Barry Stone
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Buyer finds undisclosed electrical problemsAug 14, 2020 6:00 am - Q: I just purchased a home that was renovated two years ago, and city records show that the work was permitted. The people who sold the house to me had bought it after a...
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Fire safety with wood shake roofingAug 09, 2020 6:00 am - Q: In a past article, you cautioned readers against the use of wood shake roofing because of fire-safety issues. Haven't you ever heard of fire-retardant shakes and shin...
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Complaints against unresponsive homeowner associationsJul 25, 2020 11:00 pm - Q: I live in a condominium, and the homeowners association (HOA) has been unwilling to make any kind of repairs. The worst issue is drainage. Rain runoff for most of the...
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Inspection leads to property damage, medical billJul 19, 2020 6:00 am - Q: As a Realtor, I represent mostly sellers. Recently, a prospective buyer accompanied his home inspector into the attic and managed to fall through the ceiling, causing...
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Does "buyer beware" still apply?Jul 12, 2020 7:00 am - Q: In one of your articles, you said "buyer beware" is no longer the rule when buying a home. Our recent homebuying experience overrules that opinion. After closing escr...
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Smoke alarm requirements for landlordsJul 05, 2020 6:00 am - Q: As the owner of a 12-unit apartment building, I encourage my tenants to maintain the batteries in their smoke alarms. However, when tenants move out, I often find the...
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Two questions about shingle roofing problemsJun 28, 2020 6:00 am - Q: The home we are buying has two layers of shingle roofing. The seller assures us that the top layer is only a year old, but our home inspector says the new shingles we...
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Damage can occur when water pressure is too highJun 21, 2020 7:00 am - Q: I fail to understand how home inspectors come up with their findings. I mean, some of you guys are loose cannons with your opinions, and this can really mess up a rea...
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Gas furnace not sealed to the platformJun 14, 2020 6:00 am - Q: Before buying my home, I hired a home inspector. He said everything was OK with the forced air furnace. After closing escrow, I had the gas company turn on the servic...
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Why water heaters should be raised in some situationsJun 07, 2020 6:00 am - Q: We are now buying our first home and are having a dispute between two inspectors. Our home inspector says the water heater is not properly installed because it sits o...