About Your Home Inspector

What You Should Know about Heating Your Home with Oil

Juan Jimenez February 21, 2024 No Comments

Complete Guide to Home Heating Oil Juan Jimenez February 21st, 2024 Home Buying GuidesHVAC What is Heating Oil?Residential heating oil is essentially the same as diesel fuel at the gas…

How Much Does a Radon Mitigation System Cost in 2025

Juan Jimenez January 30, 2024 No Comments

How Much Does a Radon Mitigation System Cost in 2025 Juan Jimenez January 30th, 2024 Home Buying GuidesRadon Average Cost of a Radon Mitigation SystemThe average cost of a fully…

Identifying Asphalt Shingle Defects

Juan Jimenez August 28, 2023 No Comments

Identifying Asphalt Shingle Defects Juan Jimenez August 28th, 2023 Home MaintenanceRoofing Whether you have a new roof or an aging roof, regular inspections and maintenance extend its life. Plus, a…

Exposed Roof Nails – How They Impact Your New Roof

Juan Jimenez August 10, 2023 No Comments

Exposed Roof Nails – How They Impact Your New Roof Juan Jimenez August 10th, 2023 Home MaintenanceRoofing As a homeowner, you take pride in maintaining the safety and integrity of…

Slate Roof Guide – Pros, Cons, Costs and Lifespan

Juan Jimenez July 25, 2023 No Comments

Slate Roof Guide - Pros, Cons, Costs and Lifespan If you're looking at homes in downtown Richmond, you'll inevitably notice the beautiful slate roof tiles. But, if you're more familiar…

5 Mega Flaws with Your Home Inspector Marketing

Juan Jimenez July 13, 2023 No Comments

5 Mega Flaws in Your Home Inspector Marketing It's been a tough few years for home inspectors. First, there was covid and lockdowns. Then, as the lockdowns started lifting the…

Roll Roofing VS. Asphalt Shingles: Pros and Cons

Juan Jimenez April 12, 2023 No Comments

Rolled Roofing VS. Asphalt Shingles: Pros and Cons Are you considering roll roofing vs. asphalt shingles? Maybe the low cost of roll roofing caught your attention, but you're not sure…

Single-Ply Roofing Membranes

Juan Jimenez April 11, 2023 No Comments

Different Types of Single-Ply Roofing Membranes Low sloped roofs need different materials than steep roofs. For example, asphalt shingles on a low-sloped roof will leak. So, let's dive into single-ply…

Walk-Through Consultations Vs. Full Home Inspections

Juan Jimenez April 4, 2023 No Comments

Walk-through consultations are a new addition to the real estate industry. So, let's shed some light on home buyer walk-through consultations vs. full home inspections. Walk-Through Consultations Vs. Full Home…

What is Roof Flashing? – Code, Purpose, and Types

Juan Jimenez March 23, 2023 No Comments

What is Roof Flashing? – Code, Purpose, and Types Flashing isn’t a word most people associate with roofs. Instead, most people think of police lights or Bourbon Street during Mardis…

Rafters VS Roof Trusses: Complete Structural Guide

Juan Jimenez March 20, 2023 No Comments

Rafters And Roof Trusses: Complete Structural Guide When it comes to your roof/attic structure, there are two primary construction types: rafters and roof trusses. Knowing the difference between rafters and…

What is Roofing Felt?

Juan Jimenez March 9, 2023 No Comments

What is Roofing Felt? Juan Jimenez March 9th, 2023 Roofing When getting quotes for a new roof, there are many options to choose from. Material, color, and lifespan get a lot…

Can a Roof Have Two Layers of Shingles?

Juan Jimenez January 26, 2023 No Comments

Can a Roof Have Two Layers of Shingles? Juan Jimenez January 26th, 2023 Home MaintenanceRoofing Yes, a roof can have two layers of shingles. However, when adding a second layer…

3-Tab Shingles Vs. Laminated Shingles (Architectural)

Juan Jimenez January 19, 2023 No Comments

3-Tab Shingles Vs. Laminated Shingles (Architectural) Juan Jimenez January 19th, 2023 Home GuidesRoofing Roof replacement is about as fun as visiting the dentist: expensive, time-consuming, and necessary for the long-term…

Is Knob and Tube Wiring Really Dangerous?

