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Melvin and Carol Are Satisfied Raleigh Home Inspection Clients

November 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Melvin and Carol know that they received a thorough, professional Home Inspection from Quality Residential Inspections. They know that they received what they needed…that being a top-of-the-line Home Inspection report that gave them an excellent idea about the physical condition of the property that they considering. And that gave them “peace of mind”…Their Raleigh Home Inspector was able to accommodate their schedule, too, and they really appreciated that.

If you need a top-notch Home Inspection that from the Raleigh Home Inspector that you can trust absolutely…call us at 919-934-4833 or schedule your Home Inspection Online……you will not be disappointed in our service or in our reporting.

Quality Residential Inspections performs Raleigh Home Inspections, Cary Home Inspections, Apex Home Inspections, Wake Forest Home Inspections, Durham Home Inspections, Clayton Home Inspections,Garner Home Inspections…in fact, we provide Home Inspection and related ancillary services to the entire Triangle region of North Carolina. And we do it well with only our clients best interests in mind.

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Raleigh Home Inspector Discovers Damaged Clothes Dryer Vent Duct

November 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Damaged Clothes Dryer Flex Duct

This damaged flex duct was discovered behind a clothes dryer during a Raleigh Home Inspection...all too common!

This damaged flexible clothes dryer vent duct was observed behind the clothes dryer during a Raleigh Home Inspection.

Unfortunately, this is an all too common issue.. and a significant one, too.

At the very best, the damaged duct presents a restriction to the exhaust air flow and results in 1) The clothes taking longer to dry and using more energy to do so and, 2) A decreased life expectancy for the clothes dryer because it has to work so much harder to dry the clothes (which means you’ll be going to the appliance store, to purchase a new clothes dryer, a lot sooner than you would like to).

At the worst, it is a potential fire hazard. The inability to readily exhaust the air can lead directly to a build-up of lint that can be the pre-cursor to a potential fire…not good!

The Raleigh Home Inspector recommends that rigid metal ducts be used wherever possible. And we also suggest that everyone check the condition and configuration of their dryer duct to make sure it is not damaged and is able to flow the exhaust air without any restriction. If you find a damaged or mix-configured duct, then have it repaired by an appropriate professional.

Call us today to schedule your Home Inspection…..or click here ? To Schedule Your Home Inspection Online

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Boosting Home Energy Efficiency: Improvements That Feel Good and Save Money

November 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Energy Star rated skylights, solar water heating, upgraded windows and doors…all are ways to improve energy efficiency and comfort.

Boosting home energy efficiency: Improvements that feel good and save money

(ARA) – When it comes to making your home more energy efficient, you may have to spend a little to save a lot. And, like most good investments, energy-efficient home improvements may require you to be in it for the long haul in order to see the maximum return on your investment.

Still, if you’re planning to be in your current home for several years (and numerous studies report that more Americans are staying put), a long-term investment in improved energy efficiency can make sound dollar sense for your family. Energy-efficient improvements can help reduce energy use, lower utility bills and cut your home’s environmental impact. You may also reap a tax benefit from making certain eco-friendly improvements. And some improvements, like installing skylights or solar water heating systems, can boost the healthfulness – and your enjoyment – of your home.

Skylight savings

Heating, cooling and electricity make up the largest chunk of nearly every American home’s annual utility bill. Installing a skylight can actually help you lower heating/cooling costs and electric bills. In fact, installing Energy Star-qualified skylights, along with qualified windows and doors, can lower energy bills 7 percent to 15 percent compared to non-qualified products, according to EnergyStar.gov.

No Leak Skylights in baths provide natural light and passive ventilation plus privacy.

Because skylights admit abundant natural light, they can help lower your home’s dependence on artificial light sources – meaning you’ll use less electricity to light your home. They are also an outstanding method of passively venting moisture, fumes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from your home, so they can help improve indoor air quality as well. Venting skylights also admit cool breezes, to help lower cooling costs in spring and fall, when indoor temperatures may be too warm to be comfortable but not hot enough to warrant turning on the air conditioning.

