A Word About Do It Yourselfers
I make my living looking at houses… well, not exactly. People pay me, not to look at the house, but to highlight the problems with the house. On a daily basis I see the end results of the hapless handyman’s weekend endeavors. I’m sure there are competent DIYers out there – their work goes unnoticed because it was done properly. The stuff I get to report on is usually the work of the iDIYots among us. Time and again I have said that it is admirable to be a do it yourselfer, provided you are competent.
A while back I was asked to write a brief article on the subject. Here it is:
Renovation Without Explanation:
Can You Really Learn to Fix Your House by Watching TV?
I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve received “divine renovation inspiration” on a Saturday morning with my backside firmly planted on the sofa. It always happens the same way: coffee cup in hand, flipping through the channels when I come across a home improvement show. I immediately scoff at the host, mumbling something along the lines of “What does that knucklehead know?” But home improvement shows, for me at least, are like Celine Dion music – as much as I won’t admit it, when I am by myself I can’t turn them off.
So there I sit, feigning superiority while watching the hired contractors make the host look good. By the end of the show, I am inspired to take on a similar project. How hard can it be, right? They did it, and they are mere television personalities. I am a full fledged do it yourselfer. I can certainly finish a basement, or landscape a yard, or renovate a kitchen…. just like they did. The whole job should take me about a half an hour. Less if I work through the commercials.
If only it were that simple. Unfortunately, the truth is that it isn’t as easy as they make it look on TV. Sure some things they lead you to believe on television are as simple as they seem. The truth, however, is that it is one thing to make pesto in one of those magic blender things, it is quite another to fix a house. You should also note that making pesto can turn out bad (I learned the hard way) and fixing a house can turn out even worse (I should have stopped at the pesto…) if you don’t know what you are doing. The thirty minutes they spend on TV executing the job from start to finish is only the highlights of the highlights. Just for fun, next time you are watching one of those shows, count how many nails get driven when they are building the (whatever it is they’re building). If you are lucky, you’ll see three or four nails go in. More likely it will be something to the effect of: “OK now let’s nail this thing together” *quick shot of a nail gun firing* “Great, now that it’s nailed together, let’s paint it…”
What they don’t actually show on these “How To” shows is “How To” do anything. The shows are more for inspiration, you have to learn on your own. This is where it is important not to let your enthusiasm overwhelm your judgment. It is all too easy to watch one of these programs and think to yourself “I’m going to gut and remodel the bathroom” and get well into the “gut” part before you realize that you don’t really have the “remodel” skills. At this point you have a few options, you can call a friend or someone with some experience in the matter, you can start exploring different resources for actual “How To” instructions, or you can go sit in front of the TV in hopes that they will soon air the parts of the project that weren’t included in the episode you watched. I suggest you take option one or two.
With a bit of planning, and some forethought you’ll be able to take the inspiration you received while on the couch and combine it with some knowledge you’ve learned elsewhere and be able to turn out some pretty nice projects. If after the project is completed, and you still have a little time, take a handful of basil, some pine nuts, a little garlic and some olive oil. Toss it all in your little blender and presto, you’ve got pesto! OK, I apologize – that won’t happen again.
As always, thanks for reading.
-Brad (YOUR Windsor Ontario Home Inspector)
Fancy Meeting You Here!
I’ve recently had a number of interesting discussions about how to expose my business to the general public (I firmly believe that there are two types of property owners in Windsor: my clients and those that don’t know what services I offer). I have had a reasonable amount of success introducing myself to the public via less-than-traditional methods.
In the old days (5-10 years ago) the best way to promote ones business was to advertise – a lot. I’m sure that method still works today, but it can be a bit spendy; if I spend a pile of money on traditional advertising you end up footing the bill in the long run via increased fees. Given the state of today’s economy, I have chosen to keep my prices to an acceptable level.
So where do I promote my business? Well, both my website and this blog receive a fair bit of traffic. If you punch “Windsor Ontario Home Inspector” into one of the big search engines, both my main site and my blog rank fairly high. Another nice thing about clients using the Internet to source out home inspectors is that in just a few short minutes they are able to get a feel of what the different inspectors are all about. Once they have looked at a few sites they can then decide who they would like to call and get to know a bit better before scheduling an inspection.
