Barry Stone
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Building permit is often required when replacing a water heaterJan 31, 2009 10:00 pm - Q. When we purchased our house, the home inspector found no problems with the water heater. After we moved in, the gas company came out to light the pilot. Instead of li...
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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...