Barry Stone
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Should home inspectors disclose asbestos?Nov 10, 2019 5:00 am - Q: When we bought our house, the home inspector said the heating ducts might be insulated with asbestos. He recommended testing by an asbestos specialist. The asbestos i...
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Sprinkler system could contaminate home's waterNov 03, 2019 5:00 am - Q. The home inspector who checked my house recommended anti-siphon valves for the lawn sprinkler system. This came as a surprise because the system works perfectly. Plea...
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Seller believes home inspections are unfairOct 27, 2019 6:00 am - Q. As a homebuyer, I can appreciate the obvious benefits of a home inspection. As a seller, however, there is something about the process that seems unfair. I just spent...
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Seller frustrated about radon gasOct 20, 2019 1:00 am - Q: Our home was recently found to contain unsafe levels of radon gas, and articles we've read about this radioactive hazard have us worried. The people who had offer...
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Laundry chutes can be dangerousOct 06, 2019 6:00 am - Q. My home was just inspected, and the report says the laundry chute is unsafe for small children. So, I checked with the local building department. They said the chute ...
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Realtor uncertain about home inspector referralsSep 29, 2019 6:00 am - Q. As a professional Realtor, disclosure of property defects is an essential part of my business. I don't ever want to be liable for problems that surface after the clos...
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Who should repair dryrot damage?Sep 22, 2019 6:00 am - Q. Before selling my home, I hired a termite inspector, as advised by my Realtor. No termites were found, but the inspector did find dry rot on the eaves. His cost estim...
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Air conditioner requires visible disconnect switchSep 15, 2019 6:00 am - Q. One problem I've noticed with home inspectors is they sometimes report defects that turn out not to be defective at all. Here's a case in point: An inspector cited my...
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Seller confused about lead-paint disclosure lawsSep 08, 2019 6:00 am - Q. I'm advertising my home "for sale by owner" and am concerned about all the disclosure laws. I know about disclosing normal building defects, such as damage, wear and ...
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Seller adamant about firewall requirementsSep 01, 2019 6:00 am - Q. My house was built in 1955, before firewalls were required in garages. The people who are buying it have asked me to upgrade the garage to comply with current fire sa...