Another terrific source of interaction with the market has been the social networks available on-line. I maintain a presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. These have been wonderful venues for me to both keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues as well as let people know that I am available to answer any of their property related questions (do you have a house nerd at your disposal? if not, feel free to add me to your social network – I promise not to flood your inbox with useless spam 
).
Finally, and most importantly, the vast majoity of my exposure comes from word of mouth referrals. Some come from colleagues, but many come from past clients. While many people pay little attention to referrals, I am always flattered. All the flashy ads and websites in the world don’t even compare to the value of one client being happy enough with my service to recommend me to a friend or family member. While advertising can generate business based on marketing trends, referrals generate business based on my abilty to meet (or exceed) my clients expectations.
Naturally, should you yourself have any questions about me, my business or the like, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly. You can call (519-818-9701 / 1-877-37MANOR), email (brad@manorhome.ca) or visit my website and fill out the contact form. Of course you could always join my Facebook group
Thanks again for reading. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Until then I remain your very own Windsor Ontario home inspector!
-Brad
Client Questions….
Anyone who has ever spent any time looking at home inspector websites has probably noticed the nearly ubiquitous “10 Questions you should ask before you choose a home inspector” lists. To me that has always seemed like the inspector is telling the client what he or she should be looking for (ie: “if your inspector isn’t a member of XYZ Association he is unqualified”, “if your inspector doesn’t have my particular background he is unqualified”, etc). I’m sure I could easily tailor a bunch of questions so that the proper responses make me seem like the perfect inspector, but I’m of the mind that nobody knows what is important to you better than yourself so why not ask the questions you want answers to?
Well today I had just that happen. A potential client called with a list of questions/concerns and we spent a half hour discussing what he thought was important. We discussed various technical and general topics in order for him to establish if I am worthy of his business. I’m not sure if he will call back to schedule an appointment with Manor Home Inspection or not, but I do know that I probably benefited as much from his questions (probably more) than he did.
I encourage anyone who has questions of their own to either call me (519-818-9701), come visit me at the office, send an email (brad@manorhome.ca), or use my website’s contact form. Only when YOUR questions are answered should you decide who will be YOUR home inspector.
As always, thanks for reading.
-Brad Manor (YOUR Windsor Ontario home inspector)
Technology has Come a Long Way.
The first “home inspection” I performed was back in 1991. At the time, I had no idea what a home inspection was – I was simply applying the (then limited) knowledge I had about building practices to help a friend who was buying a home. If I recall correctly the only equipment I had with me were a spirit level, a tape measure and flashlight.
Since then my knowledge of building inspection and my arsenal of tools has expanded considerably. While I still don’t own every possible piece of inspection equipment nor do I have complete encyclopedic knowledge of the topic, I am doing fairly well. In previous posts I have discussed how much I appreciate my Protimeter Surveymaster (the Cadillac of moisture meters), today let’s discuss my infrared imager.
The first thing I should point out is that simply owning any piece of equipment doesn’t automatically make you an expert in their use. Buying paint doesn’t make someone an artist. My training with infrared goes back to may university days and carries forward to specific training on the use of infrared imaging in building diagnostics….. OK enough about me
So, what does this fancy technology mean to you? In the right hands, a thermal imager can help identify missing/inadequate insulation, heat loss, electrical hotspots, moisture issues, and many other situations. Here are some examples:
Insulated Wall
In the above image the bluish lines are the 2×4 studs. They appear blue because they are acting as a thermal bridge between the warm inside of the house and the cold outside. The dark blue dots on the studs are the heads of the drywall screws.
Un-Insulated Ceiling
This image is of an un-insulated ceiling. The ceiling joists are lighter in coulour because they are warmer than the space between them. Again, the joists are conducting heat away from the house – more energy wasted. The striations that appear between the joists are actually the wood lath that the plaster was applied to, indicating that this is an older home.
Breaker Panel
The above pic is a breaker panel. Note the upper breakers are warmer than the lower breakers. Also, the lower main feed lug is warmer than the upper – probably a good time for an electrician to come and have a look to make sure everything is properly connected and performing as intended.
