http://www.allislandsinspections.com Should the Seller attend the home inspection with the buyer? After all, they’ve lived in the home for years and know all of its inner workings. I say, emphatically, “NO!” and here’s why… The Buyer, Seller, Realtors, and Inspector all want smooth sailing, w
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01/17/2013
http://www.allislandsinspections.com Those funny looking electrical outlets installed where moisture might be present are safety devices intended to prevent serious electrical hazards by cutting the power. Known as Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs), Ground Fault Interrupters (GFIs) or ju
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01/08/2013
http://www.allislandsinspections.com It is still a home buyer’s market with lower home prices and bank rates. Many home sellers fail to realize that, to buyers, just as important as "location, location, location" is "first impression", and appearance is its primary component. Based on appearance
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01/08/2013
http://www.allislandsinspections.com One thing that brick chimneys, stone chimneys and fireplaces have in common is that eventually most will require some type of maintenance to keep a water tight seal. Leaks into a chimney can cause unsafe heating equipment as well as costly damage to the chimn
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01/08/2013
http://www.allislandsinspections.com The burners on an electric range get dirty with caked-on messes, often after a single use. The best way to keep your burners clean is to clean them after every use. Messes are much easier to remove when they are fresh. Make sure the burners have sufficiently
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01/08/2013
With winter already here, it's a good time to review where your utility shutoff devices are and how to operate them. Generally speaking, modern homes have a variety of safety shutoff devices for water, electricity and gas and/or fuel oil (if present). For safety, each gas device is required to ha
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01/08/2013
http://www.allislandsinspections.com Do your feet get cold on your upstairs floor in the winter? Does the downstairs roast while the upstairs chills? Are there big vaulted ceilings that restrict air movement? You’ve probably checked the furnace filter, but did you (or a professional) check the d
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01/08/2013
http://www.allislandsinspections.com We ask a lot of our bathroom sink drains. We pour toothpaste, soap, shaving cream, makeup and stray hair into them and expect them to work. Unfortunately, sometimes they don’t. A serious clog usually requires a chemical drain cleaner or a plumber’s snake. For
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01/08/2013
http://www.allislandsinspections.com Many plumbing problems are entirely preventable with an easy inspection. Check that the fixtures are securely mounted by gently grasping the faucet pipe and attempting to move the fixture. It should be securely fastened at the base with no movement and no sep
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01/08/2013
http://www.allislandsinspections.com A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is an inexpensive electrical device that, if installed in all household branch circuits, could prevent over two-thirds of the approximately 300 electrocutions still occurring each year in and around the home. Installa
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01/08/2013
