Actuate Inspections

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Paragould, AR
Actuate Inspections

Home Inspection Services: Pre-Purchase, Pre-Listing, Sewer Scope, Mold Assessment, Indoor Air Quality Testing, HUD Foundation Certification

05/27/2026

Homebuyers, beware. ‼️

When you see listing language like “free home inspection included,” “inspection provided,” or “repairs completed after inspection,” slow down and ask one very important question:

Who was that inspection actually for?

There is nothing wrong with pre-listing inspections. I support them. Big fan! They can be invaluable when used correctly because they help sellers identify issues early, make repairs, and be more transparent before the home ever hits the market.

But… that inspection is for the SELLER.

It is not your inspection.

The information may be shared with you, but the protection does not transfer to you. You did not choose that inspector. You did not sign the inspection agreement. You are not the inspector’s client. If something major was missed, such as structural damage, foundation issues, roof defects, or dangerous electrical problems, you may have little recourse unless fraud, concealment, or some other serious misrepresentation can actually be proven.

That is the part many buyers do not understand, and honestly, many agents do not understand it either.

A seller’s inspection report can be very useful information, but it should never be marketed in a way that makes buyers believe their inspection has already been handled. Saying “buyers can still get their own inspection” is not good enough.

Of course they can. And they should.

This is a buyer due diligence issue. It is not the seller’s job to do the buyer’s due diligence for them, and listing language should not psychologically downplay the importance of the buyer hiring their own inspector.

If a seller truly wants to offer a “free inspection,” then offer a seller concession so the buyer can hire an inspector of the buyer’s choosing. That protects the buyer the right way.

Agents, this is exactly why listing language needs to be clear. Do not market a seller’s report in a way that makes buyers think they do not need their own inspection. Buyers rely on you to understand the process and explain the difference.

A leftover report is not a buyer’s inspection.

Shared information is not transferred protection.

Hire your own inspector.

04/28/2026

Mythbusting Monday: A home inspector calls something out as wrong. A licensed contractor or electrician says it is fine. Who are you siding with?

I’m asking because this happens... a lot. An inspector documents a defect, then someone comes behind them with, “Well, my electrician said it’s okay,” or “My contractor has been doing this for 30 years.”

Cool. Maybe they are right. Maybe the inspector is wrong. That can happen. But... the license is not the final answer. Sorry. The documentation is.

If the code, manufacturer instructions, equipment labeling, installation requirements, or listing say one thing, and someone’s opinion says something else, I’m going with the documentation until someone can prove otherwise.

That is the part people do not like.

A lot of people are very comfortable telling a client the inspector is wrong, but suddenly get quiet when you ask them to put their name, license number, and written explanation behind it.
If the inspector is wrong, prove it. Put it in writing. Cite the documentation. Stand behind it professionally.

Like it or not... “I’m licensed” is not the argument. The argument is what you can prove.

01/22/2026

Winter storm prep tips!

01/15/2026

Think About It Thursday

City inspectors, trade sign-offs, CO inspections. All of those exist to confirm minimum standards at a moment in time. And they do not catch everything. Even what is visible. Inspectors are human. Even me. Training, experience, and perspective vary.

This picture shows a major concern that was missed by the builder, the subcontractors, and the city inspector. Improper flashing creating a direct entry point for rain. Not gooder. Just because the build was "signed off" does that mean this issue doesn't actually exist?

If you break your arm and the radiologist misses it on the X-ray and says you are fine, is your arm suddenly not broken? Of course not.

An issue does not stop existing just because someone did not see it or call it out.

Passing means nothing was caught that failed minimum standards. It does not mean nothing is wrong. That's why we bring in reputable and experience home inspectors... even on new construction.

Think about it.

01/12/2026

Myth Busting Monday!

Older house. Two-wire circuits. Totally normal for the time it was built. Yes, it was code then.

No one expects an older house to magically meet today’s standards. A used house does not have to be brand new. And that’s totally fine.

But… here’s where the myth falls apart… no matter what your electrician buddy says: The moment someone swaps a two-prong receptacle for a three-prong without adding a ground, it fails the infamous “functions for the purpose for which it was intended” test (aka Normal Working Order).

Yes, it powers things.
No, that is not the only purpose.

A three-prong receptacle implies grounding. Safety is part of the intended function. Quit pretending it isn’t.

Stop leaning on “it works” logic. That’s definitely not the standard.

The house does not have to be rewired.
Proper GFCI protection and correct labeling can address the issue. Easy peasy.

01/07/2026

What-the-flip Wednesday... New Construction edition.

Pic 1. Torn plumbing vent boot. Correct fix. Replace it. Period.
Pic 2. Someone chose the “can’t see it from my house” method and globbed silicone on it.

Silicone here is NOT a repair. It’s a bandaid. A patch.

If you’re trying to squeeze a little more life out of an old roof and you know replacement is coming soon, fine. But understand it's a temporary fix.

But on new construction? This is shoddy work and it will not last. Silicone dries, cracks, and fails. When it does, water will get in.

Fix it right or fix it twice.

01/05/2026

Buying a house? It’s going to ‘fail’ the inspection… and that’s completely normal. So don’t stress over it!

I’ll help you figure out what’s wrong and why.

Your REALTOR will help you negotiate what to fix.

12/27/2025

Next lesson in the series of buyer (and realtor) education: Just because someone is a licensed "professional", it doesn't make them right. And just because something works doesn't mean it is correct.

If that was the case, good home inspectors wouldn't stay so busy.

This HVAC condenser’s manufacturer specifies a MAXIMUM breaker size of 45 amps. The breaker currently installed? 50 amps. According to the realtor, the licensed electrician says "The breaker for the HVAC unit is correct."

Will the unit run? Yes.
Is it a big deal? Eh...
Is it correct? Absolutely not.

An oversized breaker does not stop the unit from operating, but it reduces the level of protection the manufacturer designed into the equipment. This is why the word MAXIMUM was created. It doesn't say "maximum-ish".

Manufacturer instructions trump old-school opinions, and code specifically says to do what the manufacturer says. That is not preference... it's fact. And it's literally printed on the equipment. So I don't care if you've "always done it that way."

And here’s the part nobody wants to talk about. If something ever goes wrong, warranty providers and insurance adjusters may look for documented deviations. This is one of them, and it could be used as a loophole for them to deny a claim.

The fix? Swap the breaker. Time required is less than it took to put this post together.

Low risk does not mean no risk. And incorrect is still incorrect.

12/23/2025

No BS attitude... yeah that sums it up well.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks for trusting me!

12/21/2025

If you’re buying a home, especially a “flip,” get an inspection by a reputable inspector.

This is just a tease of what’s going on with this one. Fresh finishes everywhere, serious problems underneath. It looks great online. It tells a very different story in person.

Photos sell houses. Inspections protect buyers.

Flippers be flippin.

12/08/2025

Mythbusting Monday. "Polybutylene only fails because of bad fittings."

I’ve heard this one downplayed by sellers, flippers, and agents alike.

Yes, the early plastic fittings were a huge problem.

But if that were the whole story... why was the entire product pulled from the market? 🤔

The truth is, the pipe itself breaks down from the inside when exposed to chlorine in treated water. Even with upgraded metal fittings, failure is just a matter of time.

It’s not about if it will leak. It’s about when.

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Paragould, AR
72450

Website

http://www.actuateinspections.com/

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