Archive for January, 2009
Venting another pet peeve,
A strong majority of homes inspected here on the Gulf Coast of Alabam and Florida have attic access where it’s most difficult to get to. It seems like most 2,3 and 4 story homes have a small scuttle hole in a bedroom or closet. That means you need to carry the ladder up and down all those flights. Every step is another chance to hit something with the ladder. Then, after arriving there it’s typical to fiond the attic has not been accessed and a few inches of blown in inuslation falls into your eyes and eventually makes it on the floor for cleaning up later.
Attic access
Most single story homes here have pull down attic stairs for quick easy access. Obviously no cleaning or stair climbing to be done. I joke around with some folks and tell them it’s because builders want to pay home inspectors back for calling out inferior work.
As you can see from this picture taken a few days ago, not only did I navigate 4 floors I also became a mover of furniture and belongings.
I have recently been reminded of an old quote I first heard as a young adult “Practice does not make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect. ”
I’m sure most people understand the need for continuing education. At Ellis Inspection Services, we take it very seriously! You might wonder how much can change in the home building industry, well, let me tell you…
There are a multitude of new building techniques daily. Along with each new technique, someone has to learn to put them together, and someone still needs to learn to inspect them. Every item out there gets tested somehow, weather just through time, some gravity, proper and improper installation etc. It is a huge cycle.
I typically start my day off at 5 a.m. , get through my e-mail then review and study particular home inspection techniques through threads and blogs on the Internet for half an hour so. During the course of an average day I speak to the other inspectors that work with us, and I read a few selected periodcals related to home inspections and building.
The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) requires 20 hours of contineuing education annually by pre-certified institues. Each hour of credit usually takes close to two hours of study and prep time.
Each certification and or group reqwuires more training and studies. Building codes, mold, air quallity, water quality, green, infrared. Now when your through studying you have to apply what you’ve learned.
These are just a few reasons why hiring an experienced well trained, educated and practiced home inspector is so important.
Ask The Home Inspector 