You will find tax credits and product rebates in place for certain skylights and accessories, according to Joe Patrick of Velux America, manufacturers of the No Leak Skylight. He says that reliability, with long-term, durable performance is backed by both product and installation warranties. “When properly installed, Velux skylights are no more prone to leaks than any other properly installed, quality window in your home,” he adds. You can learn more at www.veluxusa.com.

Solar water heating saves

Low Profile solar collectors

Low profile solar collectors, which look like skylights, blend well with rooflines.

Solar power is gaining broad acceptance across the country as a cost-effective way to reduce utility costs. Solar water heaters, in particular, have attained a level of reliability that makes them competitive with traditional water heating products. But when it comes to cost savings, comparisons pale between traditional and solar water heating systems.

The federal tax credit program makes it possible to recoup up to 30 percent of the installed cost of a solar water heating system, and many states and utilities offer additional incentives. The cost of a system from a manufacturer like Velux will vary based on a home’s requirements. The installed cost for a residential solar water heating system will typically run between $6,500 to $12,000 says Jim Cika, a solar water heating expert with Velux. Installation costs will vary depending on a number of homesite variables, so a solar specialist should be contacted for detailed costs. Savings can be dramatic, he adds: an average of a 50 to 80 percent reduction in the cost of heating water for your home. “That’s a significant sum when you consider that the Department of Energy says water heating can account for 14 to 25 percent of the energy consumed in our homes,” he says.

Energy-efficient home improvements can be right on so many levels – from doing something good for the environment to making a change that can save you money in the long run. To learn more about how skylights and solar water heating systems can help trim your energy bills, visit www.veluxusa.com.

Call Quality Residential Inspections, your best choice for a Raleigh Home Inspection, a Cary Home Inspection, an Apex Home Inspection, or for an Inspection anywhere in the Triangle….call us or Schedule Your Home Inspection today!

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Protecting Your Home During The Holidays

November 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

In our last post about home safety during the Holiday season,  we looked what WE can do to be more safe inside our own homes…in this article, the topic is what can do to be more safe in protecting ourselves from the dubious actions of others.

Protecting Your Home During The Holidays

(ARA) – The holidays provide a great opportunity to connect with friends and family and to celebrate the joys of the season. Unfortunately, they are also viewed as a time of opportunity for would-be burglars.

“Taking steps to protect your home during the holidays isn’t radically different from what most people should be doing the rest of the year,” says Thomas Leman, a retired 27-year veteran of the police force and criminal justice professor at Argosy University Online. Yet, according to the FBI, victims of burglaries suffered a loss of $4.6 billion in property in 2009 alone. “The problem,” says Leman, “is that most people get lured into a false sense of security and tend to let their guard down thinking that crime won’t happen to them.”

Just as the holidays seem to start with the change in your home decor, so should your view on safety. When it comes to holiday decorations, modesty is definitely the best policy, says Leman. “While you may love the look of a Christmas tree in your front window, expensive decorations on display can be a signal that there are valuables inside your home worth a criminal’s time. Gifts under the tree are the most blatant of these displays and are a welcome invitation for thieves.” Leaving gifts tucked away until the last possible minute is a quick and easy safety precaution.

Whether you are home or out and about, take care to close and lock all doors and windows and set alarms. “Given that most people have extra valuables and gifts in their homes during this time, it’s a good idea to practice home safety whether you’re there or not,” says Leman. USAA, a leading provider of banking, insurance and investment services to the military community, advises customers to install tapered inch-long deadbolt locks on exterior doors to make it harder for a wrench to twist the door open. Leman adds that a simple dowel placed in a sliding glass door or window can be an inexpensive way to secure those entrance points as well. 

“Alarms or closed circuit video surveillance systems are a great and inexpensive way to protect your home,” says Leman.

