By Goldfinger's Whitetails August 01, 2009
Standish Inspections will guarantee your satisfaction. If you are not satisfied, they will give you a 100% refund and they will pay (up to the cost of our inspection) for another inspector of your choosing to re-inspect the property. WOW ! Besides their 25 years of inspection and construction experience, numerous creditations and certifications they will schedule your inspection now if you call (800) 638-1359. ...read more
By Tim Z April 24, 2009
They were early, they accommodated us on a short notice and explained things efficiently. I also liked the fact that they took a lot of pictures, which looked great for my client ...read more
By Ryan Calvert April 16, 2009
Inspector was very thorough with the inspection and he was very well informed regarding my mold inspection on how bad the situation was. ...read more
Deadly Mistake #1: Thinking you can't afford it. Today, buying the home of your dreams is easier than ever before. Many people who thought that buying the home they wanted was simply out of their reach are now enjoying a new lifestyle in their very own new home. Buying a home is the smartest financial decision you will ever make. In fact, most American and Canadian home owners would be financially broke at retirement if it wasn't for one saving grace - the equity in their home. Furthermore, mortgage rates are more flexible today than ever and tax allowances favor home ownership. Real estate values have always risen steadily. Of course there are peaks and valleys, but the long term the trend is a consistent increase. This means that every month when you make a mortgage payment the amount that you owe on the home goes down and the value typically increases. This owe less-worth more situation is called equity build-up and is the reason you can't afford not to buy. Even if you have little money for a down payment or credit problems, chances are that you can still buy that new home. It just comes down to knowing the right strategies, and working with the right people. See below. Deadly Mistake #2: Not hiring a buyer's agent to represent you. Buying property is a complex and stressful task. In fact, it is often the biggest single investment you will make in your lifetime. At the same time, real estate transactions have become increasingly complicated. New technology, laws, procedures and competition from other buyers require buyer agents to perform at an ever-increasing level of professionalism. For many homebuyers, the process turns into a terrible, stressful ordeal. In addition, making the wrong decisions can end up costing you thousands of dollars. It does not have to be this way! Work with a buyer's agent who has a keen understanding of the real estate business and who is on your side. Buyer's agents have a fiduciary duty to you. That means they are loyal to only you and are obligated to look out for your best interests. Buyer's agents can help you find the best home, the best lender and the best inspector. Best of all, in most cases, the buyer's agent is paid out of the seller's commission, even though he/she works for you. Trying to buy a home without an agent at all is, well... unthinkable. Deadly Mistake #3: Getting a cheap inspection. Buying a home is probably the most expensive purchase you will ever make. This is no time to shop for a cheap inspection. The cost of a home inspection is very small relative to the home being inspected. The additional cost of hiring a certified inspector is almost insignificant. As a homebuyer, you have recently been crunching the numbers, negotiating offers, adding up closing costs, shopping for mortgages and trying to get the best deals. Do not stop now. Do not let your real estate agent, a patty-cake inspector or anyone else talk you into skimping here. NACHI front-ends its membership requirements. NACHI turns down more than 1/2 the inspectors who want to join because they can't fulfill the membership requirements. NACHI certified inspectors perform the best inspections by far. NACHI certified inspectors earn their fees many times over. They do more, they deserve more, and yes they generally charge a little more. Do yourself a favor...and pay a little more for the quality inspection you deserve. ...read more
By Standish Inspections April 21, 2009
Here are some tips that will help you check out potential problem areas while you are out house-hunting. • Be aware of gardens close to walls of a house. Watering can cause structural problems with the foundations. • Check the drainage around the house, particularly if the external ground is higher or equal to the internal floor level. • Make sure gardens do not cover vents on the outside of a house. This can lead to internal mildew attack. • Beware of large trees whose trunks are approximately six feet from the house. Tree roots can often cause cracking of walls and driveways. • Guttering and downpipes should be connected properly. If not, severe cracking and damp spots can be caused within the house. • Look for evidence of rising damp to the external and subfloor brickwork areas. Look for mildew growth at the base of the brickwork on external walls and also flaking paintwork. • Look for internal dampness by the appearance of black spots on walls and ceilings. Other evidence includes carpet rotting near skirting boards. This can be expensive to rectify and is usually seen in showers, laundries and kitchen areas. Look out for freshly painted walls. Are they covering the problem up? • Look out for rotting timbers under and around the shower area within the dwelling. A leaky shower could affect wall frame timbers. Check that doors and windows close and open as they should and that the plumbing works okay. • Look out for structural movement. An indication of this is signs of cracking in the external and internal walls, especially around cornices. Cracks around doors and windows are common and are not as serious. • Larger cracks that follow the course of the brickwork are serious and may indicate that the problem will have to be solved by under-pinning the corner of the house and/or by constructing a retaining wall. These solutions are expensive. ...read more
By Standish Inspections April 18, 2009
Sellers can speed their home inspection by following these suggestions. The inspection will go smoother, with fewer concerns to delay closing. Confirm that water, electric and gas services are on, with gas pilot lights burning. Ensure pets won't hinder the inspection. Ideally, they should be removed from premises or secured outside. Tell your agent about any pets at home. Replace burned out bulbs to avoid a "Light is inoperable" report that may suggest an electrical problem. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace dead batteries. Clean or replace dirty HVAC air filters. They should fit securely. Remove stored items, debris and wood from foundation. These may be cited as "conducive conditions" for termites. Remove items blocking access to HVAC equipment, electric service panels, water heaters, attics and crawl spaces. Unlock areas the inspector must access - attic doors or hatches, electric service panels, closets, fence gates and crawl spaces. Trim tree limbs to 10' from the roof and shrubs from the house to allow access. Attend to broken or missing items like doorknobs, locks and latches; windowpanes, screens and locks; gutters, downspouts and chimney caps. Checking these areas before your home inspection is an investment in selling your property. Your real estate agent will thank you! ...read more
By Standish Inspections April 16, 2009
Are you looking to buy a house? When you go to look at houses, you will quickly see that realtors do not use street addresses as a method of identifying houses. They use an MLS number which allows them to quickly access information about a property for sale. Using a street address gives you some infor... ...read more
Finding the perfect place for your business can take a great deal of time and research. You may want to lease a building rather than rent it. Leasing a building helps you build equity in the building. Depending on your location, commercial property may be listed for lease differently than traditional ... ...read more