Barry Stone
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Homebuyers discover unpermitted additionJun 13, 2014 12:01 am - Q. When we bought our home, we knew that the bonus room was an addition, but the sellers never disclosed that it was not approved by the building department. Recently, w...
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Sellers worried about lack of permitsJun 05, 2014 11:00 pm - Q. We are in the process of trying to sell our home and are concerned about the various improvements we have done over the years without obtaining building permits. For ...
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New home inspector trying to get startedMay 30, 2014 12:01 am - Q. I am a new home inspector and am trying to break into the business. Some agents don't want to recommend me to their buyers because I don't have much experience. Other...
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Leaky basement was masked by fresh paintMay 23, 2014 12:01 am - Q. We bought our home about a year ago, and no one disclosed the water seepage in the basement. The concrete walls were freshly painted when we were in escrow, but now t...
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Sinks, tub often drain to separate leach fieldMay 16, 2014 12:01 am - Q. We bought our home a few months ago and discovered septic problems as soon as we moved in. The septic tank was replaced less than a year ago, but there is an open pip...
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Deal fairly with unpermitted dwellingsMay 09, 2014 12:01 am - Q. In a recent article, you gave some advice that showed a lack of professional ethics. Someone wrote to you about an unpermitted guesthouse in their backyard. The build...
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Overreaching advice from home inspectorMay 02, 2014 12:01 am - Q. I am selling my home, and the buyer's home inspector recommended replacing the furnace and water heater because of their age. Both are 20 years old and in good workin...
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Inspector's repeat customer requires second look at same houseApr 25, 2014 12:01 am - Q. I've been a home inspector for about five years. One of the homes I inspected three years ago is now being resold, and the buyers want me to do the inspection. The se...
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Buyers experience substandard repairsApr 11, 2014 12:01 am - Q. When we bought our house, our home inspector found a list of defects, and we submitted a request for repairs to the sellers. The items to be replaced were leaking dua...
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Debate over bedroom closets continuesMar 28, 2014 12:01 am - Q. In a recent article, you stated a closet is not required in a bedroom. This was incorrect. As an ex-chief appraiser for FHA, any bedroom without a closet is not consi...