A well-lit and well-groomed home not only shows well, but provides an important measure of safety. “The better the lighting in your home and yard, the fewer places there are for criminals to lurk,” says Leman. USAA recommends homeowners use the “3 foot/6 foot rule,” trimming branches to 6 feet off the ground and shrubs down to 3 feet to minimize hiding places for burglars.

While leaving the box for your new 55-inch flat screen on the curb will win you cool points with the neighborhood and the title of host of the next big football party, it could land you in trouble with potential burglars. “When it comes to big ticket items and valuables, boxes on the curb can be an advertisement for the new valuables in your home,” cautions Leman. “Take the time to break down boxes and recycle them or put them on the curb over time and inconspicuously,” he advises.

If you plan on traveling for the holidays, you need to plan ahead for home safety. Whether you opt to have a neighbor collect mail and newspapers or have your service stopped by calling the post office and your neighborhood delivery person, be sure neither piles up at home. “Set your lights and television on timers,” suggests Leman, who also advises homeowners to have a neighbor park their car in your driveway intermittently to keep up the appearance someone is home.

While keeping your home safe may not top the list of your holiday “to dos,” taking a few extra precautions can go a long way to make sure your season stays merry and bright.

To schedule your professional Raleigh Home Inspection call us today…or Schedule Your Home Inspection Online!

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What Does Green Mean?

November 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Three big questions you should be asking about what ‘green’ means…

(ARA) – As consumers and marketers have jumped onto the trend, it’s no longer difficult to outfit your home with products that are classified as “green.” You now have multiple choices among products that claim to be the most environmentally friendly, which can cause some confusion about which ones are the best.

“Many products are labeled green, but it’s important to know what green really means. When selecting green building materials, consider their overall impact on the environment,” says Mike McDonald, national green home-builder. “Select products that are natural and renewable.”

Where do you start in determining which products provide the best energy savings and least environmental impact as you embark on your next home project? Begin by asking three questions.

1. Where does it come from and what has gone into producing it?

Did it come from the earth or was it produced in a factory? Usually, the less time spent manufacturing the product in a factory means less energy consumed in preparing the product for your use, as the heavy machinery required to manufacture materials in a factory setting also uses lots of energy.

Look for natural products that are renewable, growing back quickly and efficiently, and that use few or no chemicals or compounds that negatively affect the environment. Look for North American wood products that come from independently certified forests.

2. What is the product’s true overall impact on the environment?

Think about the energy that’s needed to manufacture, transport and eventually dispose of the product. Knowing where a product comes from is half the battle. When shopping for building products, ask the retailer these types of questions. Native wood products from the United States or Canada will have traveled a shorter distance when they make it to your house.

You should also give thought to the impact of any work you might need to do with the products once you bring them home from the store or lumber yard. “For home improvement projects, select materials that are durable and easy to install,” says Brian Kelsey, star of HGTV’s Creative Edge. “Avoid materials that create toxic dust when cut.”

3. How long will the material last and how will it hold up?

A key to conservation is selecting materials that will hold up for a long time, as they won’t need to be harvested or manufactured as frequently. This will save you money in the long run as well. McDonald and Kelsey recommend using wood products like Western Red Cedar for projects because it’s the most sustainable choice and it’s beautiful, durable and will outlast other choices. Naturally resistant to moisture, cedar products can last longer than alternative man-made materials like composites. Cedar can also be restored and reused in other building projects. Plus, it is biodegradable if discarded.

“I use Western Red Cedar for everything,” says Kelsey. “Beyond the beauty, the natural oils in the cedar prevent rot. So instead having to go out and buy a chemically treated pine for outdoor projects, I can use cedar and not worry about the chemicals.”

By asking the right questions, you’ll be sure that you are doing your part for the environment by selecting the building products with the least impact. Whether you are building a deck, siding your house or adding warmth to interiors, if you select the right material, you’ll ensure that your projects will look good for longer. For more information on sustainable wood products, visit www.wrcla.org.

To schedule an Apex Home Inspection, a Cary Home Inspection, a Holly Springs Home Inspection, or a Fuquay-Varina Home Inspection, call your Raleigh Home Inspector today!

