Certified Home Inspection LLC, Termite Treatments, & Radon Systems

09/14/2026

🏡 FHA Appraisal vs. Home Inspection: What’s the Difference?

An FHA appraisal and a home inspection are not the same thing.

An FHA appraisal is primarily performed for the lender. The appraiser estimates the home’s market value and looks for visible conditions that may violate FHA’s minimum property requirements for safety, security and structural soundness. Certain problems may have to be repaired before the loan can close.

A professional home inspection is performed for you—the buyer. It provides a much more detailed visual evaluation of the home’s accessible components, including:

• Roof and exterior
• Foundation and structure
• Electrical and plumbing systems
• Heating and cooling equipment
• Attic, basement and crawlspace
• Interior components and installed appliances

Additional services such as radon testing, sewer scopes and thermal imaging can provide even more information.

The easiest way to remember the difference: An FHA appraisal helps protect the lender. A home inspection helps protect the buyer.

Buying a home in eastern Indiana or western Ohio? Schedule your inspection with Certified Home Inspection LLC.
certified123.com
Michael Spurrier

Certified Home Inspection LLC — licensed, insured home inspections, termite treatments, and radon systems across East-Central Indiana since 2004. Same-day reports. Schedule online.

08/31/2026

🏠 HOME INSPECTION TIP: VERMICULITE ATTIC INSULATION

Have you ever looked in an older attic and noticed loose, pebble-like insulation that’s gray, brown, silver or gold in color? It could be vermiculite insulation.

🔎 What is vermiculite?

Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral that expands when heated. Because it is lightweight, fire-resistant and a good insulator, it was commonly used as loose-fill insulation in attics and walls.

⚠️ Why can it be a concern?

A large amount of vermiculite used in U.S. homes came from a mine near Libby, Montana. That deposit was contaminated with naturally occurring asbestos, and the material was commonly sold under the name Zonolite.

This does not mean every piece of vermiculite contains asbestos, but the EPA recommends treating older vermiculite attic insulation as though it may contain asbestos.

👉 Should you be worried?

The biggest concern is disturbing the insulation. Asbestos becomes a health concern when microscopic fibers become airborne and are inhaled.

If vermiculite is discovered:

✅ Avoid disturbing or moving it
✅ Don’t sweep or vacuum it
✅ Avoid storing items where you’ll disturb the insulation
✅ Be especially careful before remodeling or doing electrical/HVAC work in the attic
✅ If removal is necessary, consult a qualified asbestos professional

🏡 Buying an older home?

This is one of the many reasons a thorough attic inspection is important. Identifying unusual insulation materials can help buyers understand potential concerns before purchasing or beginning renovations.

Certified Home Inspection LLC
🔍 Helping homebuyers understand what they’re buying — from the foundation to the attic.


Michael Spurrier

08/28/2026

🏠🪟 HOME SAFETY AWARENESS — LOW WINDOWS ON 2nd FLOOR IN OLDER HOMES

Something we often see in older homes is windows installed very close to the floor. While these may have been common when the home was built, they can present a serious fall hazard—especially for young children.

📏 What do today’s standards say?

Under modern residential building codes, an operable window may require fall protection when:
• The bottom of the window opening is less than 24 inches above the finished floor, AND
• The window is located more than 6 feet above the ground or surface outside.

Depending on the situation, protection may include an approved window opening control device or window guard.

⚠️ Remember: A window screen is NOT fall protection. Screens are designed to keep insects out—not to prevent a child from falling through an open window.

Older homes may have been built before these requirements existed, but that doesn’t mean the potential hazard should be ignored.

👶 Keep furniture away from low windows
🔒 Consider approved window guards or opening-control devices
🪟 Never depend on a window screen to prevent a fall

A little awareness can prevent a serious injury—or even save a life.

Certified Home Inspection LLC 🔍🏠
Michael Spurrier

08/10/2026

🌡️ NOT EVERY HOME INSPECTOR USES THERMAL IMAGING — WE DO!

A home inspection is a visual inspection, but having the right tools can help identify areas that deserve a closer look.

Thermal imaging allows us to observe temperature patterns and differences that can help us locate potential issues such as heat loss, insulation concerns, and other conditions that may warrant further evaluation.

These thermal images are a great example of ceiling heat patterns identified during an inspection.

🔎 The right experience. The right tools. A better home inspection company!

Certified Home Inspection LLC

07/28/2026

Out here supporting our local flying mummies baseball team! Good night for a baseball game!

07/23/2026

07/22/2026

⚡ Why Neutral and Ground Separation Matters in a Subpanel ⚡

A properly wired subpanel should always have the neutral and ground conductors separated. When they’re bonded together in a subpanel, electrical current can travel on grounding paths that are only meant to carry current during a fault. This can create a potential shock hazard and reduce the effectiveness of the electrical safety system.

It’s one of the many details that can easily be overlooked—but it makes a big difference in the safety of your home.

At Certified Home Inspection, we’ve been helping home buyers and sellers make informed decisions for 22 years. Our experience allows us to identify safety concerns like improper subpanel wiring and explain them in a way homeowners can understand.

Choose experience. Choose confidence. Choose Certified Home Inspection LLC

📞 765-965-7793
🌐 Certified123.com



Michael Spurrier

06/15/2026

This home inspector can “Walk the walk” Not just “Talk the talk” like so many other inspectors that have never swung a hammer ! 🔨 That guy read it in a book. I have years of home improvement experience with 23 yrs. of Home inspection service. Beware when you choose a home inspector because of price! We are Not all the same!