Blog Entries

Home Maintenance Tips

kgolubski@inspectit1st.com — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 05:00:00 +0100

Inspect-It 1st has released a new whitepaper entitled Home Maintenance Tips for First Time Homebuyers. Authored by our own John Elson, it highlights commonly forgotten areas of the home that do need ongoing attention to work properly, maintain value and/or enhance comfort.

You can also access these additional free resources on our website:

Free Home Maintenance Checklist

Free Home Maintenance Guide

Free Property Score Card

5 Areas To Clean When Selling

kgolubski@inspectit1st.com — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 05:00:00 +0100

When you're putting your home up for sale, you need it to look its best. This article from RealtyTimes.com highlights some areas that folks may forget about, but can have an impact (positive or negative) on potential buyers:

High Windows & Skylights. Because they aren't eye level, these can easily be overlooked. However, their cleanliness can have a dramatic impact on the natural lighting of the room. Tip: clean windows on a cloudy but not rainy [...]

Understanding Foundation Problems

kgolubski@inspectit1st.com — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:00:00 +0100

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has a great new resource site for homeowners, buyers and sellers called HouseLogic. Visitors can find great tips for improving and maintaining their home, as well as information on tax incentives and financing. A recent article regarding foundations caught my eye.

It states that while most home buyers are careful to have an inspection done prior to closing, many people ignore their foundations ongoing and miss the early signs that a [...]

Sales Spike/Tax Credit Extended

kgolubski@inspectit1st.com — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Existing home sales surged 10% in October, its highest pace since February 2007. Experts point to the first time homebuyer tax credit and increased housing affordability as the driving forces; prior to the extension, there was a flurry of activity as folks sought to beat the deadline. Economists caution that a measurable decline should be anticipated in December and early next year, before another surge as the new deadline of April 30 approaches.

In addition to extending the [...]

Walkable Communities Rebounding

kgolubski@inspectit1st.com — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Following decades of suburban sprawl, a renewed emphasis on walkable communities is coming on strong. Factors driving the trend: increased gas prices, an aging population, health awareness and, of course, convenience.

Recent studies estimate the amount spent on gas to be between 20-30% of household income (those with teenagers on the higher end), as living in suburbia requires driving EVERYWHERE. Folks are now longing for the "good old days" when they could walk to [...]

Reducing Energy Bills

kgolubski@inspectit1st.com — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Inspect-It 1st has authored a new, free whitepaper entitled: "Common Home Defects Found During a Home Inspection that Impact Energy Bills, and Their Quick Fixes."

While not an energy audit, the standard home inspection does often uncover defects that, if corrected, could make the home more energy efficient. The good news is, many of these repairs or replacements are easy and low cost. As your local property expert, your Inspect-It 1st certified inspecto [...]

Foreclosure Scams

kgolubski@inspectit1st.com — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:00:00 +0100

The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) reports an increase in foreclosure scams, with scammers now trying to sell endangered homeowners phony 'loan modification' assistance. Many imply they are affiliated with government programs when they are not. As a result, homeowners lose thousands of dollars a piece for phony assistance.

If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, one of the best places to start is the Make Home Affordable website: http://makehomeaffordable.g [...]

First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

kgolubski@inspectit1st.com — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 05:00:00 +0100

Some important things to know about the $8,000 credit available this year:

The home must be purchased between 1/1 and 12/31, 2009 and you (or your spouse) cannot have owned a home in the preceeding 3 year period.The exact amount of your credit is determined by (a) the value of your home: the credit is 10% of the purchase price, up to a max of $8k, and (b) your income: the amount of your credit may decrease based on your income.In certain instances, the credit can be used on closing costs.T [...]

Counterfeit Electrical Products

kgolubski@inspectit1st.com — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:00:00 +0100

May is designated as National Electrical Safety Awareness Month by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), and Inspect-It 1st offices nationwide are engaging in activities and programs to raise awareness in their local communities. Each year ESFI designates a theme for its campagin, and this year the organization is focusing on counterfeit electrical products. You may be surprised by the scope of this problem:

>More than 1 million counterfeit electrical pro [...]

What Are Re-Inspections?

kgolubski@inspectit1st.com — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:00:00 +0100

ReInspections are when the inspector returns to the property where a full home inspection was previously performed, to verify that repairs or replacements requested by the buyer have been completed.

Some ways in which a ReInspection differs from the original standard home inspection:

>The client (buyer) defines the scope of the inspection (i.e. what items they want inspected).

>Because of the limited scope, a ReInspection costs less and takes less time than the origina [...]

Dryer and Washing Machine Hazards

kgolubski@inspectit1st.com — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:00:00 +0100

In a recent article put forth by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), the National Fire Protection Association reported that 1 out of every 21 home structure fires was related to a dryer or washing machine, with dryers accounting for 92% of incidents.

The leading cause of home clothes dryer and washer fires was failure to clean (29 percent), followed by unclassified mechanical failure or malfunction (23 percent). Thirteen percent were caused by some type of electrical failure [...]

Technical Leader & Director of Education

kgolubski@inspectit1st.com — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0100

We are very proud that John Elson, our Technical Leader and Director of Education, had his article, "Staying Positive in Today's Real Estate Market" featured in the February, 2009 edition of the ASHI Reporter, published by the American Society of Home Inspectors.

In the article, John references a quote from Benjamin Disraeli: "The secret of success is constancy to purpose." No matter the business you own, this statement is fundamentally true.

I think the reason [...]

As-Is Properties: To Inspect or Not to Inspect?

kgolubski@inspectit1st.com — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:00:00 +0100

For those individuals with cash and strong credit scores, there are certainly deals to be had in the current real estate market. Many homes are being sold ‘as-is', which can lead people to forego having an inspection performed. The typical reasoning is that the property is such a ‘steal', that any needed repairs/replacements will still be worth it. However, making a decision to buy without knowing exactly what you're getting can quickly erode - or eliminate - your a [...]

What Business Are We In

kgolubski@inspectit1st.com — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Some people might think our certified home inspectors just issue an inspection report. I think the following list is more representative of what an Inspect-It 1st inspector ‘does.'

We explain our report findings in laymen's terms, so you actually understand the condition of the property you are either buying or selling.

We put the report findings into perspective. There is no such thing as a ‘perfect' home (not even with new construction) but not every ‘defect' is caus [...]

The Importance of Insurance

kgolubski@inspectit1st.com — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Is your home inspector really insured?
Understanding the Difference Between Errors & Omissions and General Liability Insurance

You probably notice dozens of home inspectors touting their insurance coverage as a selling point. Insurance coverage SHOULD be one of the criteria you evaluate when trying to find a home inspector.

But most people simply ask, "Do you have insurance coverage?" and when the home inspector answers "Yes" they never probe the issue furth [...]

What to Look For in your Home Inspector

kgolubski@inspectit1st.com — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:00:00 +0100

Once people find out I work in the home inspection field, they immediately start asking me questions about the profession. The most common one is "What do I look for in a home inspector? Should I go by length of time in business?" Answering this accurately requires me to share a little bit of home inspection industry history and insights into the current state of home inspection legislation.

The home inspection profession has come a long way, largely due to (1) the proliferation of [...]