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What Makes A Good Home Inspection Report…Good?

November 7, 2010 By 1 Comment

Ask a dozen Home Inspectors, or make it a bakers dozen if you will, what it is that makes a Home Inspection report a GOOD Home Inspection report, and you are just liable to get 12 or, make it 13, different answers. Well, maybe there wouldn’t be that much disparity in response, but you get the general idea…there almost certainly wouldn’t be any unanimous consensus. Because individual Home Inspection reports, just as with individual Home Inspectors, simply aren’t created equally…one report absolutely is not (allow me to be repetitive here for emphasis)…is not just like the next…neither in content or in quality.

There are many differing opinions as to what constitutes a good Home Inspection report and this is evidenced by the large number of report formats and the myriad of various software programs that are used to create reports. Having been in the Home Inspection industry for more than 15 years, I was creating written (gulp…yes, hand-written) reports using carbon copy report forms, in triplicate (three copies…press hard, please) back when there weren’t any computers involved in the process. In fact, I had to be drug, not quite actually by my hair, and not quite literally…but almost…kicking and screaming, into what I’ll refer to as the modern computer age. In retrospect, it was a definitive change for the better (in most ways, anyway…I have yet to have my wrist “crash”…but I digress). As the owner of a Raleigh Home Inspection firm, I have my own professional opinion as to what goes into the production of a good Home Inspection, and as to what a good Home Inspection report should be.

There is differing opinion amongst professional Home Inspectors as to whether a checklist style of report should be used…or whether a narrative style report should be used. In the former, issues or problems (I have never have liked referring to issues as problems, even though an issue may very well be, and likely is, a problem for someone…) are conveyed to the reader using boxes that are checked off. In the latter, issues are presented using narrative, wherein each problem is identified by writing out those issues. In reality, most reports are a combination of the two. The combination style of report is the one that I prefer and recommend to other Home Inspectors; descriptive commentary e.g. materials or types of components, can be conveyed using a check box with the real issues conveyed using narrative. Keep Reading, There’s More

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Raleigh Home Inspection – InspectBits Episode 005 – Fire In The Furnace

November 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

In this, Episode 005 of the InspectBits podcast series by Quality Residential Inspections and Raleigh Home Inspector Gary Gentry, we present an issue that was recently discovered inside a newer furnace during a Raleigh Home Inspection. The installation instructions, consisting of flammable paper and plastic, had been “stored” inside the enclosure adjacent to the burner compartment and had almost caught fire…not good! The fire and flames are supposed to be confined to the burner and the fuel is supposed to be gas…not paper and plastic. So, our client was protected in that we discovered the issue before it could cause any damage to the interior components of the furnace…and, more importantly…protected them from unknown and unanticipated repair expenses later down the road. It’s just one example of the kinds of things that we just might find during a Raleigh Home Inspection. Remember, when it comes to homes…”Ya’ Just Never Know”.

Thank You so much for taking the time to view our videos. Should you be in need of a professional Raleigh Home Inspection, Apex Home Inspection, or Cary Home Inspection, give us a call or Schedule Your Home Inspection Online Today.

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Home Safety Doesn’t Take A Holiday

November 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

With the Holiday Season, just around the corner, we here at Quality Residential Inspections wanted to provide a reminder of how important it is to consider safety-related issues…especially when it comes to Christmas lights and decorations.

(ARA) – The holiday season is a great time to gather with family and friends in your home to celebrate the season. In the rush of decorating the home and shopping for gifts, many people overlook simple safety precautions.

Whether you are stringing lights inside or outside your home, shopping for holiday decor for your office or dorm room, or looking online for the latest gadgets and gifts, it is important to keep safety in mind.

CSA International, a global product safety, testing and certification organization, recommends that you remember these smart decorating and shopping tips to help ensure everyone has a safe holiday season:

Deck your halls: indoor safety tips

* Inspect holiday light strings each year and discard any with frayed cords, cracked lamp holders or loose connections.

