Raleigh Home Inspector Gary Gentry - Owner of Quality Residential Inspectons; Master Inspector By Review

The MIBR® designation is awarded to a Home Inspector who demonstrates superior home inspection skill and knowledge as judged by a panel of his or her peers.  In the Peer Review process, a panel of experienced Home Inspectors simultaneously inspect a home to assemble an extensive list of the items that, in the collective opinion of the panel, are items that are considered to be “must-find” items. Must-find items are those deficiencies that are judged absolutely necessary to be included in any proficient, professional Home Inspection report such as that provided to a paying customer.

Raleigh Home Inspector Gary Gentry, Owner of Quality Residential Inspections, is an ASHI Certified Inspector (ACI) and has earned the prestigious NCASHI Master Inspector By Review (MIBR) designation

The Peer Review pits the skill set and knowledge of a single Home Inspector against the combined skill and knowledge of a group of six to eight experienced Home Inspectors. The  Peer Review is conducted under conditions that are much more stringent and laborious than those encountered during a typical Home Inspection. The candidate is allowed only two hours to complete their assessment of the home. Failure to observe and report on even a single one of the conditions, determined to be a “must find” item,  is disqualifying.

While attaining the MIBR® designation is a highly regarded achievement,  it’s not really about attaining a new designation. The exercise is, and is intended to be, an educational tool to be used by a professional Home Inspector to better their inspection skills.

It is rare that a Home Inspector is able to gain direct input regarding their knowledge, inspection methodologies, and their reporting habits. “A Home Inspector, no matter how experienced or knowledgeable they might be, is always able to improve” says Mr Gentry. “And, with a dedication to improvement comes an increased real value for home-buyers or other clients who contract for their service. Who among professionals isn’t interested in providing a better value for their customers? This Raleigh Home Inspector is always willing to participate in any activity that might serve to make me a better Home Inspector. The NCASHI Peer Review program provides a most valuable learning experience for any North Carolina Home Inspector wanting to better themselves and their offered service. But it isn’t for the thin-skinned or the faint of heart…candidates are told to check their egos at the door because they will be closely, and sometimes harshly, scrutinized”. To learn more about the NCASHI and the Peer Review process, visit them on their website.

Should you be in need of a professional Raleigh Home Inspector, then contact Quality Residential Inspections at 919-848-4833 or schedule your Raleigh Home Inspection right here on this website. Quality Residential Inspections provides Home Inspection and ancillary testing services to the entire Triangle region of North Carolina.

The Raleigh Home Inspector wants everyone to be a bit more energy conscious…to reduce your winter energy use and save some money in doing so. Who doesn’t want save a few dollars these days, right?

With winter just around the corner, our energy bills are likely to rise in correlation with the fall of the mercury of the thermometer. I can almost hear the cacophony of groans as the envelopes from the utility companies are opened on a monthly basis during the winter heating months. There are however, some common sense actions that are conducive to some savings on your utility bills…things that we sometimes ignore, or take for granted, or that we just haven’t considered as costing us a bit more money than we otherwise have to spend. And, as it has been said by the wise Mr. Benjamin Franklin, “A penny saved is a penny earned”.

Furnace/HVAC Systems

Keep your furnace well maintained. If your furnace is working at peak efficiency it will use less energy and cost less to operate.

Clean or replace the filter every 30 – 45 days – a dirty filter reduces the airflow and forces the furnace to work harder and to run longer to heat your home. When it comes to heating systems, its all about efficiency. When it comes time to replace an existing system, consider purchasing a new ENERGY STAR® qualified furnace with a variable speed motor. Each year, an average home can save over $500.00 in natural gas and/or electricity costs  when upgrading from a standard efficiency natural gas furnace to a 95% efficiency furnace with a high efficiency variable speed motor.

Programmable Thermostats Are Installed In The Home Of The Raleigh Home Inspector

  Thermostat

This one is really easy.. simply lower your thermostat by 7 – 9 degrees Fahrenheit while you’re sleeping at night and when no one is at home. The Raleigh Home Inspector has ones like the one shown installed, manufactured by the Trane,  in his personal home.

You could also install a programmable thermostat. You can save 2% on your heating bill for every 2 degree F. you turn down your thermostat. With a programmable thermostat to consistently lower your heat when you don’t need it, you could save up to $60 a year!

