Is Your Home Making You Sick?

    As a Home Inspector, I see plenty of safety concerns in many of the homes and properties I inspect that have a potential to be life threatening. However, the safety concern I was recently made aware of is sometimes so subtle that it can go undetected for years before it is revealed, often after it has already left a trail of damages to the physical and mental health of the homeowners.

    So exactly what is this safety concern? Toxic waste is the culprit, and it can take years to rear its ugly head, and sometimes many years to solve the issues.

    Being a Home Inspector in HiltonHead, SC,  I have not encountered any serious issues with toxic waste in our locale. However I recently had a conversation with a homeowner who has lived in a home for 6 years (bought new) and has battled with strong chemical odors that were emitted from the foundation concrete slab. The homeowners have tried replacing flooring, sealing the concrete slab and all to no effect. Well I have certainly joked about the interiors of some foreclosed homes I have inspected as being toxic waste dumps, however this homeowner’s story was a wakeup call for me. I was not involved in an inspection on their home, but felt compelled to offer some help. I recommended they start with a call to a local environmental testing lab.  I am hoping they called and are pursuing the problem further.  I had asked about any health concerns in the family and it was revealed that the family members had frequent headaches. The homeowner had mentioned someone familiar with some of the history of the land in their development seemed to recall some illegal dumping that had occurred in the area where their home was built.

    Understanding that each locale is different, I wondered what Hilton Head, SC had for environmental protection. I was encouraged to find out that in 2013, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s office, Police Department, DHEC and the DNR joined efforts to help control environmental issues. Note that for locals in Beaufort County, SC, you may call Crime Stoppers at 888-274-6372 to report suspected problems (illegal dumping). For additional information, the EPA has a website that will help determine if there are environmental concerns (such as toxic landfills, chemical spills etc,) in your area. The website is: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/commsearch.htm

Another information resource may be found at Toxics Action Center. The website is: http://www.toxicsaction.org/problems-and-solutions/hazardous-waste-sites

    With land becoming scarcer, builders and developers may often build homes on “Brownfields”, which is another name for a toxic waste site that someone wants to develop. 

    The most common threat to public health from toxic waste is the contamination of water supplies. Toxins in the soil can also seep into structures above, resulting in indoor air quality concerns. Living in a polluted home can result in short term and long term mental and physical problems. The problems can also extend into generations (genetic birth defects).

    I would urge any homeowner or home buyer who suspects a home or property may be near (or built over) a toxic landfill, (or other environmental concerns), to research local information resources as well as those mentioned above. It is all too easy to be swayed by a beautiful home and not pay attention to the unseen things that may leave you wanting to flee your home. Determining such concerns is generally beyond the scope of a normal Home Inspection, although some red flags may lead to discoveries.

 

 JW Home Inspections, Inc. Hilton Head SC Beaufort, Bluffton, Sun City

Is Your Clothes Dryer Killing You?

Yes, go ahead and ask yourself if your clothes dryer is plotting against you. Of course it is not, but keep in mind that most people use a clothes dryer on a daily basis and seldom give thought to maintenance unless it quits working. As much as washing machines and clothes dryers have changed our way of life drastically (for the good), clothes dryers are responsible for a significant amount of deaths, damages and injuries every year.  Statistics point to about 15,600 structure fires, 400 personal injuries, and 15 deaths annually as a result of dryer fires.  Some have estimated the cost of such damages is over 100 million dollars. As a Home Inspector, I have performed numerous Home Inspections and can attest to the neglect that clothes dryers (specifically the exhaust systems) suffer. They are simply something most of us take for granted. Please don’t.

The culprit causing the damages is most often the exhaust system for the dryer. It is vital to have the exhaust system inspected periodically. Typically a dryer vent needs cleaning every two to three years. There are numerous companies specializing in cleaning dryer ducts (exhausts), and you should not have a problem finding one in your area. Some heating and cooling companies provide this service also. Frequency of inspection will vary depending on use, length and design of your exhaust system, however I would recommend you have it serviced one year after the initial cleaning and inspection, to help determine how often it needs serviced. If you are still reading this and do not know when your system was last checked, get up and schedule an inspection and cleaning.

 

There are signs that you can look for to tell you if your exhaust system needs serviced.

