On Closer Inspection: Maintaining proper slope.

FOUNDATION WALL STAINS, GRADING, DRAIN TILES & FOUNDATION WALL REPAIRS When there are moisture stains on basement walls it is typically due to poor grading, short downspout extensions and or more costly, blocked/ broken drain tiles. We see things differently depending on whether the stains are on our current home, or a home we want to purchase. When the stains are on our home, we often have the luxury of time to “properly” adjust the grade, extend the downspouts, clean up the basement walls, and…

Home Buying / Home Inspection Risk Reduction (Part 1 of 3)

As well as EXCITEMENT, we might also feel a little nervous or stress when it comes to buying a home. Could there be major issues my home inspector won’t find? Well, there’s something you can do to help lower your risk. My name is Donn Anderson. I’m a Certified Master Home Inspector® in Southeastern Wisconsin and I’ve inspected over 16,000 homes since 1995. I also serve as an Expert Witness & Arbitrator in cases of Inexperienced or Low-priced Home Inspectors who have left some homebuyers…

What does Workmanlike Manner mean?

Original email newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/4f4bbf9580d1/anderson-home-inspection-nov-2018-newsletter-workmanlike-manner Was your Offer to Purchase TL;DR? These days we convince ourselves that taking the time to read important documents takes too much time, effort and some educating of ourselves to understand—and that "it's a legal document, I'm sure they've got my best interests covered". They may and often do not, and knowing this may save you heartache and lots of money. Do you know what Workmanlike Manner means? This verbiage may be in your WI Offer to Purchase: (Workmanlike manner is…

Gas / Propane Leaks

Close friends of ours had a home inspection performed by yours truly not long ago. My wife called them yesterday to discuss a get together. During the conversation, she learned they had a leak from a propane tank that prompted a fire to the wood fence surrounding the tank. The family was home at the time and fortunately no one was hurt, and the damage did not extend to the 7-figure home. a leak from a propane tank prompted a fire to the wood fence…

8 Budget Friendly Home Improvement Ideas

Simple Home Improvements That Make a Big Difference You don’t need a major renovation to improve your home. Small upgrades can dramatically enhance appearance, functionality, and even value. Here are simple home improvement ideas that are affordable — and some are completely free. Upgrade Your Light Fixtures Replace outdated, inefficient light fixtures with modern, energy-efficient options. Today’s lighting choices are designed specifically for different spaces — from kitchens and living rooms to bedrooms and entryways. While some fixtures may cost more upfront, energy-efficient lighting can…