8 Things I WISH I Had Before The Storm
Western North Carolina and I will be more ready for the next tropical storm disaster. Lessons were learned, and equipment was acquired. More than a
Storm Damage Insights: 2 Weeks in
It’s been two weeks since we began offering Storm Damage Inspections in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, and the value of this service has become
Has Storm Helene Contaminated Private Wells in WNC?
As families recover from Storm Helene’s devastating effects, some fall ill due to what they suspect is contaminated well water. This issue is becoming increasingly
Seller-Provided Inspection Reports: What You Need to Know
As homebuyers search for properties, they may come across older inspection reports. Sellers may provide potential buyers with a pre-listing inspection report or a pre-purchase
How to Winterize Your Home in WNC
Tips to Winterize your home in WNC when on extended leaves to prevent expensive water damage.
Guide to Maintaining Your Home
This collection of articles is a guide written especially for Homeowners. These articles will help owners anticipate repairs, maintenance, and other lifestyle considerations when owning
Dryer Vent Best Practices
In this article, we discuss the best installation products and techniques to prevent dryer vent fire hazards.
How to Operate Your Gas Fireplace
This step-by-step guide is intended to help homeowners get their gas fireplaces up and running for the heating Season.
Quick Guide to the EPA on Drinking Water
The following article is intended to help US residents understand the EPA’s position on where our water comes from, the potential contaminants, and the EPA’s three Drinking Water Standards that regulate water testing in our country.
Asheville and WNC Drinking Water Guide
For people concerned about the quality of their drinking water, either private or public, in the Asheville area. This article includes helpful information about testing, possible contaminants, and best practice maintenance tips.
How old are my Kitchen and Laundry appliances?
Learn the age of your Kitchen and Laundry appliances with this guide. This article includes serial number decoders for the most common manufacturers of refrigerators, ovens, ranges, dishwashers, washers and dryers.
Are Air Fryers a fire hazard?
Are the stories true that air fryers can overheat and cause fires?
Guide to Drinking Water
What are your drinking water sources, the potential contaminants, and their health effects, regulations, and testing protocols? Read more to protect yourself and your family.
Guide to Indoor Air Quality
This article discusses the most common contaminants in our homes, their sources, ways to identify them, their effects on our health, and how we can reduce their risks.
Guide To Asheville Inspections
A local inspection company guide for Asheville City Homebuyers and homeowners including tips, considerations and resources.
Quick Guide to Windows
What are the best materials and styles for windows? This article is based on my experiences as a general contractor and building inspector and I
Guide to Buying a Barndo
A Home Inspector’s guide to buying or renovating a barndominium ‘barndo’, shop house ‘shouse’ or Farmdominium or ‘Farmdo’.
Who We Are
When regular maintenance is performed the Winter Home Maintenance Checklist can be easy (Check the Fall Checklist first). Entering into service agreements with companies to come out for yearly maintenance can make our honey-do lists much shorter and help protect our home over the long-term.
Winter Home Maintenance Checklist
When regular maintenance is performed the Winter Home Maintenance Checklist can be easy (Check the Fall Checklist first). Entering into service agreements with companies to come out for yearly maintenance can make our honey-do lists much shorter and help protect our home over the long-term.
Fall Home Maintenance Checklist
The Fall Home Maintenance Checklist can be made easier with the help of a few different contractors (Chimney Sweep, Gas/Plumbing Contractor, Gutter Specialist, HVAC contractor). Entering into service agreements with companies to come out for yearly maintenance can make our honey-do lists much shorter and help protect our home over the long-term.
Summer Home Maintenance Checklist
Summer Home Maintenance Checklists, Monthly Home Maintenance Checklists, Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklists and Other Checklists
Home Maintenance Checklists
Home Maintenance Checklist, Periodic Home Maintenance Checklists, Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist
Spring Home Maintenance Checklist
Spring Home Maintenance Checklist, Monthly Home Maintenance Checklist, Seasonal Home Maintenance Checklist, Other Home Maintenance Checklists
Are Newer Homes Built Better Than Older Homes?
The year 1980 is somewhat arbitrary, but ‘newer’ homes built since then have a lot more in common than ‘older’ homes because of changing trends,
Mold Evaluations
When to order a Mold Evaluation for property owners, buyers, sellers and renters. Sample Mold Evaluation Report. What is included in a Mold Evaluation and when to Order Additional Testing.
Spec or Semi-Custom Home Sample Inspection Report
Inspector Jason reviews a sample ‘Spec’ or Semi-Custom Home Inspection report and discusses common details and defects.
Luxury Home Inspection Sample Report
Inspector Jason reviews a sample Luxury Home Inspection Report.
A Sample Deltec Home Inspection Report
Inspector Jason reviews a typical Deltec Home Inspection Report including common structural details and potential issues.
Quick Guide to Plumbing Materials
We review common plumbing materials and discuss their advantages and disadvantages. We also discuss best practices, discontinued materials and their potential health issues.