Look for the following:

1. The dryer is producing heat, but takes longer and longer to dry the clothes.
2. Clothes are still damp after a cycle.
3. Clothes are noticeable hotter than usual after a cycle.
4. The outdoor flapper on vent hood is closed or partially closed when the dryer is running.

Also remember to never use devices that allow the heat and moisture to vent back into the home.

Also it is dangerous to install a screen over the dryer exhaust termination (often done to keep pesky rodents from entering).

 

Please remember that a Solar clothes dryer does not have the above concerns and is a real energy saver. Use an outside clothes line when you can.

 

 

Photo of tidal marsh in Sea Pines, Hilton Head Island, SC.

Sunrise at Sea Pines Lakes, Hilton Head, SC

Just another sunrise on the lakes at Sea Pines Plantation, Hilton Head, SC. 
The lakes at Sea Pines are a hidden jewel in this beautiful plantation.
There is something I find especially calming and relaxing about a sunrise over water, especially in such a beautiful setting that Sea Pines lakes offer. Perhaps it is just the promise and hopefulness of a new day unfolding with such splendor, or just the calming sense that everything is just as it should be.
Pictures affect us in so many ways. Let me know what you are feeling (or thinking) when you see this photo. Does it remind you of one of your favorite places? Does it make you want to go find your fishing pole? Or do you just simply marvel at natures continuous beauty?
Just thought I would offer a small glimpse of the natural beauty in my little corner of the world.
Enjoy your Sunday.

Thanks

John

Feel Like Your Job is Too Tough?

Ever had moments when you thought you should have multiple personalities to accomplish your job? Or multiple assistants? Or simply days when you thought your job was just too tough?
Consider the photo I am posting. Taken in Key West, FL at the traditional daily sunset celebration, this elderly gentleman was just recovering from a major operation, and attempted several times to perform his high wire and juggling act. After several failed attempts, he went on with the remainder of his show, which was still entertaining but did not involve the high wire. I had to admire his attempts at this difficult task.
It seems that walking a high wire and juggling at the same time would take an immense amount of concentration and focus. I suspect his problem was neither of those, but perhaps a loss of that important sense of balance required for the act.
Whatever his situation, I just thought it was a great photo that might cause one to reflect on the balancing and juggling act they perform everyday, and derive their own meaning from the image. As a Home Inspector in Hilton Head, SC, I know I have days when I think I can relate to what the gentleman on the high wire was feeling.

Please let me know what your mind conjured up when viewing this photo.

Best Wishes

John M. Wickline
JW Home Inspections, Inc.
www.http://JWInspect.com
JWInspect@hargray.com

Serving the Low Country of South Carolina since 1998, Hilton Head, Bluffton, Sun City, Beaufort, Hardeeville, Ridgeland, Callawassie, and Daufuskie Island since 1998. Providing Home Inspection Services and Absent Owner Services. Licensed in SC and insured.

Buying a Foreclosure

by Nick Gromicko and Rob London

    Purchasing foreclosed homes in desirable areas at below-market values can be a sound investment strategy. Appreciation on their original prices may be tax-free.  Buying foreclosed rental properties can provide positive cash flow, as well as valuable tax deductions. On the other hand, buying a foreclosure involves homework, patience, and a certain amount of luck. For those wishing to get a bargain house through the foreclosure process, it’s best to learn the basics.