* Never tack or staple lighting strings or extension cords to any surface.

* Never run electrical cords through doorways or under carpets and rugs.

* Always turn off holiday lights when you leave the house unattended or when going to bed.

* Do not use open flames or candles on or near flammable materials such as wreaths, trees or paper decorations.

* Avoid hanging decorations on or near objects like fire sprinklers, fire extinguishers, exit corridors or exit signs which can hinder one’s vision or safety.

* Consider using certified LED holiday lights around your home, as they are more energy-efficient and longer lasting than traditional lights.

* Ensure your home includes certified working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on each level of your home.

All is bright: outdoor lighting tips

* Before working with outdoor wiring, turn off the electricity to the supply outlet and unplug the connection.

* Ensure that light strings, cords, spotlights and floodlights are certified and marked for outdoor use.

* When hanging lights outdoors, keep electrical connectors above ground, out of puddles or snow and away from metal gutters.

* Use insulated fasteners such as tape or plastic clips rather than nails or tacks to hold lights in place.

* Remove lights promptly after the holidays to avoid damage caused by extended exposure to harsh weather conditions.

* Use a certified timer to switch lights on and off.

* Consider using solar lighting for illuminating your walkway or outside space to be more conscious of the environment while improving your outdoor safety.

Shop safe: avoid counterfeit products

* Avoid electrical products such as electric toys, household appliances, power tools and consumer electronics that are missing a label from an accredited certification organization such as CSA International. Counterfeit electrical products have not been tested to the applicable standards and may present an electrical, fire or toxic danger.

* Counterfeit packaging often has inferior designs or partial illustrations. Look for misspellings and unclear print on products and labels.

* Check for a discrepancy between the contents of the product package and its description.

* When a product doesn’t include a brand identifier or trademark, it may be a fake. Look for missing return addresses or company contact information.

* Check the “look and feel” of products. Fakes are often light and flimsy.

* Buy only from reputable stores with clearly stated return policies.

For a fun and interactive website on holiday safety that the whole family can enjoy, featuring a holiday safety cartoon, visit www.CSAHoliday.com. For more general safety tips, visit www.CSASafetyTips.com.

For a professional Raleigh Home Inspection, by a professional Raleigh Home Inspector, call and schedule today!

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Have Those Home Improvements Been Permitted?

November 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

As the owner of a Raleigh Home Inspection firm, we often inspect properties for our home-buying clients that have been modified…additions constructed, decks added, electrical systems altered, etc. And we often find evidence that there has been unprofessional and improper work associated with many of these “improvements”. And to make matters worse, many of these improvements are often accomplished without the benefit of having attained required permits from the Authority Having Jurisdiction of the local municipality. When we discover evidence of un-permitted work, we always advise our clients to make sure that they undertake some additional due diligence and check with the local authority. So…when is a permit required? And what does it mean to a home-buyer if there are improvements to the house under consideration that were not properly permitted and inspected by the local Inspections Department?

Any time the topic of whether or not a permit for any particular project is discussed… [Read more...]

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Raleigh Home Inspector On: What, Exactly, Is A Home Inspection?

November 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sometimes, as a professional Raleigh Home Inspector, I get asked “Exactly what is a Home Inspection?”. And for someone who hasn’t ever been directly exposed to a residential real estate transaction, and perhaps for some that have, it is an excellent question.

In large part, any definition to be applied to the phrase Home Inspection is dependent on where the Home Inspection is being conducted (in what State or municipality) and on what organization, if any, the Home Inspector might have an affiliation. Many states have adopted licensing requirements; some have not. It is worthy of note that an inspection of a home (note that I did not refer to it as a Home Inspection…) conducted in a State with no licensing requirements, by an individual with no or minimal experience and no professional association affiliation, may just be whatever he or she decides it will be at any given time…very, very scary indeed! And, If things are as they should be, we ought to be able to answer the subject question without having to determine what the definition of “Is” is. [Read more...]

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