Barry Stone
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Homeowner gets shoddy work for a reasonFeb 24, 2011 12:00 am - Q. I hired a concrete contractor to replace the foundation on my 1907 house. I was responsible for engineering and permits but did not get either. He proceeded wit...
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Repairs on a foreclosed homeFeb 17, 2011 12:00 am - Q. I purchased a foreclosed home from a bank about four months ago. Since moving in, I've found many defects that were never disclosed. For example, the foundation h...
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Separate home inspections benefit both buyers and sellersFeb 03, 2011 12:00 am - By Barry Stone Q. I read an article in which you recommend pre-sale home inspections. You explained sellers can hire their own inspector before they put their proper...
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Home inspector often cannot see cracks inside furnaceJan 27, 2011 12:00 am - Q. We bought our home several months ago, and our home inspector found no specific problems with the furnace. He said it was old and should be serviced by a heating comp...
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House detective: Home inspection reportJan 19, 2011 10:00 pm - Q. When I bought my home, I hired a home inspector who was recommended by my real state agent. After the inspection, the report was sent to my agent, but no copy was...
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House detective: Remodeling job leads to asbestos fearsJan 12, 2011 10:00 pm - Q. We recently remodeled our bathroom and stripped the walls down to the framing. Then we learned from a neighbor that the drywall in our subdivision contains asbest...
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Converting gas fireplace to wood is not always possibleDec 23, 2010 5:00 am - Q. We have a gas log fireplace in our home and would like to have real wood fires. Would it be safe to remove the gas logs and burn real logs instead? A. Before mak...
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Home inspectors often can recommend a structural engineerDec 15, 2010 10:00 pm - Q. We have cracks on an interior wall in our basement, and they seem to be getting wider. I've tried to find a structural engineer who inspects houses, but the engin...
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Property manager blamed for dryrotDec 08, 2010 10:00 pm - Q. I am a property manager with a client who has a maintenance contract with a termite company. They noted dry rot two years in a row, but the reports go to the owne...
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Seller may be liable for undisclosed sewage backupsDec 01, 2010 10:00 pm - Q. I recently bought a condo apartment in a multistory building. After moving in, I learned that there have been three major sewage leaks in my unit in the past nine...