Connecticut Home Inspection Blog

Is one question that often follows some misfortune. Human beings are wired to want an explanation for even that which is unexplainable. We seek the “truth,” the reason why, for mundane events, calamities and for that which simply exists. The reasons can be, and seemingly often are, nothing more t...

It is said, to err is human to forgive is divine. While that quote may sum up the most common meaning that one thinks of when hearing the word forgiving, that meaning does not apply to buildings. If it did we all are living in divine structures. Houses are quite forgiving in that when something i...

Inspectors have a few running jokes that have to do with common repair materials. For instances, everyone knows that duct tape fixes everything. Some even say if its not fixed, you haven't used enough duct tape. Alrighty then. The funny thing about duct tape is that its not really for ducts. At l...

Speed limits we understand, or at least I hope we do, why they are put in place on each stretch of road. Exceeding a certain speed increases the chance for bad things to happen. I learned this simple principle when in manufacturing. Speed was always the first priority. The faster you went, the mo...

I find as a home inspector people look to me to provide them with information on the condition of the house they are in the process of purchasing. By its very nature a home inspection is based on both facts and opinion. During a home inspection, and after when writing the report, the inspector wi...

My two girls enjoyed reading the I Spy and Can You See What I See series of books by Walter Wick when they were younger. I admit I kind of enjoyed them too. The cool thing about Walter Wick, at least for us, is that he is a Connecticut native. In the books there are cleverly staged photos. Next t...

During the Viet Nam War, draft dodging was a hot topic among the countries youth. Avoiding conscription was encouraged in some circles, with those that refused to serve looked upon as counter culture heroes. Certainly a divisive and emotional time in American history. Being a home inspector, the ...

When I take my kids to the amusement park there is one important sign they pay close attention to, the height gauge. You know the ones that are at the entrance of all the rides usually with the exception of the kiddie rides. The sign will say something like, you must X inches tall to ride. If you...

Words are unique in that they can cause understanding or create confusion. The English language is peppered with words that sound exactly alike, are spelled differently, with often entirely dissimilar meanings. Coarse and course, wait and weight, heel and heal. To add a little more spice, the mea...

Watching a good movie, reading a good book or engaged in a passion, one can become immersed. All peripheral distractions fade as your attention becomes focused with laser like precision. When inspecting a house I can become deeply engrossed in my task. This not a detriment. Being focused is how t...