When is enough enough? Electrical issues that should not be. It only took 109 years for this home to get to this point. This home was built in 1905, started out with Knob and Tube wiring and then "Upgraded" to fiber coated lines then finally the standard Romex style was installed. But major issues remain. It seems that each and every time the home's electrical had been worked on, the electricians never removed from service the older electrical components. Take a look at the way this homes electrical was a "Nightmare to inspect". The incoming service was correct. But then it went from good to bad to really bad. Heading down the stairwell to the basement. Here is what I found. WOW. Here is Five panels and boxes to inspect in the stairwell alone. Note the lines that come out of the center ... 03/21/2014

Furnace installation. They should loose their license. Home inspection in Artesia, New Mexico. When inspecting homes, there are a few things I find that really make my blood boil over. Like a really poor installation of electrical, water heaters and furnaces. These are being installed by licensed contractors that seem to not "Have a clue" as to what is correct and what is not correct. Permits being issued? No they are not being issued. If they were, the work would have been inspected by the local mechanical inspector. This "Shoddy work" would have certainly been called out and "red flagged" if inspected. If the installers don't apply for a permit, then in all fairness the local inspectors don't have a clue as to what had been installed and what had not been installed. Therefor  they wou... 03/20/2014

Garage and built in apartment. Home Inspection in Artesia N.M. I was performing a home inspection for a buyer in Artesia, New Mexico. I had just finished with the home when I asked about the garage. Since I saw a structure on the rear of the property I asked if that was the garage. The Agent told me it was with a shy grin. Hmmm....I thought as she told me it was the garage and a built in apartment. "And you need the apartment inspected as well". "Yes we would like you to inspect this as you would any home". After just finishing up a 3,300 SQFT home. I was worn out mentally. I was ready to call it a day. But one building remained. I get the camera going, citing several issues that were obvious to me but not the agent or the buyers. The previous owner had added this apartment to the exist... 03/12/2014

Time for roof maintenance. Home inspection in Artesia, New Mexico. On this recent home inspection. The roof was an area of concern for the buyer. And good it was a concern. The roof used to have a swamp cooler on it. This is still a real common place for the coolers in this area. but they seem to always run over and cause shingle damages. In this case the cooler had been removed and a split system had been installed. Good news for the buyers, but the roof issues still remain in place. The roof has Two layers on it. So only repairs can be made to the roof. If the roof was to be replaced then the entire roof would need to be removed and everything replaced. Only Two layers are permitted to be installed at any given time. The area of concern is on the back of the home. Take a look at hat I... 02/17/2014

When sellers move out. Take everything please. When inspecting homes, I run into sellers that claim to have moved out. I always ask if the home is occupied. When I am told not the sellers have moved out. So I am thinking when I get in the home there would be nothing there. I couldn't be more wrong. Here is a look at the toy left behind in the garage. The light was left on as a night light. This Hot rod was in the way of getting the drop down ladder open all the way. I reset the ladder and used my ladder to get into the attic space. Then when I was inspecting the interior of the home I found these in the master bedroom closet. These three rifles were left in the home by the seller. I bet they were planning on loading them up in the car as a last thing and just forgot. Not a very good job... 01/28/2014

Standing guard. And the test of time. Around the great state of New Mexico we have a number of old places that have withstood the test of time. Not only the old homesteads but the outer structures as well. The out buildings like the sheds and the barns were essential for the survival of any rancher or farmer here in New Mexico. These needed to be made to last. These homes barns and other outer structures needed to withstand the brutal winds and sun of the New Mexico plains. I was on my way to a home inspection when I ran across this barn that has withstood the test of time. I pulled over and took the picture. Notice anything in the tree? Looks like a sentry standing guard on the old barn. This hawk was standing guard on the old structure. I could almost hear the Hawk say "Hey someone ha... 01/23/2014

OH NO POLY IN THE HOME. Desert Sun Home Inspections Carlsbad N.M. Polybutylene lines in a home is a bad thing. These were recalled in 1995. These lines were used in homes from 1978 to 1995. The window to get the lines and fittings replaced has passed. Follow this link for more information about the poly line recall. http://www.reference.com/motif/business/polybutylene-pipes-recall This home was built in 1995 and was never added to the recall list for replacement. If it was the home owner could have taken a cash settlement and wanted to wait till there were issues with the lines and fittings before getting a full replacement of the lines and fittings. Or the home owner was never notified by the plumbing company that there was ever a recall. Well, now the time has come for the owner to st... 01/22/2014