Bill Harvey Inspection Services

04/04/2022

As the weather warms up in many places around the country, public and community pools are starting to open or if your kids will be at a home with a pool or spa, make sure you ask these questions before dropping them off: https://bit.ly/3bkYu51

For more information on Pool Safety check out Pool Safely

There are certain topics that parents often discuss before their kids visit a friend’s house – such as food allergies. Water safety should be included in these conversations as well. Playdates may involve fun at the pool especially during warmer months, so it is important to ensure every home yo...

03/29/2022

When scheduling an inspection one of the common questions is: Are the utilities (water, electric and gas) on? The common answer is yes. However, this question means more than just having utility service to the home. The utilities need to on for each appliance being serviced (i.e. the gas valve at the furnace, water heater, cooktop, etc.). In some cases where the gas is on at the gas meter no one has bothered the check and make sure the gas valve at the hot water heater was on, the line purged and the pilot lite (if not a pilotless system). The lack of hot water prohibits the inspector from verifying the proper hot and cold orientation at the faucets. Not having all the utilities on to all the appliances and fixtures can cause delays in getting reports if/when re-inspections may be needed. Here’s a checklist of what to look for in addition to water, gas, and electricity:
Gas On?
Is the gas valve on to each appliance being serviced by gas (furnace, cooktop, oven, range, water heater)?
Is the gas valve/control valve at the water heater on? Is the pilot lit (if not a pilotless system)?
Water On?
Is the main water supply to the house on?
Are the supply valves on to each sink, tub, shower, dishwasher, toilet?
Are the supply valves to the sprinkler system in the on position?
Electricity On?
Are all breakers in the on position?

03/25/2022

What a beautiful day outside. Warm weather is on the way. If you have not had your air conditioning serviced, get it done soon. Some parts in your cooling system are like brakes on your car. Using them to complete failure is a bad idea and can have serious consequences. Worn contactors and under performing capacitors can damage or ruin compressors. Low refrigerant levels and dirty coils prevent the system from cooling properly causing it to work harder. A system that does not cool properly will not adequately remove humidity from the home. Ironically, because of higher humidity, the home will feel warmer inside, so the occupants set the thermostat of the underperforming system lower to remain comfortable, further exacerbating the systems performance issues, not to mention wasted energy cost.
There are extensive shortages of air conditioning parts and equipment at this time. As it gets warmer the demand will surely rise. If you wait for your system to fail, you may be sitting in the heat awhile. If you plan on replacing a system, do it before the summer rush and real shortages start.

03/24/2022

Home inspectors are encountering automation and technology in homes more than ever, and I am sure this trend will continue. Some WiFi operated systems commonly encountered include door locks, air conditioning systems, sprinkler systems, garage door operators, and security gates. Without the app, and the password the inspector may not be able to operate these systems. The home inspector will typically have no choice but to show these items as “not inspected”. Understandably the home seller may not wish to share passwords, and if they did, the inspector would still need the app and know how to use it. Without these systems being inspected, the home buyer may feel shortchanged by the inspection process. With the extremely short option periods often allowed in today’s market, scheduling a re-inspection, and negotiating deficiencies may not be possible.
What to do? Considering the prevalence of WiFi operated devices in todays homes, my best advice for listing agents is to begin addressing this when you take the listing. Explain the inspection process to the sellers and be prepared for it. If the sellers intend to remove some of these items, such as thermostats, I recommend removing them through the listing and inspection period. If you are a buyer, or buyers’ agent, ask if these items are present in the home before scheduling an inspection. The seller’s agent will be doing everyone a favor by verifying. If there are WiFi items the inspector can’t manually operate, ask if the sellers can be present for part of the inspection to operate these systems.
A little communication early on can relieve anxiety and confusion for all involved.

03/23/2022

Here's an interesting find on one of our inspections. A Back to the Future Time Machine car in the garage?

03/17/2022

When inspecting stucco homes, we often comment regarding “nail on stucco details” that are deficient. The attached video helps explain in more detail what nail on stucco trim details are.

03/15/2022

Should TREC have done this? You be the judge.
Effective February of this year, new standards for home inspectors were mandated by TREC. One new mandate in our standards involves AFCI (arc fault circuit interrupt) protection. First a little history. AFCI technology was created to help prevent fires by shutting of electrical circuits if an arc fault event occurs. Think of a loose wire at a receptacle that would overheat and arc. Typically, AFCI protection is provided by an AFCI breaker installed in the electric panel. AFCI protection was first mandated for sleeping areas in 2002 by the national electrical code. By 2014 the national electric code required AFCI protection in most areas of the home. (I will save you reading the exhaustive list). The Standards of Practice require home inspectors to show a deficiency if AFCI protection is not installed, basically, throughout the home.
What does this mean for realtors? It means this deficiency is going to be noted on most inspection reports you receive. Even when AFCI breakers are installed in an electric panel, and labeled, its difficult for an inspector to absolutely say “AFCI is installed to this standard” without tripping each AFCI device and then testing every receptacle at required locations. Again, basically the entire home. Then testing them again to assure they have power to the receptacle. And TREC exempts inspector from testing them in a new home.
So, what should a realtor do. My opinion, and mine may differ from others. First, realtors should inform their clients that inspectors are in the information business, not the pass or fail business. Our inspections should be providing clear, concise information to help home buyers make informed, realistic decisions. For example, by realistic I mean, if I were buying a 1965 Ford, I wouldn’t expect it to have the latest air quality device or air bags. Nor would I expect a home built in 2013 to meet the lates version of the National electric code.
A final warning. Should a home buyer insist on installing AFCI protection in an older home, they would be heading down a road with many potholes. AFCI protection installed in older homes often results in numerous nuisance breaker trips. I promise no homeowner will be happy with that.

03/14/2022

Should new homes be inspected. You be the judge. Take a look at what we found on a new home inspection a while back. This was caused by not being able to get the correct windows. The left roof was lowered to allow for installation of larger windows above the rear porch, changing the slope of the roof. The brick holding up the right roof deck is nice touch.

12/16/2021

Santa was waving at our inspector today!

Let us help you with your home inspections before the year ends!

12/10/2021

Remember when buying a new home, to get a thorough inspection done. Here at Bill Harvey Inspections we have detailed inspections and can also assist you with phase inspections, HVAC inspections, stucco inspections and much more! Contact us today and let us help you in the process of buying a home.

281-477-7875

Bill Harvey Inspection Services Is a full service real estate inspection company offering a wide ran

12/09/2021

Crazy that 2021 is almost over! If you are purchasing a home, we can help with your inspection needs! Contact us at 281-477-7875!