Dog
That’s my dog. I know that the picture has nothing to do with houses, I just thought it was a cool picture.
Should you like any further information about Infrared Imaging, or any other property inspection related stuff, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I would be happy to provide you with more photos or to arrange a thermal scan of your property, either on it’s own or as part of your property inspection.
These can be trying economic times, every one of us wants to be sure that they get as much value for their dollar as possible. Choosing a home inspector should be no different. Before you choose your inspector, ask yourself if he is truly knowledgeable in building science and understands the workings of a home. Then ask yourself if he has the necessary equippment to properly evaluate your property. If the answer to either of those questions is “No”, then perhaps it’s time to give me a call Until then, I remain Your Windsor Ontario Home Inspector.
Thanks for reading, I hope to talk to you soon,
-Brad
Is it in YOUR House?
Today, let’s discuss asbestos. First I will point out that I am by no means an expert or authority on the subject. While inspecting a house or building I will very often point out something that I suspect contains asbestos, but I can’t say for sure. In order to find out if something contains asbestos with any certainty we need to send a sample to a lab. One thing I can say however, is that if your house is of a certain age, it very likely contains some asbestos.
So, what is the concern? For that I turned to the people at www.asbestos.com. They sent me the following:
Asbestos Removal A Must for Home & Property Owners
There are many things to consider when remodeling, purchasing or foreclosing an older home. Homes built prior to 1980 have a potential to harbor asbestos materials. It is important to make sure the location has been tested for asbestos levels and removed by abatement contractors. Citizens of Windsor should be aware that exposure to asbestos fibers can pose many health risks to you and your family and friends.
A professional home inspection is extremely important. To protect your investment, professional consultants can provide an evaluation of the home. Consultants will identify material defects structures and components of the home, in adherence to or exceeding national, state, and industry regulations and standards.
Used in millions of homes throughout the twentieth century, asbestos insulation can be a big problem for homeowners because of its corrosive and health deteriorating qualities. Deadly cancer’s such as Peritoneal Mesothelioma and Malignant Mesothelioma are obtained through asbestos exposure and take the lives of thousands each year.
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the federal agency that regulated asbestos testing, has set very specific guidelines on how to conduct asbestos containing renovation jobs. Once you become aware of a danger or defect, you’re duty-bound to warn tenants at least, and to take steps to minimize or remove the danger in most cases.
Non-regulated asbestos material can be legally performed by homeowners, regular contractors, or licensed asbestos abatement contractors as long as the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) are not violated. Asbestos removal in public facilities, homes and workplaces must be undertaken by a licensed asbestos abatement contractor. One the removal is complete, green insulation options should be given serious consideration, such as: Cellulose, Cotton Fiber and Lcynene.
…. I know that is a just a brief overview of a very serious topic, but it is certainly something to consider. Naturally, if you would like more information or help in finding further resources, please feel free to either respond to this post, or contact me directly. Thanks for reading!
-Brad
Grandfathered, huh?
My job is to find problems. I spend a few hours at a house making a list of what is wrong, and why it is wrong. Many items make it to my list on the merit that, while it may be acceptable, it could be better. Sometimes the listworthy items are things that don’t conform to today’s safety expectations. At least once a week I get an argument from an interested party that an item shouldn’t be included in my report because it is “grandfathered.”
I know what the people mean when they say it’s grandfathered, I just don’t understand them. The assumption is that if the item was approved when the house was built it must be okay, or that the item has stood the test of time and likely won’t cause a problem. Let’s take a closer look at both of these arguments:
Okay then, must be okay now: This is the most common point of view regarding grandfathering. I get this mostly on older homes. The arguer (usually the homeowner) tells me that the (insert issue here) was allowed by the building code at the time of construction. How the homeowner became an expert on historical building code interpretation and enforcement remains a mystery me, and I have done my best to take every course available on the subject. While my position as a home inspector does not call for me to inspect for code compliance, I am quite familiar with the Ontario Building Code and will rely upon it often as a reference. (for the record: the building code compliance is not a mark of excellence. the building code is the absolute bare minimum level to which you can build a home without breaking the law)
My reply to the historical argument of grandfathering is that we, as a society, have managed to constantly evolve our level of safety. I can remember as a kid people smoking inside the doctors office (quite often the doctor himself), asbestos and vermiculite insulation were okay, lead paint was fine, kids toys were full of sharp pointy bits (I accidentally took my own tonsils out with a Tinker Toy… a story for another time), and seatbelts were a personal preference.Thankfully, we have learned from our mistakes and become a better, safer, more responsible society.