There is one caveat…to realize the potential savings, one must learn and understand how to efficiently operate the thermostat; some of the thermostats on the market can be a bit daunting to learn how to operate. But persevere…it will be worth it in the end!

Laundry

Start using cold water when doing your laundry. 85 – 90% of the energy used to wash your clothes is used to heat the water. By switching the dial to the cold water setting  on your washing machine, you help the environment, save energy, and save money.

Wash full loads.

Only wash full loads of clothes…I know, I know…you don’t want the washer too full. But operating the clothes washer once for a large load rather than twice for two small loads only makes good sense, right. It will cost you less to do so.

Weather-stripping

Apply weather-stripping to operable windows, exterior doors, garage doors, and doors that lead to the attic spaces that abut conditioned space.

Windows, door frames, sills and joints

Apply a sealant or caulk around windows, door frames, sills and joints. On a windy day feel for leaks or use a couple of incense sticks to help identify leaks around windows, electrical outlets, vents and exterior doors. As well look for spider webs – if there is a web there is a draft.

Make Sure exterior doors close and latch tightly against their weather stripping

Make sure the bolt of the hardware secures the door in a position that is tight against the weather stripping; if there is excessive air transfer around the door when it is closed, consider adjusting the strike plate to provide tight closure. This is a very common item observed by the Raleigh Home Inspector while performing a Home Inspection.

Basement

If you have an unfinished basement or crawlspace, check for leaks by looking for spider webs. Where there is a web, there may be a draft. A large amount of heat is also lost from/through an uninsulated basement.

Pipes, ducts, fans and vents

Plug gaps around pipes, ducts, fans and vents that go through walls, ceilings and floors from heated to unheated spaces.

Shower-heads and faucets

Install low-flow  and faucets; you’ll use less water and, especially, less hot water.

Dishwasher

Always wash a full load in your dishwasher and air-dry your dishes on the “energy saver” setting; this is akin to the principal of  “less is more” as with the operation of the clothes washer.

Fireplaces

Close the damper of drafting fireplaces (when not in use, of course) to prevent warm air from escaping up the chimney, and ensure that the damper fits/closes properly and fully.

If you are in need of a professional Home Inspection…A Quality Residential Inspections type of Home Inspection…then contact the Raleigh Home Inspector at 919-848-4833. Our friendly office staff will answer any questions or concerns that you might have and make sure that your Raleigh Home Inspection is scheduled to your satisfaction.

Get The Most Bang For Your Energy Buck

(ARA) – With demand for electricity and natural gas rising along with energy costs, American homeowners can easily spend hundreds of dollars a month on utility bills.

“From air conditioning larger homes to powering today’s high-tech electronics, we are using more energy than ever and that is certainly hitting many homeowners in their pocketbooks,” says Victor Gonzalez-Maertens, an energy efficiency expert with Lennox Industries – a leading manufacturer of home heating and cooling equipment. “But there are ways to stretch your dollar further by evaluating how you spend money on energy and learning how to control those expenses.”

Gonzalez-Maertens explains that there are four key areas of energy consumption for the typical household: heating and air conditioning, appliances, water heating and lighting. Here is his advice for getting the most bang for your energy buck in these areas:

Heating and air conditioning

Heating and cooling accounts for about 46 percent of the average home’s utility bill and is typically the largest energy expense. To cut down on climate control costs, be sure to schedule annual routine maintenance on your heating and cooling system to ensure it’s running as efficiently as possible.

If the air conditioning system is more than 10 years old or the furnace is more than 15 years old – the average life spans of cooling and heating units – consider replacing them with a new, Energy Star-qualified system that will be more energy efficient and can help lower utility bills. For example, by replacing an old 10 SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating) cooling system with a Lennox 21 SEER system, which is twice as efficient, homeowners can save more than $1,500 over a five-year period.

The Raleigh Inspector knows that installing a programmable thermostat is one way to be efficient when it comes to your homes HVAC energy consumption

Programmable thermostats are another way to maximize energy efficiency. These devices automatically control the temperature to use less energy at certain hours of the day, such as nighttime or when homeowners are away from home.

