swilson, Author at Wil-Do Home Inspections

02May 2020 by swilson

8 things home inspectors HATE

Uncategorized

8 things home inspectors HATE. If you want to get on the home inspectors good side, you can help him(or her) avoid running into these situations. 1. "Land Mines" in the backyard. We always have our eyes peeled to be on the lookout so we don't step in it, but when you're also trying to pay attention to the outside of the house, it happens. Sometimes we don't realize it until we climb and track in on our ladder when accessing roof! 2. Baby proofing on cabinets and receptacles. I have these at my house too for my little one, but these slow us down. And every now and then I'll run into a cupboard lock that is stubborn that is really tricky to get open. 3. Hoarders…

24Mar 2020 by swilson

Cottage Check in Traverse City Area

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Cottage Check in the Traverse City Area Stuck where you are and wondering what's going on with your vacation home? I can help! This is "essential!" Who knew we would ever face such an epidemic like this in our country. It has caught so many of guard, myself included. I am a local home inspector that offers home inspections, radon testing, water testing, and septic inspections based out of Leelanau County. I am a certified home inspector, carry general liability and E&O insurance, and travel in a company vehicle. The cottage check will include an exterior and interior walk around of the property, confirming HVAC system is working and on, ensuring no water leaks are present, and any other items that you may be concerned with. I will deliver…

10Mar 2020 by swilson

10 Things to do before you sell your house

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10 Easy things to do before you sell your house Brand new or 50 years old, no house is perfect. During a home inspection a lot of different items reported on. Many times, they are minor suggestions due to deferred maintenance. And the less that's in the report, the better it looks! We've put together a list of 10 items that aren't too costly, but should definitely be considered before you plan on selling your house. 1.Install/replace any light bulbs Does that outside light work or doesn't it? I've seen as many as 15-20 lights bulbs burned out in a house, leaving a potential buyer wondering if there is something more to it than just bulbs. 2. Replace furnace filter/tune up An annual service to your furnace will keep in…

01Jan 2020 by swilson

Do I need a home inspection?

Community, Home Buyer Tips

Do I need a home inspection? The market is red hot and buyers are finding themselves fighting with each other the day the listing appears. You may be tempted to put your offer in without a home inspection contingency to get a leg up on other buyers' offers, but this is the worst thing you could do. You wouldn't buy a used car without driving it first(or at least you shouldn't), so when you're making most likely the biggest purchase of your life, please don't skip the home inspection. A home inspection is a non-invasive assessment of each system of the home. So, we can't see behind the walls, but it is our job to put the house to the test, and inspect every accessible area of the home.…

03Dec 2018 by swilson

New house | Should I get a home inspection?

Community, Home Buyer Tips

New House | Should I get a home inspection? One of the frequently asked questions I get from home buyers is " It's a new house, do I really need a home inspection?" And my answer is always, "yes!" I inspected a new house this past week that the builder just finished and put on the market through a realtor. The house was beautiful, great curb appeal, and the right amount of details inside. The buyer called me to have it inspected stating that his last new house he purchased several years earlier, he didn't have inspected and wished he did. Typically, the list of defects for a new home is going to be pretty minimal. A loose faucet, maybe a torn screen, small items that didn't get fully installed,…

18Aug 2018 by swilson

Home Seller Tips – Receptacle tester

Home Owner Tips

Home Seller Tips - Receptacle tester If you've ever sold a home before or purchased one and followed around the home inspector, you may have seen them with one of these handy gadgets. A receptacle tester. One of the most basic and inexpensive tools a home inspector carries, but also the most used. When I inspect a home, I try to test every accessible or visible receptacle I find with one of these. This will tell me if that specific receptacle has been correctly wired. We have a lot of older home here in Northern Michigan, and a lot of DIYers that may or may not be proficient in their electrical work. It's pretty common to find receptacles with open grounds(not hooked up or many times no ground present), open…

08Aug 2018 by swilson

Radon Testing | Traverse City, MI

Community, Home Buyer Tips, Home Owner Tips

Radon Testing in Traverse City, MI Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that is a result of decaying uranium. It can transfer from the soil into your home regardless of your foundation type; slab, basement, crawl. And is only second, behind smoking as being a leading cause of lung cancer. It can find it's way through cracks or openings in the foundation, floor/wall joints, exposed soils ( sump pit or crawl space), even through your well water. It is estimated that 12 percent of homes in Michigan have elevated Radon levels of 4 pCi/l (measured in picocuries per liter). The good news is that if your home does have elevated levels, a Radon mitigation system can be installed to lower them to safe levels, or almost completely eliminate them. To put…

05Apr 2018 by swilson

Water quality testing

Clients, Community, Home Buyer Tips

Water quality testing Just as important as a home inspection is testing the quality of your water. Sometime your lender may even require you have this done, depending on the type of loan you may be using. During your inspection we can pull water samples for testing at a local lab. Some of the more common things we test for are: Bacteria (coliform and e. coli), Nitrates, Lead, Copper However, there are many different tests we can pull water samples for. When booking your home inspection, please let us know ahead of time which tests you would like us to take a sample of. Prices will vary for each test. Feel free to give us a call or email, and we will be more than happy to provide you…

26Jan 2018 by swilson

Vacation Rental Safety Inspections

Community, Home Owner Tips

Vacation Rental Safety Inspections We are so blessed to live in such a beautiful place that people all over the state and all over the country want to visit here. The trend has been increasing more and more that vacationers are renting homes vs. staying in hotels. Occasionally, these rental properties change hands and are sold, and when they do, the purchase typically involves a home inspection. That's where I come in! This past summer I was called to inspect a Glen Arbor lakefront home that was an active vacation rental through a popular vacation rental company. The purchaser planned on continuing to rent the property, along with sneaking in a few weekends himself. This was a very nice home that sat almost right on top of Glen Lake, with…

04Dec 2017 by swilson

Preparing For A Home Inspection

Clients, Home Inspection Q/A

What are some of the more common defects found during a home inspection? Many times when defects in a home are found and reported on, the home owner is unaware those problems existed. The list below may help you in preparing for a home inspection and any defects found: Bathroom exhaust fans in attic: On those cold Northern Michigan mornings, everyone loves a hot shower. So, you crank up the heat, turn on the exhaust fan, and in you go. But where is all that hot, humid air going? It's supposed to be vented outside of the home, but you'd be surprised how many I see vented straight into the attic space. This is a big no-no, and can lead to mold growth on your rafters or roof sheathing.…