Barry Stone
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Home inspector goes to small claims courtJan 15, 2015 11:01 pm - Q. I've been a home inspector for about two years, so I'm still learning. Unfortunately, I just learned a very hard lesson after doing a free walk-through inspection as ...
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Specialists needed to identify, remove asbestos from atticJan 08, 2015 11:01 pm - Q. I purchased my home about seven years ago, and my home inspector said nothing about asbestos in the attic. Recently, I decided to add more insulation and was told the...
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Unexpected moisture problem under houseDec 25, 2014 11:01 pm - Q. My house is built on a raised foundation and has a moisture problem under the floor. I first noticed this when the flooring began to warp and to change color. So I cr...
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Who is liable for undisclosed septic problem?Dec 18, 2014 11:01 pm - Q. Two days after we moved into our home, the septic system backed up into the tub and toilet. This was a big surprise because the septic had been inspected and approved...
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Understanding GFCI outletsDec 11, 2014 11:01 pm - Q. We just bought an old house, built in the 1950s, so the electrical outlets are not grounded. We'd like to add GFCI outlets near the bathroom and kitchen sinks for sho...
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In Illinois, a buyer's agent represents the buyerDec 04, 2014 11:01 pm - Readers: In a recent column, I answered a question from a Washington, D.C., real estate attorney. A number of real estate agents and attorneys have written to express di...
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Undisclosed water intrusion in additionNov 27, 2014 11:01 pm - Q. Our house has a three-room addition that was built without a permit, according to the sellers' disclosure statement. We hired a home inspector before we bought the pr...
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Furnace recall overlooked by home inspectorNov 20, 2014 11:01 pm - Q. When we bought our home, our inspector said nothing about the furnace, except that it "appears functional." Recently, we had it serviced by a contractor who said it i...
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Pinhole leaks common in copper water pipesNov 13, 2014 11:01 pm - Q. In the past year I've had three pinhole leaks in my copper water pipes. My insurance company has refused to pay any more claims for damage caused by leaks, and the co...
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Home inspector didn't disclose leaky roofNov 06, 2014 10:00 pm - Q. Before I bought my house, several friends said, "Don't buy a place with a flat roof. You'll have leaks." But I didn't listen. I figured that a home inspector would le...