Household appliances and electronics

Household appliances and electronics, such as refrigerators, clothes washers and computers, are responsible for about 28 percent of a home’s energy bill, according to Energy Star. Make sure appliances are clean and free of dust and lint to ensure proper ventilation and to increase their efficiency. In addition, check refrigerator and freezer doors to ensure they are sealed tight to prevent cool air from escaping.

When washing dishes, use the air-dry setting on automatic dishwashers rather than heated drying to conserve energy. Finally, be sure to unplug TVs and other digital devices when not in use, as they consume energy even when they’re turned off.

Water heating

Heating water is another major energy expenditure and accounts for about 14 percent of a household’s energy bill, according to Energy Star. Consider insulating the water heater with a water heater jacket that can be purchased at most hardware stores. Homeowners also can lower the temperature setting on the water heater to save energy. Some water heaters come from the factory already set at 140 degrees or higher, but a setting of 115 degrees can provide comfortable hot water for most uses. Finally, consider replacing a water heater if the existing one is more than 10 years old, as the average life span of a water heater is 10 to 15 years.

Lighting

Twelve percent of the energy budget for an average household goes to lighting, according to Energy Star. Switching out traditional incandescent lights with more efficient fluorescent lighting is a quick and easy way to save on utility bills. In fact, by replacing 25 percent of lights in high-use areas with fluorescents, the California Energy Commission says homeowners can save about 50 percent on lighting-related energy expenses. Energy Star-qualified fluorescent lamps also last six to 10 times longer. For exterior lighting, be sure to use compact fluorescent or high-pressure sodium fixtures – which are more efficient – and consider motion sensors that operate lights automatically.

For more information about how to stretch your energy dollar further, visit www.itpaystolivesmart.com, www.energystar.gov or www.lennox.com.

Call Quality Residential Inspections for all of your Home Inspection and ancillary testing needs.

The Raleigh Home Inspector Suggests That A Happy Home Is A Safe Home

(ARA) – Some misconceptions are merely inconvenient. And some – like the many myths that surround the use of fire sprinklers in homes – can be deadly.

The federal government and more than 400 local governments – not to mention the national model building code authority, the International Code Council – have all recommended that all new homes offer this life safety system. In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a business that is not protected by fire sprinklers. Yet misconceptions persist about the cost, convenience and effectiveness of home fire sprinklers, where 80 percent of all fire deaths occur.

“As a volunteer firefighter, I regularly see the devastation to families and their property due to home fires,” says Eric Skare of Lakeville, Minn. Skare, who works for fire-safety systems maker Uponor, is a fire safety expert. “Many of these people live right in my own community, and their losses are seared in my memory.”

Whether you’re building a new home or renovating an existing one, it’s important to know the truth behind some common fire

This Raleigh Home Inspection Firm Suggests That A Home Fire Has Every Potential of Being Absolutely Devastating

sprinkler myths:

Myth: Installing home fire sprinklers is too expensive.

Reality: On average, installing a stand-alone fire sprinkler system – the kind that runs off a separate, dedicated system of water pipes – in a new construction home adds just 1 to 1.5 percent to the total building cost, according to the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition.

That expense drops even lower when adding a multipurpose system, which combines the cold-water plumbing and the fire sprinklers into a single, efficient system. Installation costs for a multipurpose system, like those made by Uponor, averages 57 cents less per square foot than traditional stand-alone systems – a savings of $1,368 for a 2,400-square-foot home, according to the Fire Protection Research Foundation. What’s more, the foundation reports, home insurers give an average premium discount of 7 percent to homes with fire sprinkler systems.

Myth: Smoke alarms alone are enough protection against fires.

Reality: Smoke alarms can alert you to the presence of smoke, but do nothing to put out a fire. Home fire sprinkler systems act quickly to reduce heat, flames and smoke from a fire, giving you valuable time to get out safely. “Sprinklers put out most home fires in seconds, before the fire department arrives and before there’s major damage,” says Jayson Drake of Uponor North America.

Functioning smoke alarms reduce by 50 percent the risk of someone dying in a home fire. That risk decreases by 80 percent when sprinklers are present, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Myth: Fire sprinklers can cause excessive water damage to your home and belongings.

