Home buying is a complicated and intimidating process, and many home buyers don’t realize how many resources there are to help them. I thought I’d put together a list of resources for Maryland home buyers and Baltimore City home buyers in particular. I’m not affiliated with any of these sites, but I’ve used some of […]

For many home buyers, the home inspection is a new experience. Here’s a rundown on a typical inspection. The pre-inspection agreement. This is the first document you’ll receive from me: it will detail the price, day and time of the inspection and the scope and limitations of your inspection. You’ll receive a link to sign […]

Top 10 Deck Defects Decks are a great way to add outdoor living space to a home.  It’s important to make that space safe and secure.  Here are ten commonly found defects during deck inspections. This is not a comprehensive list, nor is it a checklist for code compliance. Be sure to check your local […]

Click here to Schedule your Rental Property Inspection. What documents are required for the Baltimore County Rental registration? Baltimore County requires the Baltimore County Rental License Inspection Sheet, Carbon Monoxide Alarm Verification and if the property was constructed before 1978, a lead paint certification. Does my Baltimore County Rental Registration ever expire? Yes, the registration […]

Many of the defects we find as home inspectors are things that you might be able to live with, or that may represent a cost down the road. Others, need to be dealt with immediately and one of the kings of that category are the Federal Pacific Electric Stab-Lok breakers and the associated breaker panel. […]

For many years I had the great joy of transforming the once-proud shells of brick row homes into safe, affordable housing while working for Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake. During that time, I saw what weather and neglect could do to a home. It is a testament to their durability that so many stand […]

One of the most common sets of defects I find during home inspections involve dryer vents. I see the wrong materials used in the wrong ways constantly. Since a vent full of lint can burn down your house, let’s talk about the right way to do it. There are 3 basic components I look for […]

Smoke  detectors, those things you never think about until you burn dinner or the low battery chirp wakes you up at three a.m. Here are a few facts about the little device that could save your life. While conducting home inspections in Baltimore I often find them missing, outdated or non-functional. What are the different […]

Here’s some typical handyman wiring. This is the kind of thing home inspectors encounter all the time. The jacket of the line feeding the dryer plug is split and taped poorly back together. That’s a 240 volt circuit, with only the insulation around the individual wires left to protect you. The best part is, we’re […]

In the attic! Remember that horrible plastic flex duct I mentioned? Here’s a piece venting a bath fan through an attic. It’s split, allowing warm, moist bathroom air into the attic where it can condense on your roof decking and cause rot and mold. Know what’s in your attic!