Siding and Trim Best Practice Installation
When it comes to siding and trim the best resource for installation and maintenance information is the installation guide for the product being used. Proper
Best Practice Deck Installation
Properly installed decks prevent water damage, settling, and injury to the home. Decks are generally considered temporary structures with a 25-year life expectancy before renovation
Determine the Age of Your Water Heater
The age of your water heater can be identified by the serial number. Use our guide to learn the age of any water heater.
Determine the Age of your Heat Pump, AC, or Furnace
A quick reference guide to determine the age of your heat pump, AC or furnace based on the serial number codes (because most units do not clearly display the year).
New Construction Home Builders: Spec vs. Custom vs. Tract vs. Manufactured
Buyers of new construction homes typically have 4 options: Tract Homes Spec Homes Custom Homes Manufactured Homes Rating the types of new construction homes In
Guide for WNC Homebuyers
This collection of articles, written by a Home Inspection Pro, is a guide written especially for WNC homebuyers but these same principles apply to all
Quick Reference: Siding and Trim
This article includes abbreviated information on the following categories of siding/trim: Masonry Siding Wood Siding/Trim Fiber Cement Siding/Trim Vinyl/PVC Siding/Trim Masonry Siding Masonry includes CMU,
Trailer Parks- Buying, Selling, or Maintaining
The term trailer can be misleading but ‘trailers’ are generally considered recreational vehicles or personal property. In practice the term ‘Trailer Parks’ may contain RVs,
Buying a Condo or Townhouse
Condos and Townhomes are a good option for buyers who are attracted to: Living in a community Governing rules and regulations that protect the values
Buying a House 25 Years or Older
Homes tend to fall into predictable patterns based on age. One of the most important considerations to look for in homes 25 years or older
Buying a Remote House
Our area is a popular destination for people looking to buy a house in a quiet, private, remote location with unspoiled views of nature. The
Buying a Neglected Home
What is a Neglected Home? Neglected Homes, also known as ‘Fixer-Uppers’, have experienced long periods without basic maintenance and repairs. In a typical Neglected Home
Buying a Ranch Style House
Introduction to Ranch Style Homes The Ranch Home Style is known for its simplicity of form and is one of the most popular and common
Viewing Inspection Reports in PDF format
We recommend viewing the Full Report PDF version of your report at least once to view all the information in one place. Viewing the Report
Viewing Reports in HTML format
Viewing reports in HTML format is a great way to view videos, expand pictures, follow hypertext and to navigate quickly through the report. Keep in
How do I create Documents from my Report?
What kind of documents can be created from the inspection report? With our software you can create professional looking documents based on your inspection reports:
RV Campsites – Buying, Selling, or Maintaining
RV’s or recreational vehicles include trailers, motorhomes and fifth wheels. RV campsites are popular for guests, temporary housing, Seasonal housing, camping business and more. This
Tiny Homes — Buying, selling or maintaining
Tiny homes are popular for guest cottages, temporary housing, Seasonal housing, mother-in-law apartments and more. This article concerns Tiny Homes which are built on trailers
Detached buildings – buying, selling and maintaining
Buying a house with detached buildings is a great opportunity for additional storage, work, rental or living areas. Well-maintained detached buildings can add utility and
Buying a home – different foundation types
Different foundation types have different maintenance considerations. Foundation systems of all types depend on the integrity of the supporting soil to prevent settling over the
Buying an older house (built before 1960)
What to consider when buying an older house (built before 1960) Homes built before 1960 can be more expensive to modernize than homes built more
Buying a Mountain Style home
Mountain Style homes are popular in our area because the design aesthetic blends well with our geography and the signature design elements of the Mountain
Buying a Log Home
Log homes are popular here in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Log homes or log cabins can be pre-manufactured, sold in kits, custom or
Buying a Modular Home
What is a Modular home (and what it isn’t) Modular homes have components that are partially built off-site in a factory which are then assembled
Buying a Manufactured Home
What is a Manufactured home? Commonly referred to as ‘double-wide’s or ‘on-frame’ home, these homes still have the steel frame or chassis in place that
Buying a 15-25 Year Old Home
When buying a 15-25 year old home buyers should consider aging components, installation defects, maintenance and repair neglect, and any additions, renovations or repairs.
Buying a House 15 years or newer
Generally, newer homes are relatively low maintenance for the first 12 years. Typically our talking points of a newer home inspection are about some of
Buying New Construction Homes – Tips from a Home Inspector
Buying a new construction home is a great opportunity for buyers who seek clean, low maintenance, and modern living with fewer surprises. Some buyers will
Fricking Fan Vents!! How do they work?
The purpose of Bathroom fan vents, common problems, and three ways to fix fan vent problems.
Don’t replace that leaking faucet until you read this!
Are you replacing a leaking faucet again? Here’s a pro tip based on my experience with countless repairs and inspecting over a thousand homes.
When to order additional inspections and testing when buying a house in Asheville
Why order additional Tests/Inspections? What are some examples? This guide is intended to help inform buyers how to make the most of their due diligence