Reality: Fire sprinklers actually minimize damage. Fires cause more than $8.5 billion in direct property damage every year, according to the NFPA. Fire hoses discharge up to 250 gallons of water per minute into a burning home, causing significant damage as firefighters work to control and extinguish the fire. Sprinklers, use just 15 gallons of water per minute. Fire damage is far less in homes with sprinklers; a 15-year study in Scottsdale, Ariz. put the average loss for a sprinklered home at $2,166 compared to $45,019 for a home without sprinklers.

Myth: Home fire sprinkler systems look bad and will ruin the aesthetics of a house.

Reality: New home fire sprinkler systems are very unobtrusive, and can be mounted flush with walls or ceilings, or concealed behind decorative covers.

Myth: Fire sprinklers don’t add value to a home and aren’t worth the investment.

Reality: Forty-five percent of homeowners prefer a home with fire sprinklers, and nearly three in four think sprinklers increase a home’s value, according to research by the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition. What’s more, fire sprinklers can help lower your homeowners’ insurance rates; most insurance companies offer discounts for homes that have the systems.

But the greatest value of fire sprinklers is their ability to help save lives and preserve a
family’s home. In home fires where no sprinklers are present, families lose their homes and all their possessions, even if they escape unharmed themselves. When sprinklers are present, families survive – and so do their homes and possessions. Sprinklers reduce the average property loss by 71 percent, according to the NFPA.

We hope you found this article to be informative and thought-provoking. If you are in need of a professional Home Inspection, the Raleigh Inspector can assist you. Give us a call at 919-848-4833 or contact us to Schedule Your Home Inspection right here on our website. Quality Residential Inspection also offers and provides ancillary testing services such as Radon-In-Air Testing, well water testing, consultation services, and Commercial Property Inspections.

The fact of the matter is that the the home was not exactly “stunning” although it had no major structural or mechanical issues and may very have been of reasonable value if all things were to be considered. The exterior of the home, most precisely and pointedly though, had not been “meticulously maintained.

This siding was represented as having been "Meticulously Maintained"

The hardboard siding, which is a particular type of exterior wall cladding that has had its fair share of issues in the past and one that we Home Inspectors routinely determine and report to be in poor condition, was in awful shape. It was severely decayed around windows and doors,  it was soft and decayed at siding “butt” joints where siding ends meet and at bottom edges, and had been so generally and poorly maintained that it was in need of being replaced…and at considerable expense, I might add.

The Raleigh Inspector thinks that this siding has not been so meticulously maintained, eh?

When the very poor general condition of the siding was brought attention and pointed out to those present, it was suggested that the condition was one of cosmetics rather than of any structural/mechanical issue, to which my reply was “Well, Not exactly…”.

Our clients, the home-buyers, were really terrific people…they did not, however, know how to identify deficient hardboard siding (or of just how expensive it can be to replace it) and had been fully reliant on the representations of the selling party. Had they not been so wise as to have hired Quality Residential Inspections  to accomplish a Home Inspection for them, they might well have taken ownership of that “meticulously maintained” exterior to the surprising tune of many thousands of future dollars in unanticipated replacement expenditures…meaning that they would have had to dig deep into the pockets and fork over a goodly sum of money to make the repairs. Not a happy thought.

While this was certainly not my first encountered occasion where the “qualities” of a home have been grossly misrepresented and over-exaggerated it did get me to thinking about just how often a home is misrepresented and about just how important it is for a home-buyer to know all that can be reasonably known about the physical condition of the home before they purchase that home.

The fact is that that many aspects of a home can be mis-represented… and not even intentionally so. Having a complete, thorough Home Inspection can go a long way toward making sure that the home is as it is being represented… and prudent home-buyer will always, as part of their due diligence, attain the services of a professional Home Inspector.

When a home is represented as having a super-duper Balcony View, and that the patio furniture conveys, you would do well to make sure that those statements cannot be classified as misleading. You want to make sure that you are purchasing a home that is right for you.

Is This Your Idea Of A Balcony View? Quality Residential Inspections Can Help You To Purchase The Home That Is Right For You...Or Help You Avoid One That Isn't...

Call Quality Residential Inspection and Schedule Your Home Inspection today…speak to a real, live person when you call 919-848-4833. Or, for your convenience, you can you can begin to Schedule Your Home Inspection right here on our website.

