EDUCATE YOURSELF BEFORE YOUR NEXT MOVE

Inspection reports have changed to accommodate increased consumer expectations, and to provide more extensive information and protection to both inspectors and their clients.

Development of Standards
Prior to the mid-1970s, inspection reports followed no standard guidelines and, for the most part, there was little…

Roofing play a key role in protecting building occupants and interiors from outside weather conditions, primarily moisture. The roof, insulation and ventilation must all work together 

to keep the building free of moisture. Roofs also provide protection from the sun. In fact, if designed correctly, roof overhangs can…

Wind Mitigation

Wind mitigation is the implementation of certain building techniques in order to limit damage caused by intense wind.

A Few Facts About Windstorms and Wind Insurance

In 2006, Citizens Insurance, one of the largest property insurers in Florida, requested a 45% rate increase for wind insurance.…

Termites and other organisms can cause serious problems in the wooden structural components of a house, and may go undetected for a long period of time. 

New Construction
All chemical soil treatments, bait systems, and chemical wood treatment must be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and applied…

Why is mold growing in my home?
Mold and moisture are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter, such as fallen leaves and dead trees. But indoors, mold growth should be avoided.  Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the…

If you apply for a loan to buy a house, the lender is going to decide whether you are a good or poor credit risk based on your credit report. If the report says that you have a lot of debt, or you don't pay your bills on time, the lender may adjust your interest rate accordingly – or deny you the loan altogether. Thus,…

Electrical safety is an essential part of our lives. However, it has the potential to cause great harm. Electrical systems will function almost indefinitely, if properly installed and not overloaded or physically abused. Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of 485 Americans each year and injure 2,305 more. Some…

Central Air-Conditioning System Inspection

by Nick Gromicko, CMI®

A central air-conditioning system must be periodically inspected and maintained in order to function properly. While an annual inspection performed by a trained professional is recommended, homeowners can do a lot of the work themselves by following…

What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance. InterNACHI inspectors can…

Keeping Safe in Real Estate with Covid-19 Pandemic

Many people will be surprised to hear that in light of most states (including Florida) issuing a shelter in place order to slow the spread of the Coronavirus, the real estate industry is considered essential and you may still proceed with buying or selling your home. …

A Garage Inspection

by Kenton Shepard

Above:  garage exterior
This is the exterior of a town-home I was asked to inspect. During the garage inspection, I ran into a neighbor who told me that the roof of another garage, identical to the one pictured above two buildings down, had collapsed the previous winter…

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is an analytical method using emission spectroscopy to identify the presence of specific elements in most materials.  Every element has a unique emission signature, making it possible to quantify the presence of an element by the relative strength of the emission.  Instrumentation has evolved…

When it comes to home tools the following items are essential, but this list is by no means exhaustive. Feel free to ask an InterNACHI inspector during your next inspection about other tools that you might find useful.

 
1.  Plunger
A clogged sink or toilet is one of the most inconvenient household problems that…

Most people don’t know how easy it is to be saving energy, and here at InterNACHI, we want to change that.

Saving energy in heating, cooling and electricity costs can be accomplished through very simple changes, most of which homeowners can do themselves. Of course, for homeowners who want to take advantage of the…