When I make a recommendation that an item be brought up to modern standards, it is by no means an order. I am not an enforcement official, I work as a consultant on behalf of my client to point out the issues with the home. While an item may not have been required when the home was built, and may not be required now, it may be a safer, more practical, or more efficient to update it. Even though a railing may not have been required around the raised porch in 1953 when the house was built, someone may still break their leg if they accidentally fall off of it in 2008.
Hasn’t caused a problem yet: This is nearly ubiquitous defense of bad wiring. Many older homes around here have Knob and Tube wiring. There have been countless studies done on the safety of Knob and Tube (I’m happy to send you some if you like, let me know) and it is almost unanimously agreed: the stuff is old, outdated, obsolete should be replaced. Even if the K&T is in pristine condition (which it probably isn’t), it was still considered obsolete before I was born.
Okay, I’m getting off topic, we can discuss K&T later. My point being: regardless of whether or not an issue has caused a problem yet, it still may in the future. Just because no one has fallen down the stairs that don’t have a railing or the K&T hasn’t started a fire yet doesn’t mean that the potential doesn’t exist. Try to think of every house that had ever burnt down due to an electrical fire. The day before the blaze the homeowner could have rightfully said that the wiring hasn’t caused a problem yet.
So, the next time I tell you that there is an issue with the home, please understand that I am doing it with your best interests in mind. Should you have any questions about an issue in your home, please feel free to contact me by phone (519-818-9701 / 1-877-37MANOR), by email (brad@manorhome.ca) or via my website (www.manorhome.ca). I would be more than happy to discuss any items that need to brought up to date, heck we can even talk about your grandfather if you want
Thanks for reading, I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, I remain your Windsor Ontario home inspector.
-Brad
What the Heck is a “Maintenance Inspection”?
Residential maintenance inspections are a by product of my company’s commercial inspection division. A large percentage of our commercial clients have us return on a monthly (or quarterly) basis to keep an eye on the condition of the building – sort of like having a regular checkup. This way they are able to be pro-active in their building maintenance efforts rather than dealing with problems as they occur. In the long run this saves the client money (finding a $5000 roof repair during an infrared scan versus a $50000 roof repair and mold remediation after an ongoing roof leak becomes evident).
Based on the success of the commercial program, I decided to offer it to residential clients. Naturally the situation is a bit different, so the program is a bit different too. Basically how it works is as follows:
- first the home is given a complete and thorough inspection. A report is generated and given to the client. Any maintenance recommendations are highlighted in the report. The cost for the initial inspection varies depending on the size, age and features of the home. A substantial discount is applied to clients signing up for a maintenance inspection plan.
- at regular intervals I or one of my assistant inspectors will visit your home. During these visits we will address any concerns you have with the home that may have arisen since our last visit. We will also look at the components of the home that are seasonally affected (we check your gutters and downspouts in spring and fall, check the roof in the spring, look at heating system in the fall, moisture scan of basement in spring, etc.)
- we will also do a walk through inspection during our regular visits. This is similar to a full inspection, but since we have already gone into detail with the initial inspection, these visits are much more brief.
- a supplementary report will be generated that outlines any recommended maintenance. This report will then be provided to you to be added as an addendum to your original report. (don’t worry if you misplace your report – a copy is kept here in my office as well as backed up electronically.)
- the cost for the regular visits varies on the frequency. For example monthly visits are $59+GST, quarterly (seasonal) visits are $89+GST and twice-a-year visits are 189+GST (these prices assume you have already had the initial full inspection or are an existing ManorHome client.)
