Sable's friend chosen to participate in home inspections

Sable and her unicorn friends, Mama April and Baby Angel, met and determined that Sable was too rambunctious and April too large it fit in a tool bag to participate in home inspections. Therefore, Baby Angel would attend her first day of home inspections with Master Inspector Chris Hilton. The first inspection of the day would be a new construction with inspector Doug Simmons with Chris observing for quality control. With seven current inspectors, and more coming, we make every effort to function similarly. The second, a 23 year old home, with Inspectors Chris Hilton, Josh Hedges and Assistant Nora Akers. 

Angel began her day beside Chris in the passenger seat on top of Chris's briefcase. Then she realized that Sable had shared that the best view was on the dash in front of Chris. Therefore, she jumped to the dash. Only to be relegated to Chris's tool bag in the back. 

Do you think we should send Angel to The Home Inspector Training Center like all of the others? 

What a naughty little Unicorn. Not sure how this day may turn out. 

New construction, following weeks of wet weather, try lots of MUD! Angel screams and cries, you forget that I am WHITE. How will I stay clean? Unicorns can’t get dirty. 

Unfortunately, it can be very difficult for builders to complete site grading and landscaping in winter weather. Home Inspectors, Homebuyers, and Unicorns must try to be understanding. 

Most home inspectors carry multiple shoes, and/or shoe covers, to deal with this. Chris has regular shoes, inside shoes, crawlspace work boots, wet grass yard shoes and deep mud/cold weather Arctic boots. Deciding what shoes to wear can by confusing. Chris says that all of our inspectors change shoes. If someone complains of soiled carpet IT WASN’T US!!!

Angel patiently waiting on the porch, to be involved in the next inspection. JOSH - Your shoes stink!

How long am I relegated to this bag filled with uncomfortable tools. I hope there is a kid on this inspection to play with me. Oh no, a grandmother eying me enviously. I have been told if a kid shows up I get to play and go home with them. Whoopie!!! Bring it on. Management has replacements arriving TODAY for that very event. 

Oh boy, here we go, I get to help! Radon, what is Radon?

This is the exterior fan component of a radon mitigation system. If the home has high levels of radon this system removes and reduces the radon level in a home. Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarettes. Unlike most other home inspectors our Emily Cabrera, a certified radon measurement provider, set a radon monitor in this home two days ago. The results arrived during this inspection verifying that this radon mitigation system is functioning properly. One of the many differences that make our services a Unicorn. 

WOW lots to learn about home inspections. You can learn about radon at this EPA link: Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon. I heard that the "Old Man", Chris, Sir (thats better) actually was involved in forcing clarification related to confusion in this document way back in the day local home inspectors were pushing, and many Realtors still believe, radon tests should not be conducted in unfinished basements. Nothing could be farther from the truth. If a radon test provider, or Realtor advises you that a radon test should never be set in an unfinished basement they have no clue what EPA protocol requires. This is fun, the fan is giving me a vibration massage, what's next?

I am on the eleven year old air conditioning condensing unit. Nora says the shorter one is 23 years old. That is older than me. She says that these may only last 12 to 15 years and that a air conditioning technician needs to check this out. 

Chris's assistant, Nora Akers, grabs me from the tool bag, throws me into the air, to see a second floor bedroom ceiling stain. She says this is likely from a former roof leak. That looks nasty but she says it is likely an old stain possibly from before the current roofing was installed. She says that home inspectors must be realistic about what they observe and not blow things out of proportion to reality. How does she know so much? 

Chris whisks me into the attic to check out the furnace. Oops, there is an issue. This furnace is 23 years old and he tells Nora to document a problem. The flame color isn't correct, should be almost all blue, there is some yellow indicating that the burner may be out of alignment. Also the flame is impinging on the metal heat exchanger. This can, over time, burn a hole in the heat exchanger allowing exhaust gases and possibly Carbon Monoxide into the home. That could lead to sickness and possibly death. Scary - Both of these cause the furnace to be less efficient and its operation to be more expensive. Nora said for me to not get close to these flames or I would burn up. That doesn't sound fun. 

Oh WOW Nora, you make good pictures. Chris called this a Bonnie shot. I don't know what that means. Nora said that a heating technician needs to come look at this furnace because of its age and these issues. 

Oh boy, I got to ride on a water heater. Nora said that if not properly maintained a water heater can become a rocket ship going through the roof. I am ready to FLY!!! Let’s go. Oh, this one must be properly maintained but it is also old like the furnace. 

I don't know what happened to Josh, such a cute young thing. Nora said that he was in the crawlspace and discovered a gas leak at that furnace. She said Josh typically does our crawlspaces because the "Old Man" is well OLD and she is a girl. No, she didn't say that. Josh is just polite like that. She said that Josh has two dogs and a chicken showed up at his house. Our crawlspace robot, and high ladder for commercial building roof access are also at his house. Dog’s, a chicken, robot and a ladder. I want to go to Josh's house. I heard something about an Olivia. What is an Olivia? 

I am tired and need a nap. Let's go home please. Josh's home will work. 

OMG they are cloning ME!

Are you aware that home inspectors are taught, if they observe a masonry structural crack, other than something typical and minuscule, they are to recommend a structural engineer be brought in. Structural engineers aren’t cheap and truth be told, most home inspectors don’t know the difference between typical, minuscule or serious and are frightened to death by home inspector instructors, many actual engineers, that this is a huge liability and risk for them. Results, lots of structural engineers recommend, often at a huge, unnecessary, expense.  

I am going to share a little apparent secret most may not be aware of. The “Old Man”, Chris Hilton, grew up in the masonry business, is a master mason, built many homes and commercial buildings, is experienced, and trained in structural crack analysis. No, he isn’t an engineer, only the one they called as a consultant on masonry issues and is accepted as an expert in court. What that means is that Chris can often explain masonry cracks, what likely caused them and if they are serious enough to bring in a structural engineer or if that isn’t necessary. That can save a homebuyer a great deal of money in the due diligence process. Apparently, Chris is one of those Unicorns. He also analyzes cracks our other home inspectors encounter using photographs or if necessary visits the home and trains them in structural crack analysis. WOW making our other inspectors Unicorns. 

Oh, here is a nasty looking crack. Got to be a bad thing and a structural engineer needs to be brought in immediately. Not when the “Old Man” is involved. Following a detailed evaluation of where this crack was located along with the shape, direction, and size of this crack the old man was able to determine, without doubt, what likely caused this crack and that it was ugly, but wasn’t a big deal. No structural engineer necessary. Doesn’t mean that you can’t bring one in for your comfort. The likely hood they will have more experience or be more knowledgeable than our “Old Man”? Very doubtful. The likelihood they will come to a similar conclusion? Very likely. As one, now deceased, popular, local, structural engineer, Chris preferred when necessary, once stated “Why do you recommend me when you know what caused the crack, if repairs are necessary and how to repair it”?  Simple, I can’t place PE behind my name and purchase that insurance you have. Yes, sometimes Chris will recommend they be brought in mostly to cover his own ass. Oh, sorry Baby Angel Unicorn is not allowed to to say ASS although she does have a cute one. 

Sable says bye from the Old Man and his GrandPam’s bed on the mountain. ME TOO! BYE LOOK OUT SABLE, THERE’S A BEAR!!! TWO BEARS. Didn’t they chase you up a tree?