the whole house, to identify whether defects or issues have been corrected, or just to re-evaluate the property. Any inspection services that were not performed during the original inspection usually are not included, but may be added for a fee at the clients request. Now, the important part of this is that you have the SAME home inspector perform the re-inspection, as performed the original home inspection. If you were to call a home inspector to perform a re-inspection on a property that they did not perform a home inspection on previously, you will not be getting a re-inspection but a home inspection. This of course will cost extra dollars.

Whether you are the buyer or the seller, re-inspections are a great way to determine if an issue that was cited in the original home inspection has had the appropriate corrections. The service is usually limited to the services or components from the original inspection. Some inspectors will only re-inspect the noted defected items. Any additional services would be available for a fee. Some home inspectors offer free re-inspections, some charge a fee. Some home inspection companies may offer "free re-inspections" that may not be free. The inspection part is free, but they will charge a mileage fee, or a fee for weekends, or a fee for after hours. These fees can range from $25 to $150. To be clear, I am not saying that home inspectors that charge these fees are doing anything wrong, it is perfectly legitimate to charge such fees. I am only suggesting that when you are inquiring about hiring a home inspector; that this question be considered along with all the other questions you will ask.

I offer free re-inspections for one year from the date of the original home inspection.The free re-inspection not only covers any issues that were corrected, but it includes any future home inspections during that year that you may want. This is especially helpful if you have a warranty on your house that will expire within the one year free re-inspection time frame; call me at about the tenth or eleventh month of the warranty and I can help you identify any issues. This saves you money because home inspectors, as do I, charge for home warranty inspections as a separate service. I do not charge a mileage fee, after hour fee, weekend fee or any other fee.

I offer free re-inspections for several reasons.

1) You have already paid me to inspect the property, and had an issue(s) corrected based on my opinion.

2) If I were to charge you for the re-inspection, it would create what I believe to be a conflict of interest. What I mean is this; I remove the possibility that I told you that there was an issue so that I could come back and do a re-inspection and charge you a fee.

3) Many questions and issues will only become apparent after living in a home for a period of time. I will already be familiar with your home, and will be able to offer a more educated opinion based on my previous knowledge of your home.

4) Not providing free re-inspections would be like doing only half the job.

The EPA has designated January as "Radon Action Month". This of course is to help raise awarenss of the effrects of Radon. For more information from the EPA click here http://www.epa.gov/radon/nram/.

Radon is a Radioactive Gas
Radon-222 is the decay product of radium-226. Radon-222 and its parent, radium-226, are part of the long decay chain for uranium-238. Since uranium is essentially ubiquitous in the earth's crust, radium-226 and radon-222 are present in almost all rock and all soil and water. Radon is a radioactive element that is part of the radioactive decay chain of naturally occurring uranium in soil. You can't see radon. You can't smell radon and you can't taste radon. Unlike carbon monoxide and many other home pollutants, radon's adverse health effect, lung cancer, is usually not produced immediately. Thus you may be exposed to radon for many years without ever suspecting its presence in your home. The USEPA action level for radon is 4.0 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L). The risk of developing lung cancer at 4.0 pCi/L is estimated at about 7 lung cancer deaths per 1000 persons. That is why USEPA and IEMA (Illinois Emergency Management Agency) recommends reducing your radon level if the concentration is 4.0 pCi/L or more. Lung cancer in humans arising from radon exposure is recognized by the following health and environmental organizations: 

• American Medical Association
• U.S. Surgeon General
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• U.S. Public Health Service
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Center for Disease Control
• National Academy of Science
• National Cancer Institute
• World Health Organization  

You Should Test for Radon
While scientists can estimate the approximate lung cancer deaths per 1000 people, no single individual's risk can be estimated. Testing is relatively inexpensive, easy and is the only way to know whether you are at risk.

If you are involved in a real estate transaction in Illinois, read the IEMA (Illinois Emergency Management Agency) Radon Testing Guidelines for Real Estate Transactions. Radon testing in real estate transactions, which involve multiple parties and financial interests, is unique, and specific testing protocols are required.

