Barry Stone
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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 ...
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Buyers of two-flat unit make outrageous demand of neighborOct 31, 2008 11:00 pm - Q. My friend owns a downstairs flat in a two-story building. The new owners of the upstairs flat recently moved in and noticed a plumbing leak on the outside of the buil...
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Copper sulfate will remove roots from your septic systemOct 17, 2008 11:00 pm - Q. We moved into our home about three months ago, and this week we had a professional inspection of the septic system. The septic contractor found a large mass of tree r...
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Disclosure statements are no substitute for a proper inspectionOct 11, 2008 11:00 pm - Q. I recently made a purchase offer on a house. The seller's disclosure statement listed no defects, but the offer was contingent on a clean home inspection report. ...