It is not unusual to see cast iron waste pipes in properties built before 1973. From that date onward, the more modern products such as PVC or ABS started taking over iron piping as the 'product of choice' by many builders and plumbers. Iron products have a short life expectancy of approximately 35 - 50 years depending upon water sources (hard or soft water) and what has been put down the pipes. Just like your arteries, iron products, whether they be waste or potable water supplies, get sclerosis just like your arteries. Like in this picture below, this pipe was just one hair ball clog away from a major heart attack... Complete Home Inspections, Inc. | Brentwood, TN 37027 Large enough for excellent service... Small enough to care... Have you joined my birthday alarm? It is fast painless... 07/07/2008

07/07/2008

Maria Holland | American Heritage Realty, Inc. | mariaholland@comcast.net | 615-289-6056 101 Hampton Place, Nashville, TN Fabulous Condo in the Heart of Green Hills. Perfect Size for roommates to share w/split bedroom plan 3BR/2BA Condo offered at $259,900 Year Built 1985 Sq Footage 1,851 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 full, 0 partial Floors 3 Parking 1 Uncovered spaces Lot Size Unspecified HOA/Maint $270 per month DESCRIPTION Are you looking for lots of room, convenience and a quick commute? This town home may be for you. Located right off of I-440 and Hillsboro Road in the heart of Green Hills, you are a skip from anywhere in town. Arranged on 3 levels for a great sense of light and space you will love how this condo flows. Tall ceilings adorn the den and large open windows let light pour in... 07/05/2008

Maria Holland | American Heritage Realty, Inc. | mariaholland@comcast.net | 615-289-6056 2010-101 Overhill Drive, Nashville, TN Remodeled Tudor in Heart of Green Hills. Beautiful Mid-Town Living with a heavily treed lot! 4BR/4.5BA Single Family House offered at $619,900 Year Built 1938 Sq Footage 3,791 Bedrooms 4 Bathrooms 4 full, 1 partial Floors 3 Parking 2 Car garage Lot Size .25 acres HOA/Maint $25 per month DESCRIPTION This Beautifully Remodeled Tudor with New addition of Master Suite and Rec Room is a charmer. Combining the character of the orginal property with the beauty of new ammenities and space it is truly a house to get excited over. With 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, a large rec room, a formal dining room, a large living area and an additional upstairs study it is a home to spre... 07/05/2008

I have inspected several thousand properties over my 8 year career, and just about the time you think that you have ‘seen it all’, it seems as if our ‘ol buddy Bubba comes up with a new twist on things. Yeah Buddy… While inspecting a property in the Antioch section of Nashville, TN, I came across this unusual installation for a pet door. Now normally, most people go about it differently... But we all know that Bubba travels to the tune of a different 6 pack... Don’t try this at home folks, it can get real ugly… Large enough for Excellent service... Small enough to care. Copyright © 2008 by Michael Thornton; Complete Home Inspections, Inc. Brentwood, TN, All Rights Reserved. Have you joined my birthday alarm? It is fast painless and the best part of all, you will be helping me out. Becau... 07/05/2008

By now, just about everyone knows that under a process called eminent domain, the government can (and does) seize private property for public use - to build roads, or infrastructure deemed ‘for the good of the public’. Is eminent domain being abused when the government can also seize your land for private use if they can prove that doing it will serve what's called "the public good"? Furthermore, is seizure of private property always in the public’s best interest or the best interest of “Big City Government” and generating more tax revenue? It's been three years since the disastrous landmark Kelo vs. New London, Conn., decision. In that ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court said that cities could broadly increase their powers of eminent domain. In the this case, the city leaders, decided the l... 07/03/2008

As a licensed home inspector for the State of Tennessee and an ASHI certified home inspector, I am continually in and out of properties almost daily; some new - some old. Generally, it is the older properties that I find really fascinating. Today while inspecting another rehab in the East section of Nashville, TN, I could not wonder what our good 'ol buddy Bubba had on his mind while looking at his latest misadventure... Now the tip of the bulb is supposed to be in for the pilot so that the heat from the flame will cause the liquid to expand and hold the gas valve open so that the burners will operate. Sorry Bubba, but holding your bic lighter at the end of the bulb just will not work... Have you joined my birthday alarm? It is fast painless and the best part of all, you will be helping... 07/02/2008

