Barry Stone
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Homeowners association won't budge, so talk to a judgeJan 28, 2010 10:00 pm - Q. We own a townhouse and are trying to deal with the fools who run the homeowners association. Last month, we had a major roof leak that wiped out our master bedroo...
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Proper septic inspection would have discovered problemsJan 21, 2010 10:00 pm - Q. We bought our home about two years ago, and everyone said the septic system was OK. This was the first home we ever owned with a septic tank, so we didn't know any be...
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Why termite inspectors do repairs and home inspectors don'tJan 14, 2010 10:00 pm - Q. As a Realtor, I have wondered about the differing business practices of home inspectors and termite inspectors. Home inspectors, as a rule, never do repairs on the pr...
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Plumber, rightly or wrongly, blames home inspector for nondisclosureDec 26, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. We purchased a home a few months ago and had it inspected. At the time, everything seemed OK with the plumbing. But within a month, all the drains became clogged. The...
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War stories from a longtime home inspectorDec 19, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. My friend is a home inspector, and he sometimes tells me crazy stories about buyers, sellers and agents. I've been reading your column for years, and you've covered c...
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Builder's retirement can't be used to avoid liability for defectsNov 14, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. My home was built about 10 years ago. I've had trouble with it ever since, and the builder avoids all responsibility. From leaky windows to settlement cracks, it's be...
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Buyer unhappy with home inspectorNov 07, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. I just purchased a home and am disappointed with the home inspector I hired. The first time I used the air conditioner, water dripped from the bedroom ceiling. My con...
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Our water heater won't stop leakingOct 31, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. We have a 50-gallon water heater in our basement. It's only 7 years old, but it has always leaked from the drain pipe on the pressure relief valve. We've tried everyt...
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Building inspectors should enforce codes as 'minimum' standardOct 24, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. As a carpenter and contractor, I meet building inspectors who allow construction that is not built to code. When I asked one inspector about this, he said he has the ...
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Are sellers required to disclose completed repairs to buyers?Oct 17, 2009 11:00 pm - Q. My home was inspected about 8 months ago, but the buyer backed out of the deal. Since then, I've paid contractors to repair the defects that were found by the buyer's...