I’ll be the first to admit that this service is not for everybody. Thus far my clientele for this service has been people with large upscale properties and busy professionals who have neither the time nor the inclination to stay on top of their home’s maintenance – however, this doesn’t mean that it may not be right for you. As always, if the packages outlined here aren’t right for you, please feel free to contact me and we can work out a package that suits both your needs and your budget.
As always, thanks for reading and a big THANKS for choosing me to be your Windsor Ontario Home Inspector.
Please contact me with any questions – either by phone (519-818-9701 / 1-877-37MANOR), email (brad@manorhome.ca) or via my website (www.manorhome.ca)
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
-Brad
Technology has its Shortcomings
Quite regularly, I have people contact me via the contact form on my website. This is a great and very convenient method of contact by which people can ask a question or request more information without picking up the phone, running the risk of getting voicemail, waiting for a call back etc. The problem arises when little details get in the way.
At least a few times a month, I get calls from potential clients that are a bit miffed that they contacted me using the contact form, yet I didn’t reply. This generally happens when a return email address is omitted, or typed in incorrectly. Rest assured that if you used the form I got the message – I have it set to be delivered to both my mailbox as well as my blackberry.
If you use the form and I don’t get back to you within a day or so, please send me an email to my address brad@manorhome.ca or, should all else fail, call me on the telephone 519.818.9701 / 1.877.37MANOR. I look forward to hearing from you (and getting back to you).
Thanks for reading, and as always, thanks for making me YOUR home inspector.
-Brad
Strange Days Indeed…..
This past summer season has been, to say the least, unique. Amid the whirlwind of economic and political headlines, Windsor has proven itself to be “unique in its uniqueness.” Just when I thought it was going to be an uncomfortably slow time for my business, I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy a fair amount of success. It seems every time I hear someone state that the real estate market in this area is stagnant, my phone would ring with a call for an inspection.
I know very well that my full schedule isn’t necessarily due to a booming economy, more it is a sign that people a being ever vigilant with their home buying decisions. In the last month I have done inspections for people that, in the past, would never have considered hiring a home inspector. We all know the type – the proud Canadians who do things themselves. They have lived in enough homes that they are sure they know more about houses than most. They have taken the DIY mindset to new heights. When their cars break, they fix them, roof leaks – patch it, faucet leaks – fix it. They are no longer merely Canadian, they are CanaDIYan.
Well…. lately, they have been calling me. Knowing that there is very little room for error in their home buying cycle, they rely on my education and experience to point out the things they may miss. I take it as a tremendous compliment that the folks that traditionally don’t want help are turning to me for help. There are still a few around who refuse to pay for someone such as myself to point out issue with a home, but they still want a little help. For them I have been able to help by setting them up with inspection checklists. These are basically the same checklists I use when taking notes during an inspection. Of course the checklists don’t tell you how to look at things, just what to look at. Of course, I don’t encourage anyone to do their own home inspections. To me, DIY inspections make about as much sense as DIY dentistry of haircutting, but some folks are stubborn.
So here I am Windsor, happily plugging along, helping Mr. and Mrs. Homebuyer make the most informed decisions they can. Feel free to call or email me with any questions or concerns you may have with your home (or home to be). Until then, I’ll remain YOUR Windsor, Ontario home inspector.
-Brad
…..most peculiar, mama.
About Your Report…..
Generally when I perform an inspection, the report is ready either that day or the next day. For fast and easy delivery of the report, it will be converted to a .pdf file and hosted at my hosting service (www.inspectexpress.com/reports/manor). When your report is ready, I will email you a link to the hosting service and give you your report number. Once at the report hosting site, simply punch in your report number and download the report.
The reports are generally left on the report hosting server for a couple weeks, then I remove them in order to make room for new reports. Naturally, during busy times, I need to free up space more often. I always maintain a copy of your report for my files, should you need it again simply let me know. I will re-post the report, print a copy, or put it on disk for you.
Should any of my valued clients need access to their report, please send me an email: brad@manorhome.ca or call 519.818.9701. If a future client would like to view a sample report, please contact me too!
As always, thanks for choosing me to be YOUR home inspector!
-Brad