Well, it looks as if our ‘ol buddy ‘Bubba’ has been hard at it playing plumber again once again. Yeah buddy! While inspecting a “flipper” in Nashville, TN, I could not help but laugh and shake my head at another one of his ongoing misadventures. The picture below shows how installing a drain line for a dishwasher ain’t supposed to be done. Yeah buddy! I guess that all ‘ol Bubba had in the back of his “pick ‘em-up truck” was a section of old garden hose most likely left over from his last misadventure. So much to be said for recycling... At least he IS thinking green in more ways than one... I had to debate on whether give him a grade of ‘I’ for injunewity or ‘L’ for laziness on this one. I particularly liked the fact that he did take time to ‘kinda sorta’ color coordinate or disguise th... 06/27/2008

As we all know, art is 95% inspiration and 5% perspiration, but in the case of ‘Bubba’ our unhandy handyman, it’s probably the other way around… While inspecting a rehab on the east side Nashville, TN, I was mused by this resemblance to an old screen saver. I guess that since ‘Bubba’s’ TV went on the fritz, he has had to turn to an alternative source of entertainment. Yeah buddy… Now mind you, there are some issues in this picture, such as the dryer vent discharging to the crawlspace instead of outside the property and lack of proper strapping to support the plumbing. But for our ‘ol buddy ’Bubba’ this is quite a work of art. What say ye… I do want to send special thanks to the staff and management of Active Rain for featuring me in the member’s spotlight in their newsletter. Have you j... 06/26/2008

It seems as if our 'ol buddy Bubba has been having a rough week this week. No sooner does he have one botched misadventure playing carpenter on this rehab project in the Hillsboro Village section of Nashville, TN than he decides to try his hand at plumbing again. Yeah Buddy! I can hear him now... "Plummin' is mah life..." Now most real plumbers know that in order to pass their plumbing test, they have to know that water and other stuff flows downhill. Well, I gotta give him and "E" for effort because he kinda-sorta got it part of it right... I'm glad that I looked before I ran the dishwasher... Bubba, bless his heart, must get easily distracted or must have run out to get another 6 pack of duct tape. We'll just have to wait and see what his next misadventure will be in our next Photo of... 06/20/2008

While inspecting a newly rehabbed property in Nashville, TN’s Hillsboro Village section, I ran across another misadventure of Bubba, our unhandy handyman… Yeah Buddy! Well, either 'ol our buddy Bubba uncorked one too many brewskies or the bubble was off in his level. Maybe his bubble is off period! Who knows… I really love inspecting homes, with Bubba around, I'll never run out of things to write about... Michael Thornton General Manager Have you joined my birthday alarm? It is fast painless and the best part of all, you will be helping me out. Because I need your help, subscribe to my blog. Have a great evening Y'all! See ya' tomorrow! Copyright © 2008 by Michael Thornton; Complete Home Inspections, Inc. Brentwood, TN, All Rights Reserved. 06/19/2008

In comparing Jan.-Apr. 2007 to 2008, the average home sales price in Inglewood has risen 15.04% compared to only 9.98% in East Nashville. Of course, both increases are amazing considering the bad economic news that we hear daily from the media. East Nashville is still the winner when looking at gains over the past 5 years, but both have seen an increase in average home price of over 40% since 2004, with East Nashville closer to 60%. This means that if you bought an ‘average' East Nashville home in 2004 for $119,647, that home would be worth $191,221 today! Not bad at all. Here are the numbers: For those unfamiliar with the area, Inglewood is on the northeast side of downtown and directly north of East Nashville, just up Gallatin Rd. Both communities are extremely convenient to interstat... 06/18/2008

Whenever I hear the phrase "housing crisis" I'm thankful to live and work in Nashville where the panic is much more subdued. For most neighborhoods, the average home prices are holding steady or continuing to increase. The market has changed, but has proved to be quite resilient so far. I know some people are tired of Realtors trying to put a positive spin on the market. I sincerely don't want to do this, but instead just take an honest look at what is happening. When we examine the numbers, we see that the past year or two have provided some challenges, yet most areas are still seeing increases in sales prices, and the trends over the past 5 years are still fantastic. One way that the market has changed is that fewer homes are selling. For example, East Nashville had 163 homes sell las... 06/18/2008