To watch any of our InspectBits series of videos on varied issues regarding Home Inspections, visit us on our Raleigh Home Inspection YouTube Channel.

I’d be willing to bet that most people, including home-buyers, home-sellers and the real estate agents that represent them, haven’t spent allot of time considering potential safety issues that a Home Inspector is exposed to each and every time a Home Inspection is conducted. I mean…it’s such a simple thing….right? We’re just casually meandering through the house…looking at this…and lookin’ at that…right?  Well…not exactly!….What is there that could possibly go wrong?  There are a myriad of potential dangers that present to a Home Inspector during the course of any given Home Inspection. Check out just some of the considerations faced by Home Inspectors…

To schedule your top-of-the-line, professional Raleigh Home Inspection, give us a call at 919-848-4833. Our staff will be happy to answer any questions that you might have. Or, you can Schedule Your Home Inspection right here on our website. We look forwarding to being of valuable service to you!

We hope you found this video informative…the proper function and operation of GFCI devices is something that should always be part of a professional Home Inspection.

To schedule your top-of-the-line, professional Home Inspection, give us a call at 919-848-4833. Our staff will be happy to answer any questions that you might have. Or, you can Schedule Your Home Inspection right here on our website. We look forwarding to being of valuable service to you!

Gary Gentry is accedited as an ASHI Certifed Inspector (ACI)

The distinctive gold standard logo and ACI acronym provide opportunities for qualified Home Inspectors to differentiate themselves from their competition.  In general, they signify a much higher level of experience and tested knowledge. For Home Inspectors  in regulated states such as here in North Carolina, these symbols promote the inspectors dedication to excellence and provide convincing evidence of that dedication and of going well  “above and beyond” the minimum requirements imposed by  state licensing and maintaining ASHI Certified Inspector status as well.

The designation assists in assuring the home-buying public that they are hiring the very best of the best…a Quality Residential Inspections Home Inspector that takes his business, and theirs, to a very serious level. If you are in search of a dedicated, professional Home Inspector for your Home Inspection, then search no further as you have found us! Call us today at 919-848-4833 to schedule your Inspection or SCHEDULE right here on our website.

Simple, everyday conservation acts to help save the environment

(ARA) – The “going green” trend is going strong as more Americans discover that doing their part for the environment is now simpler than ever. Many small, everyday acts can help the environment – things as simple as using a water purifier instead of buying bottled water or switching to concentrated laundry detergents.

Procter & Gamble’s environmental education program, Future Friendly, offers these helpful hints for changes that can benefit the environment and, in many cases, your pocketbook.

It's often the little things that matter...and that can add up to big conservation savings

Cleaning up your act

Doing a load of laundry seems like an innocent enough chore, right? Actually, our laundry habits can consume a lot of resources, from using more detergent than necessary to using energy to heat the wash water. Fortunately, greening your practices in the laundry room can be simple.

* Follow on-package dosing instructions – A third of Americans simply guess how much detergent to add to their laundry, with many just filling the cap or scoop to the brim, according to a recent Ipsos survey. In fact, 59 percent of those polled said they learned to do laundry from their mother, and 43 percent have never changed their laundry habits because they’ve never seen a reason to. It’s important to follow the recommended dosing instructions which are generally marked on the cap or scoop.

* Use concentrated detergent – Concentrated powder versions of Tide and Gain are now available, enabling you to use less detergent per load with the same great results. This concentrated formula means the detergents’ packaging has been reduced, creating less waste to toss in the trash or recycling bin.

* Wash in cold water – Most of the energy consumed in a typical load of laundry is used to heat the water, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.  Switching to cold water for every load can yield significant energy savings and, when using specially formulated products, you won’t have to trade-off product performance to realize the environmental benefits.

Water, water everywhere

Water is a precious commodity that needs to be protected to ensure the health of the planet and our communities. Consider these water conservation tips as you go about your daily activities:

* Use a water purifier – While bottled water is a convenient aspect of modern life, the downside is the disposal of all those empty plastic bottles. When you compare the annual capacity and average price of a faucet-mount water filter to the price of water bottles that would hold the same amount of water, switching your household to a water purifier such as those available from Pur could keep more than 1,000 bottles out of the landfill and save around $600 a year.

