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Articles filed under Stone, Barry

Do new homes really need a home inspection?

By Barry Stone
Jun 4, 2023 7:00 AM - Q: You often recommend home inspections for newly built homes, but in my case, this has proved to be unnecessary. Since buying my home about six months ago, I've had two problems, and the builder repaired them immediately. In another six months, my warranty will expire. What reasons, if any, can you give for having an inspection during that time?
The home inspector has no clothes

By Barry Stone
May 28, 2023 7:00 AM - Q: Last year, we purchased a 1947 home. Since then, we've noticed a lot of new cracks in the plaster walls and some unevenness of the floors. Before buying the house, we had a home inspection, but our inspector did not check the foundation crawl space. He said he'd forgotten to bring his overalls and would have to forego that part of the inspection.
Standards for legal basement bedrooms

By Barry Stone
May 21, 2023 7:00 AM - Q: As a Realtor, I sell a lot of older homes, some of which have portions of basements that were converted to bedrooms. In many of these, the rooms do not comply as legal bedrooms because the windows are too high for fire escape.
Contractors often blindly remove asbestos

By Barry Stone
May 14, 2023 6:00 AM - Q: In one of your columns, you stressed the importance of testing for asbestos before removing some types of building materials in older homes. In particular, you mentioned "cottage cheese" ceilings and vinyl flooring.
Home inspector ignores known fire hazard

By Barry Stone
May 7, 2023 6:00 AM - Q: When I bought my house, the home inspector reported no problems with the main electrical panel. After moving in, my insurance company requested a photograph of the panel. I sent the photo, and they replied with a cancellation notice, stating that Federal Pacific breaker panels are fire hazards and must be replaced.
Growth, change and liability in inspection business

Apr 30, 2023 6:00 AM - Q: As an insurance agent for more than 40 years, I've watched with interest the rapid growth of the home inspection business. Back in the 1980s, I didn't know what home inspections were. Today they seem to be center stage in every home purchase.
No excuse for ground-level roof inspections

By Barry Stone
Apr 23, 2023 7:00 AM - Q: I've got two complaints against home inspectors. The last two inspectors I hired inspected the roofs from the ground only, and neither reported any defects. That's problem No. 1. I have also found home inspectors won't admit to errors made during their inspections.
Heavy snow hinders home inspection

By Barry Stone
Apr 16, 2023 6:00 AM - Q: This is not a question, but a comment. I met a home inspector in Montana. He told me he loved doing home inspections in the winter because exterior problems were often covered by snow, and he could just check the "unknown" box and avoid any responsibility or recourse.
Builder makes excuses for squeaky floors

By Barry Stone
Apr 9, 2023 6:00 AM - Q: Floors that squeak and groan. That's what we've got in our newly built home. We've asked the builder to do something about this, but he says: "It's normal."
Why it is difficult for new home inspectors to gain experience

By Barry Stone
Apr 2, 2023 6:00 AM - Q: Your column often advises people to find the most experienced home inspector possible. That's all well and good, except for those of us who are just starting out in the inspection business. How do we get the experience we need if no one will hire us because we are not yet experienced?

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