As an inspector I have inspected and seen countless new construction homes. Everywhere from totally custom builds to the bare builder with no options. I have also built a home myself using a well known local builder in 2020. This is a list of upgrades/options I recommend getting when building a new home. 1. Vaulted Ceilings in Living Areas Don’t skip this. It not only […]
It’s been awhile since I’ve created a blog post so I apologize to my fans (sarcasm). Recently I had some thoughts come to mind about roofs. After any kind of weather event that could possibly damage your roof there are going to be a influx of roofing companies that want to come out and look at your roof FREE of charge. Sounds great right?! These […]
You may be asking yourself “What constitutes as a stupid thing to negotiate from a home inspection report?” Over my years in this industry I’ve been part of a variety of transactions that were stuck in negotiations over extremely minor and stupid stuff that had me saying to myself “They really requested that to be fixed out of everything in that report??”. That, coupled with […]
A word I hear tossed around a lot in the real estate industry is “Grandfathered”. What is the meaning of that term? In the housing and real estate industry it’s a term I will sometimes hear agents or sellers use to down play issues that come up in an inspection report. By definition it means “exempt from new law or regulation”. Why?…Because it’s old?…that’s insensible! […]
A recent conversation with another home inspector friend of mine prompted me to write this article. We, as home inspectors, are not specialists. A common misconception of people who hire home inspectors is that the inspectors are specialists with a superior source of home knowledge and ability to explain any problem and the fix for it. This is not entirely true. Yes home inspectors are very knowledgeable when it comes […]
I run into this situation often. Some home buyers that are in the market for a home are setting their expectations too high. As a licensed and certified home inspector, I am here to tell you that no home is perfect, in fact I can spot issues with the beautiful home in the featured image for this blog post (on the home page under the recent posts […]
City occupancy inspectors are indeed a great resource, especially for home buyers who forgo paying for a private home inspector. The reason for this article is to go over the differences in what a city inspector does and what a privately hired home inspector does, because there are many. A response I hear occasionally after I call something out in my inspection report, from either […]
Grading, in terms of the ground around the home, is the slope of the ground/soil around the foundation/perimeter of the home. Proper grading (or correct grading) is positive, or sloping away from the house. This is vital to ensure proper drainage of water away from the home’s foundation. Proper grading can prevent things like leaks, cracks in foundations, rot of wooden structural members, and other […]
You just bought your family a new home and you’ve moved in and settled down. You are well into the process of making this house a home, however, it’s important to know that if you do not maintain your home well things can break down and cause problems in the future. Some of these items should be on your home inspection report. The following are […]
When you purchase a new home, it’s inevitable that things will eventually break down and need to be repaired, after all no home is perfect. Repairing those items in your home that need to be repaired will be much easier to do if you have the appropriate tools on hand to do so. While some of these tools can be expensive in the beginning, it’s […]
House hunting is an exciting adventure, and the process of finding that perfect home is an experience you will always remember. However, be careful not to get too caught up in the moment and swept away by emotions, or you may overlook potentially serious defects. It helps to know what to expect. Rigid Inspections conducts hundreds of home inspections every year, and the following nine […]
For anyone looking to move to the cheery town of Bethalto, Illinois, it’s always a good idea to know what you’re walking into. Bethalto isn’t small, but it’s not the largest city either, with a population of just under ten thousand people, so there’s plenty to do and see. However, moving can be stressful, and the last thing you want is to be caught up […]
Now that you have moved into your new home, you’re probably eager to tackle any of the issues or maintenance needs of your home. Some of these might actually be on your home inspection report. Here are 10 DIY projects to get you started. 1. Trim trees and vegetation Trees and shrubbery that are overgrown can be an eyesore, block your view of the […]
It’s always a wise idea to have a home inspected before you finalize your purchase. Almost any home you consider is bound to have an issue or two, but you definitely don’t want those issues to be large ones — problems that could potentially throw a monkey wrench into your new homeowner’s budget! Still, not everybody knows what a good home inspection covers, what to […]
Another winter in the Midwest is upon us, and it’s turning out to be an especially brutal one so far! Is your home up to the challenge of keeping you warm while keeping your energy bills from skyrocketing from now until spring finally arrives? Since we’re in the home inspection business here in the St. Louis Metro East region, we frequently see examples of homeowners who’ve managed to harness […]