Four Ways to Buy a Foreclosed Home

• A pre-sale is when the prospective buyer negotiates with the current owner before the house is foreclosed upon. Pre-sale discounts can be considerable, but communicating and reasoning with the owner isn’t always easy; they might have legal problems, lost their phone service or electricity, or greet you with suspicion, having already been hounded and threatened by creditors. And after time and energy have been invested, the deal can fall through if the owner comes up with the money to repay their debt, or for any number of unexpected reasons. With persistence, however, the seasoned real estate investor can profit from pre-sales. To find out about pre-sales, you can try one of the following avenues:
• Ask your local county court how to search new notices of default.
• Find out if the County Recorder has data available online.
• Look in the "legal notices" section of the newspaper for properties that are coming up for sale at public auction. Take note of the address, the property owner’s name, the tax ID, and whatever other information is contained in the ad.
• A foreclosed home may be sold at a public auction, in which buyers can expect a discount of 10% to 25% of market value. Interested bidders are generally required to show proof of financing, and must have a minimum cash deposit before they are qualified to bid. It might be impossible to gain entry to inspect the interior, too, which makes this type of purchase risky. The local building department may have permit records that can clue you in to the building’s layout and appearance.
• A real estate-owned (REO) sale is a transaction where a foreclosed house is purchased directly from the bank. These properties typically wound up in the bank’s portfolio after failing to sell at auction. REO investments are relatively safe, as there are no tenants to evict or hidden liens and, unlike properties sold at public auction, buyers can usually receive a mortgage to pay for them. And purchasers might even get an unused house; the slow economy has left many builders at the end of their construction-loan periods without finding buyers for the homes, in which case the bank will foreclose on the brand new homes. Unfortunately, REOs are usually offered at near-market prices to recoup the costs of property taxes, maintenance and legal fees. To find REOs, try the following:
• Check lenders’ websites, as they may have a list of their REOs, along with contact information for the appropriate real estate agent.
• Call lenders and ask to speak to someone who handles their foreclosures.
• Check newspapers.
• The Department of Housing and Urban Development has tens of thousands of HUD homes whose previous owners defaulted on federally issued loans. After a period during which local governments gain exclusive buying privileges, they become available to individual buyers who pledge to live in the property. After another 10 days, investors may bid on the property. It’s difficult to make a profit on these houses, as HUD releases them at near-market values.

Tips for Foreclosure Purchases

• Invest time in research and preparation. Those new to the field should spend some time learning the variables of foreclosure investing before making any purchases.
• Budget carefully to prepare for the unexpected. The house may require unforeseen repairs, such as a leaky roof or unstable deck. The price tag of the home itself is often just the first of a series of fees. What if you planned on rental cash flow to cover the mortgage, but you can’t find a tenant?
• Avoid buying a foreclosure sight-unseen. Try to see the house yourself before buying it, or hire someone to evaluate at it in your absence. Distant investors are buying up properties unseen in bulk, and they’re often unpleasantly surprised at how much they’ve been misled.
• Evaluate the neighborhood. If the foreclosure is rife with problems, but it’s in a desirable area with high property resale values, it may still be worth it to make a low offer. An area with several foreclosures or a high crime rate can undermine an otherwise good deal, however.
• Consider how long the house has been vacant. Building damage – and the costs required to make the house livable - generally increases with the time that has lapsed since the last tenant vacated. Pests are a particular issue in houses that have been empty for a long time, and plumbing defects and leaks increase in likelihood in such homes, as well.
• Examine the landscaping. Left unchecked, trees can send their roots into the foundation, and vines can creep into the windows.
• Has the house been professionally inspected by an InterNACHI inspector? Foreclosures can be notorious for damage suffered at the hands of past tenants, through both inadvertent and intentional vandalism and theft.

In summary, there are a number of ways to go about buying a foreclosed home, and buyers should exercise patience, persistence and careful planning before buying foreclosed properties.

Member of InterNachi

I Refuse To Do A Home Inspection!

      As a Home Inspector in Hilton Head, SC, I have  observed that the level of housekeeping can drop drastically once a contract is written. It does not seem to matter how expensive the home is. By the time I get to the home, I often find quite a mess. If not just a mess from moving out (boxes and personal items everywhere), then the housekeeping itself makes me cringe. I can understand and sympathize with clutter from moving out, however just having a filthy dirty home I cannot understand. Other peoples dirt (OPD) is something I suppose we get use to as Home Inspectors but sometimes it is pretty vile. I particularly get upset when I encounter a home that is filthy and notice evidence of children living in the home (should I call social services?). While providing Home Inspection services, I have had to wade through food on walls and floors, pet droppings on floors, kitchens so filthy and cluttered I could not see the sink or counter-tops, toilets filled with various things (left to your imagination) extreme mold, and more. And then there are the hoarders, with rooms where doors cannot be opened because of trash (personal items). I cover a pretty wide geographical area to provide my services. One home in particular happened to be the farthest I have traveled to provide a Home Inspection. This home also had to be one of the worst examples of hoarding I have seen. Plus there was evidence of a cat living there (numerous unpleasant reminders on floors, and obnoxious odor permeating the whole house). The litter box I observed was overloaded and just happened to be in the spot where I had to stand for at least 5 minutes while removing the electrical service panel to check the panel interior. I never did see the cat. I wonder if the owner even saw the cat.   I have been tempted to refuse an inspection based on the filth or hoarding, but have somehow managed to press on and get the job done. 

Sometimes you just have to vent.

John