Ben Schern's (targetinspect) Blog

1. Replace your highest-use incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) or LED bulbs. Check out APS' CFL savings calculator for a rough idea of what you could save. Although CFLs are much more expensive than incandescent bulbs, they last at least 10 times as long, use 75 perce...

Swiiming Pool Safety and the Liability can and has had an effect on realty transactions, including Home Inspectors.... Below is Arizona code concerning the laws of pool barriers etc. When I inspect property and there is a pool, I feel it is my obligation to go above and beyond "AZ Standards of Pr...

There's a new buzzword in the Arizona green building industry: "Net Zero" and "Near Zero" construction. Homes thus labeled are outfitted with energy-efficient materials (tighter insulation, draft-resistant windows and doors) as well as solar features which enable a home to actually produce energy...

  Every industry has its no no's.  Home inspecting as a profession is no different. Certainly, no list of anything is definitive, but can I suggest seven deadly things a home inspector can do? MISINTERPRET - Home inspecting is about gathering information.  It is very important that the informatio...

What is a Home Energy Audit? You might turn off the lights whenever you leave a room and switch off your computer at the end of the day, but are there more energy savings that could be made? Ben Schern is owner of the Arizona-based Target Building Inspections and partners with "HEAT" an Arizona E...

The purple areas are cool spots indicating moisture, this is the cause of a roof leak above.  Quite simply, Why wouldn't you want thermal imaging in your Home Inspections? We strive to go above and beyond the standards in the normal inspection arena. Being un-biased and professionals in our fiel...

This image was taken at an inspection in Queen Creek on a custom home yesterday, Notice the missing insulation in the attic next to the can light? These buyers were very pleased to know that we just don't check electrical outlets and roof coverings but everything else in between too. The same fo...

You may wanna check your thermostat on the water heater... After a call from a client today (yes Sunday), I was questioned on how to adjust the temperature on their water heater.... After a few questions and relaying information I couldn't help but wonder how many others out there know? It's rath...

Pre-Home Inspections: What Every Seller Should Consider ! Chris and I are Realtors so our opinion is obviously one from that perspective.  But, that perspective was pierced last year when we helped my mother sell our family home of 35+ years located in Bucks County. It was a really slow market at...

NAR Announces Partnership with DocuSign to Deliver Electronic Signature Services to Members   This is fantastic reinforcement for Home Inspectors and their "Pre-Inspection Contracts". Signing on-line and still having a paper trail is not only easy but good to CYA. Realtors everywhere are becoming...