* Skip pre-washing your dishes – Pre-washing dishes before placing them in the dishwasher can consume up to 20 gallons of water, according to EnergyStar.gov. If you use a good quality “complete” dishwasher detergent such as Cascade Complete, all you need to do is scrape off large food particles then place the dirty dishes in the washer – and you’ll save around 2,600 gallons of water a year (based on 12.5 gallons of water used to pretreat, at four loads per week). EnergyStar also recommends running the dishwasher only when it’s full and skipping the heat drying cycle.

So, try to make it a point to be just a little more “Green” in the activities that you engage in every day.

Quality Residential Inspections provides Home Inspection and ancillary testing services, e.g. Radon testing, to the entire Triangle region of North Carolina. Contact us today at 919-848-4833 or Schedule Your Home Inspection here.

Summer storm damage: What to look for and how to fix it

(ARA) – Storms are a natural part of summer. After a storm has passed and it is safe to go outside, take stock of your home and repair any minor damage caused by the storm. Repairing minor problems quickly can help ensure they don’t evolve into major headaches.

The home improvement and maintenance experts at Lowe’s offer some guidelines for assessing and dealing with storm damage:

Checking the roof:

Your roof and gutters will often take the brunt of a storm’s power. After a storm, check out roof shingles by walking slowly around your home and inspecting from the ground. Use a good pair of binoculars to look for lifting or missing shingles around the edges, valleys, plumbing and furnace vent pipes and the chimney.

Summer Storms Can Cause Damage To The Roof Of Your Home

You can also inspect your roof from inside the attic. Discoloration of the decking or plywood surface of the roof could signal problems. And if you can see light coming in around plumbing vents or the chimney, it means the flashing needs to be repaired or replaced.

Roof repairs can be difficult and dangerous for homeowners, even if you’re an adept do-it-yourselfer. So be careful when climbing on your roof to inspect damage, especially after a storm when damage is unknown. Ask for professional help at your local home improvement store if you have any doubt about your abilities. You can also visit www.Lowes.com/roofing for more information about patching or replacing your roof.

Maintaining your gutters:

Clogged gutters and downspouts can keep water from being carried away from your roof. Follow this gutter health checklist for obvious signs of failing gutters:

* Gutter hanging off the roof
* Downspout disconnected from the gutter or house
* Missing gutters
* Water in the basement or elsewhere inside the house
* Leaking or dripping gutter seams
* Overflowing gutters

Gutter damage usually takes one of three forms – holes, cracks or sags. You can easily repair minor sags or pin-sized holes yourself. If careful inspection reveals a pinhole, use an abrasive pad to clean the area. Then, cut a piece of material – the same kind as the gutters – that is 1 inch larger than the hole on all sides. Using a stiff brush, spread a bit of gutter repair compound on the area around the hole and place your patch over the top. Cover the patch with another layer of compound to ensure a good seal.

Maintianing the gutters of your home is an important aspect of home maintenance

To repair minor sags, simply add a new hanging bracket to the sagging area or replace an existing one if it’s old or damaged. Screw in the bracket until the gutter is back in proper alignment. Be sure to use hanging brackets that are designed for your type of gutter system.

Cracks or more serious gutter damage may require professional help.

Caring for decks:

The safety of your deck after a storm passes through is of great importance, especially if you entertain regularly on your deck. Check for damaged boards and replace them with the appropriate decking material. Tighten loose fasteners or replace them if they won’t tighten. Tap down and set protruding nails or replace them with deck screws. Check for splinters, especially along handrails and steps, and smooth them with sandpaper.

If your deck is too far gone and you have to build a new one, consider using composite decking, such as Trex or ChoiceDek. The decking material is low maintenance, splinter free and mold resistant. You can also use traditional treated lumber for a more economical option.

Sometimes storm damage is unavoidable. But making quick repairs can help ensure your home is safe, sound and dry before the next storm of summer arrives.

If you are purchasing a home and are in need of a Raleigh Home Inspection, or a Home Inspection anywhere in the Triangle region of North Carolina, then give us a call at 919-848-4833 or Schedule Your Home Inspection right here on our website. We look forward to providing you with the very best, and most professional, inspections and ancillary services available.

Quality Residential Inspections also provides Radon-In-Air Testing…