Hungry for something new to do in Nashville? Not the usual movies, music, shopping or arts - but some actual FOOD? On most days in Nashville, you may find yourself racking your brain for which of our city's finest eateries you will choose. On most days, once you get all gussied up and get to that place you chose, you have one more choice...which of those fabulous meals you will pick. Sadly, although you have enjoyed the pleasure of that scrumptious meal prepared by that famed chef; you may have regrets about the meal you couldn't venture to try out. You may not have room for tastes of other meals or that dessert you saw carried to someone else's table. Well, on June 21st ALL THAT WILL CHANGE! For, on that one special night, Nissan brings all the greatest food of Nashville downtown. (and... 06/17/2008

Most of you have probably wondered what all the truck and construction equipment was doing at the end of Bradford Hill Road. I contacted our Councilman Parker Toler to find out.  The following is what he said... "The construction you see back side of Holt Wood is for a 24 lot  single family home development that extends Christianstead Lane. The work that is being done is for a sanitary sewer that will serve the 24 lots This develop will not connect any road to HOLT WOODS OR BRADFORD HILLS. There were a number of large tracts of land that were zoned for homes at the end of Holt Hills Road a private road. This is the tract that was sold last year and now work is underway. This is the track that was owned by Ruble Shelley." Parker represents Nashville's South Davidson County and is always ... 06/16/2008

I love inspecting rehabs… I love inspecting rehabs… I love inspecting rehabs… At least that is what I keep telling myself. There are some properties that are about as much fun to inspect as a sharp stick in the eye. Today I had a real doozie. I will not bother reprinting the marketing BS… Excuse me, marketing babble for this “pristine property” located in the “trendy” section of Nashville, TN. “Grab your hat, coat and belongings and move into this newly renovated completely refurbished bungalow…” Well, er kinda sorta ready to move in … Well, it seems as if our old buddy Bubba was up to his shenanigans again. Yeah Buddy! I can just hear him now, “Yesterday ah cudn’t spel ‘lectrician and jee golly today ah are one!” Sigh! Oh, by the way, the light did not work! Thank God it’s FRIDAY! P.S.... 06/13/2008

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Yes! Every home has a bomb tucked away somewhere. It may be in your garage, attic, basement or under your stairwell. As innocent as it may seem, the bomb is your water heater. Should the heating elements within this pressure vessel fail to turn off for one reason or another, there is enough latent energy in one of these to do serious damage to your home. I have seen pictures where houses have been almost leveled due to water heater explosions. These are rare, but as we all know, life happens. One of the things that a good home inspector looks for are safety issues concerning these pressure vessels. While inspecting a home for some clients in the Nashville, TN area, I came across a great example of three of the most common violations that I see with water heaters. The extension for the T... 06/06/2008

I want to say a word of appreciation to homeowners who work year after year to make their gardens such a source of joy and beauty for total strangers to enjoy.  Yesterday I passed a rose garden on Glen Echo Road in Nashville TN which I have driven by and admired for years.  And I just had to circle around the block this time and take a photo.  I always anticipate the garden as I turn down that street, and love to see what is happening with the roses. I am always in awe of the work, care and obvious love for the beautiful that this home owner exhibits.  Even in the winter this garden shows love, as the roses are trimmed, and the soil is being worked in anticipation of spring and new growth and new blooms.  And of course, summer is its special season when it is blooming in all its glory.... 06/03/2008

Come home to dramatic views, impressive finishes and unparalleled space in this towering penthouse, located in the Glen. This is a rare chance to live in one of Nashville’s most desirable new communities near the heart of Hillsboro Village. An exclusive development of only 38 units, The Glen brings quality construction and true urban living to Hillsboro Village in the heart of Nashville. Walk to trendy boutiques, fine dining, night clubs and countless services. The bozTEAM has teamed up with Core Developement to upgrade THE Penthouse at the Glen. Unit 407 is located on the corner of 18th and Wedgewood in Hillsboro Village. The space includes a balcony facing the Village, a green rooftop deck facing downtown and almost 2400 square feet of pure luxury featuring Bosch appliances, designer ... 06/02/2008