Barry Stone
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Disconnected dryer vent can create dangerous conditionJan 24, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. Our laundry is located on the second floor, directly adjacent to the bathroom. Whenever I run the dryer, the bathroom becomes very humid if the door is shut. I've...
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Flood event won't necessarily lead to lingering mold problemJan 17, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. Construction of our new home was recently completed, but four days before the closing, vandals broke into the house. They stopped up all of the drains and turned ...
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Apartment managers should prevent mold from becoming a liabilityJan 10, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. I recently had a flood problem in one of the apartments that I manage. The unit was vacant, and several weeks passed before the moisture condition was addressed. Now ...
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Realtors are often taught a narrow view of disclosure ethicsDec 27, 2008 10:00 pm - Q. As a real estate instructor, I teach many programs on ethics and disclosure to agents and people preparing to become agents. These same subjects are often addressed i...
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Qualified inspector should be well versed in water heatersDec 19, 2008 10:00 pm - Q. Recently our water heater began to leak, so we filed a claim on our home warranty policy. When the warranty company's plumber looked at the water heater, he found a l...
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Frozen pipes, leaks damage more homes than firesDec 12, 2008 10:00 pm - Q. I've heard of a device that automatically turns off your water main if there is a leak in your home. What can you tell me about this device? Is it really worthwhile? ...
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Comparing contractors to home inspectors is like apples and orangesDec 06, 2008 10:00 pm - Q. We're selling our home, and the buyer wants his brother, a contractor, to do the inspection, instead of hiring an actual home inspector. We've never heard of this...
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Insurance company shortchanges homeownersNov 28, 2008 10:00 pm - Q. Last winter, we had a house fire. The burn damage inside was relatively small, but the smoke damage was extreme. It was so bad that we had to move out for several mon...
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Inspector should never dismiss evidence of water damageNov 22, 2008 10:00 pm - Q. We recently purchased a home and hired a home inspector to find all the defects. During the inspection, I noticed that the wallpaper in the master bedroom was dis...
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Inspectors rarely predict life of water heaterNov 14, 2008 10:00 pm - Q. We just closed escrow on a home, and the day we moved in we found a flooded basement because the water heater had failed. But four weeks ago, our home inspector said ...