inspection

April 21 2023

Problems to Look for When Buying an Old Home

Robert Jones Home Inspections, Information homebuying process, homeowners, inspection, tips

Older homes certainly have unique features that newer homes can lack, like built-in bookshelves, hardwood floors, crown moldings, and stained glass windows. Some older homes also boast high quality materials; for example, walls are more likely to be built with plaster and lathe, making them more soundproof. While you may be excited about the possibilities of living in an older home, there are still common issues to be aware of. Read on for information about problems to look for when buying an old house. 1. Foundation The foundation supports a house’s entire structure, so issues with a foundation are critical to the overall safety and livability of any home. As a foundation ages, these issues may occur: If an inspector notices any of these warning signs of a damaged foundation, you should schedule some repairs. 2. Lead Paint Homes built prior to 1978 are likely to have lead paint, which has since been banned from consumer use because it is toxic, especially for young children. It’s possible that an old house may have a coat of lead paint underneath layers of newer, safer paints. If an inspector discovers the presence of lead paint, it can be removed safely with the […]

March 27 2023

Tips for Keeping Your Home Sale Ready

Robert Jones Home Inspections, Home Maintenance, Information homeowners, inspection, sellers, tips

When it comes to real estate, first impressions matter. That’s why you want to make sure your home looks its best before you put it on the market. Potential buyers want to see themselves in a fresh, clean home that’s been well-maintained. Here are some tips to help you keep your home sale ready inside and outside without doing any major or expensive upgrades. Consider Curb Appeal When you decide to list your home, aesthetics are everything. Be sure your house looks attractive from the street by completing these minor improvements to the front exterior: Care for the Backyard Buyers like a well-maintained backyard that they can see themselves spending time in, so consider these updates: Freshen Up Interiors Potential buyers love walking into a home that feels bright, clean, and airy. Here’s how you can create that feeling in your home: Minor Repairs People want to see a home in good condition, so little things like these matter: Once you’ve completed these tasks, you can call a professional home inspector to get more information about the systems in your home that aren’t visible to the naked eye. Call South Sound Inspections to schedule a pre-listing inspection that will give […]

February 22 2023

Thermal Imaging FAQs

Robert Jones Home Inspections homebuying process, homeowners, inspection, Maintenance, thermal imaging

What is Thermal Imaging and What Qualifies an Inspector to Use It? A home inspection is an important step in the process of buying a house, or if you’re determining what repairs need to be done in your current home. Thermal imaging is a type of technology that amplifies the typical home inspection by providing detail and information about a home’s components that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Thermal imaging can help detect energy loss, moisture, hot spots, plumbing leaks, and more. Because these issues usually take a while to present themselves visually, thermal imaging can catch warning signs so you have time to complete necessary repairs. Read on to learn how thermal imaging works, why it’s important, and what qualifies a home inspector to use the technology in your next home inspection. What Is Thermal Imaging? Thermal imaging is a non-invasive technology that detects temperatures and moisture levels on surfaces like walls, ceilings, floors, and around windows and doors. As an inspector passes a camera over certain areas, it produces a color-coded “heat map” to show where a home may be losing heat through door and window cracks. Hot areas are usually indicated by yellow, red, white […]

January 23 2023

6 Key Differences Between Commercial and Residential Property Inspections

Robert Jones Commercial Inspections commercial inspections, inspection

Both homeowners and commercial property owners will at some point get their properties inspected. The purpose of both inspection types is to document the property’s condition and identify issues that may impact its valuation and insurance policies. But, inspections for these different properties vary in significant ways. Read on to learn more about 6 major differences between commercial and residential inspections. Different standards Home inspections and commercial inspections adhere to different standards. Commercial property inspectors must follow ASTM E2018-15, the Standard Guide for Property Condition Assessments: Baseline Property Condition Assessment Process. It outlines the different kinds of buildings inspectors may examine, who may conduct inspections, and other specifics related to commercial properties and working with businesses. For home inspections, standard practices outline the following areas and systems to be inspected: roof; exterior; basement, foundation, crawlspace and structure; heating; cooling; plumbing; electrical; fireplace; attic, insulation and ventilation; doors, windows and interior. For both commercial properties and homes, standards dictate that inspectors are not always able to identify latent or concealed defects. Wide variety of commercial property types Commercial property inspectors deal with a much larger variety of building types: Home inspectors examine single family or multi-family homes, condos, or apartments, with […]

January 11 2023

9 Tips for Keeping Your Home Warm this Winter

Robert Jones Home Maintenance, Information homeowners, inspection, Maintenance, prevention, tips, winter

You want your home to be warm and comfortable during the winter, but sometimes the cold finds its way indoors. There are some steps you can take before winter and during the colder months to keep your home warm. Read on for 9 tips that may help keep your home warm without increasing energy costs. 1) Make sure doors and windows are properly sealed Window caulking is a good way to seal your windows for winter, and it can be done in a few easy steps. Heat shrink film is another good idea for windows, while door draft stoppers can combat cold air coming in through the bottom of a door. 2) Use dampers effectively A damper is a plate that controls the flow of air through a home’s ductwork, and knowing how to adjust them to regulate temperatures can keep your home comfortable. Because hot air rises, you can close the dampers on ducts going to the top floors of your home, and open the dampers for the lower floors so those areas stay warm. 3) Clean the vents Clean out your HVAC system at least once per year to help ensure proper airflow and decrease the amount of […]

December 28 2022

Tacoma Side Sewer Inspections

Robert Jones Home Inspections, Information homebuying process, homeowners, inspection, Repairs, sewer inspections, side sewer, tacoma

What Local Homeowners Need to Know If you live in Tacoma, WA, and you’re planning to schedule a home inspection, you should know about a recommendation from the city of Tacoma regarding your side sewer, or lateral sewer: the part of the sewer system that connects your private property to the public, city-maintained sanitary sewer main. In order for the city to better maintain its public sewers, it’s important for individual homeowners to do their part in ensuring that their property’s plumbing systems are in good condition. Read on to learn more about what this kind of inspection requires and how it can benefit homeowners. What is a side sewer inspection? A side sewer inspection is a detailed examination of a privately owned sewer pipe that sends wastewater away from a home’s toilets, laundry room, drains and sinks and into the city’s main sewer line that’s usually located in the street. This kind of inspection looks at a home’s drainage and plumbing system up to the point where it joins the public sewer. Some cities, like Tacoma, recommend that homeowners get a side sewer inspection to ensure that their private line doesn’t have any issues that will impact the home […]