Controlling Radon Exposure
Radon reduction techniques are used to stop radon entry and reduce indoor radon concentrations. Hiring a licensed Radon Mitigation Professional is the best way to reduce your indoor radon concentrations. 

There are some older brass gas connectors (lines) that can cause injury or death. The connectors have not been made for at least 20 years, but some are still in use. The way the tubing was joined to the end pieces has a flaw that may cause gas leaks, fires, or explosions. You will recognize the the flawed brass connector because it is all brass in color (tubing and end pieces). If you are not sure if you have the connector in question, replace it anyway. They should be replaced IMMEDIATELY with a new plastic coated brass or stainless steel connector. 

I am wondering about the scoring system. I noticed that when I post a blog I get 200 or 225 points. What makes it worth those amounts and why aren't they all worth 225? Then I saw that points are added to the blog over time. What causes that to happen? I like the additional points...I am just curious as to where the additional points come from. Does the amunt of groups that you post to make a difference? Does it depend on how many people view your blog?

I got no clue. But I posted some of my points to illustrate my dilemma.

Score Details

Having a security alarm system for your home is a good idea. Having signs that advertise that you have an alarm system is a good idea----MAYBE!! Thieves are looking for an easy target, they will bypass your home if you have a sign publicizing that you have an alarm system, SOMETIMES. Having signs posted is a good time for the "less is more theory". When you have a sign that advertises the BRAND of alarm system, you have just told the thief how to disarm your system. The schematics of security alarm systems are available through many sources, and the professional thief will use these sources. One source is the internet, another is an employee of the alarm system company. Thieves will actually pay the employee for a copy of the schematic. Now the thief knows how to defeat your system.

The best way to deter a thief and make it more difficult for them to defeat your system is to use a GENERIC SIGN, like the sign on the right, the one on the left tells the thief which schematic he needs. I tell my clients to change the signs to generic.  

This sign is no good!!                                                        This sign is better!!!!

*THE BRINKS SIGN IS USED TO ILLUSTRATE A POINT ONLY.

Have you ever read a blog and you can't figure out what they said or meant? I have, and I have probably written a few like that. The point that I am making is that when you compose your blog, do it in a way that the reader can follow. You have to write it as if it were a novel. I have read a few blogs in the past few days that I just could not understand because the author did not use proper grammar, punctuation, quotations, etc. Blogs must have the following properties for the reader to follow and understand.

1-Proper grammar.

2-Proper spelling.

3-Proper punctuation.

4-Proper quotations.

5-Proper flow of an idea.

Always check your spelling and grammar. Use the spell checker, but do not rely on it. Always proof read it yourself a few times. Use a dictionary to check spelling or got to www.dictionary.com. They also have several other resources for composition.

Place punctuation at the proper locations. When proof reading your blog, listen to yourself, when you hit a natural pause, you probably need a comma. Remember to end sentences with the appropriate punctuation. Not placing the punctuation causes confusion for the reader.

Quotations, In my opinion, is the biggest problem I encounter when reading blogs. Many of us will relate an experience or conversation that we were involved in. When you are telling the reader what you said and what another party said you must use quotations and you must express who said what with identifiers.

Example: I told my client, "that the wiring in this house is old knob and tube wiring". My client said, "Is that an issue of concern?". Pretty easy to follow don't you think?

Now let's see how that looks when it is written without the quotations or identifiers. The wiring in this house is old knob and tube wiring he said Is that an issue of concern? Does that seem a bit more difficult to follow?

Your ideas should flow in an easy to read format. Do not jump from subject "A" to subject "B" then back to subject "A". Subjects or ideas should be separated by a space.

Remember that you know what you mean, but your objective is to convey your meaning to a reader.

Also, remember that the public has access to some of your blogs. They are possible clients. Will they hire you if you blog is messy or incomprehensible? Your blog is your marketing.