Salem, Oregon Home Inspection Blog

Mold is everywhere. Mold/fungus has microscopic spores that are airborne and are able to easily blow around the world.  Due to the spore's ability to be in the air there is no place on earth that does not have fungal spores present. (except maybe special industrial clean rooms and operating rooms...

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters:  They are a wonderful safety item that has been required around water since the ‘70s and according to the CPSC could prevent over two-thirds of the approximately 300 electrocutions still occurring each year in and around the home. Installation of the device coul...

 I was inspecting a home the other day and when I met with the client, and asked her, as I always do, "Is there anything you may have noticed, that you have questions about." This is not only to address their specific fears and concerns but also so I am given a heads up on a potential defect.  My...

Crawlspaces are a very popular way to build a home in the Salem, Oregon area.  With a crawlspace the home is up off the ground, so most importantly to the builder, there is less concrete and that equals less money.  Being up off the ground also allows the homes to stay away from the water that is...

I came across an outdoor AC compressor the other day that was running at full speed.  This was not immediately unusual, because it is August.  Then I realized that at this early hour of the morning the outdoor temperature was only 50 degrees Fahrenheit!   Upon closer inspection I noticed one whol...

August  Home Care: •·Cooling system (if installed) is working overtime in this month.  Make sure the outdoor unit has at least 2 feet on three sides of free air.  Keep the fins on the compressor clean as well.  Depending on the model of compressor this may be a professional HVAC tech's job.  Keep...

Roofing is one of the few skilled professions where being a licensed contractor is not required if you do it on your own home here in Salem Oregon.  Hiring a licensed contractor is definitely encouraged, however a home owner with a little DIY initiative can tackle the job on their own with no dis...

 I am a home inspector in Salem Oregon.  Home inspections are generally based on a perfect home.  The one issue with that is that there is no such thing as a perfect home.The job of a competent home inspector is to see and comment on everything.  It would be impossible to determine what our clien...

 I think most home inspectors that are on the fence about whether or not to buy a thermal camera seem to lean towards the argument of it being a liability.  In my opinion of this is, "... sour grapes," (if you can't reach them they must be bad).Home inspections as an industry are a litigious razo...

This week I inspected a home that visually had some questionable roofing installations.  Easy to spot things like heavily tarred flashings and things that definitely wouldneed further investigation from the attic and inside.When I took a peek in the attic I knew that it would be very little help ...