Juan Jimenez December 7, 2022 No Comments

Is Knob and Tube Wiring Really Dangerous? Juan Jimenez December 7th, 2022 ElectricalHome Buying Guideshome upgrades Knob and tube wiring is an old wiring type found in older homes. Installed…

Why There is Mold in Your Crawl Space

Juan Jimenez December 1, 2022 No Comments

Why is there Mold in your Crawlspace? Juan Jimenez December 1st, 2022 crawlspaceindoor air qualitymold Crawlspaces are the dark, cavernous foundations of our homes. Although most homeowners refuse to spelunk…

What is a Plumbing Vent Pipe For?

Juan Jimenez November 30, 2022 No Comments

What is a Plumbing Vent Pipe For? Juan Jimenez November 30th, 2022 Home Maintenanceplumbing Have you ever looked at the roof of your home and wondered what the protruding pipes…

Aluminum Wiring – Complete Guide

Juan Jimenez November 14, 2022 No Comments

Aluminum Wiring:Complete Guide Juan Jimenez November 14th, 2022 ElectricalHome Buying Guideshome upgrades What is Aluminum Wiring?Aluminum wiring often refers to the single-strand solid wiring used in homes from the late…

Top 5 Roofing Materials in Virginia

Juan Jimenez October 18, 2022 No Comments

Top 5 Roofing Materials in Virginia Juan Jimenez October 18th, 2022 Home GuidesRoofing Replacing your roof sucks. It’s expensive, you don’t know which roofing contractor to call, and you don’t…

What is an Ice Dam

Juan Jimenez October 13, 2022 No Comments

What is an Ice Dam? Juan Jimenez October 13th, 2022 Home Maintenancehome upgradesinsulation If you have a leak in your house, and your roof surface is covered with snow, there…

What is a short Circuit?

Juan Jimenez September 29, 2022 No Comments

What is a Short Circuit? Juan Jimenez September 29th, 2022 ElectricalHome Maintenance The textbook definition of a short circuit is an unintended path for flowing electricity with little to no…

How to Sweep (Clean) Your Chimney

Juan Jimenez September 27, 2022 No Comments

How to Sweep (Clean)Your Chimney Juan Jimenez September 27th, 2022 chimney Woodstoves, fireplaces and chimneys, and heating equipment connected to chimneys cause 50,000 house fires a year. According to the…

What is the Purpose of a P-Trap?

Juan Jimenez September 5, 2022 No Comments

Juan Jimenez September 5th, 2022 plumbing What is the Purpose of a P-Trap? Many homeowners think that p-traps are for saving your wedding ring from going into the sewer system. However,…

Radon Home Test Kit

Juan Jimenez August 30, 2022 No Comments

Best Radon Test KitFor Homeowners Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer and most people have no idea what it is. Take a couple minutes to learn…

What Radon Levels Are Safe?

Juan Jimenez August 26, 2022 No Comments

What Radon Levels are Safe? Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and lung cancer deaths. Likewise, it's important for all homeowners to understand what radon is and…

How to Choose Replacement Windows

Juan Jimenez June 29, 2022 No Comments

How to Choose Replacement Windows Choosing replacement windows can be overwhelming. There are so many new windows to choose from. There are double hung, single hung casement windows and sliders.…

deck material calculators take out the guess work

Decking Material Calculator

Juan Jimenez June 9, 2022 No Comments

Free Decking Material Calculator Juan Jimenez June 9th, 2022 Home Guideshome upgrades This decking material calculator will help you calculate the number of boards, nails, and gallons of stain needed…

What is Polybutylene Piping

Juan Jimenez June 7, 2022 No Comments

Juan Jimenez June 7th, 2022 Home Buying Guidesplumbing What is Polybutylene Piping? Polybutylene piping was a plastic plumbing material made and installed from 1978 to the mid-1990s. Like many new…

DPOR Requires College Degree for Realtors

Juan Jimenez May 24, 2022 No Comments

Juan Jimenez May 24th, 2022 Realtor FocusedSatire DPOR Requires College Degree for Realtors DPOR Virginia (Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) will require real estate agents to have at…

Building a Deck To Code

Juan Jimenez May 17, 2022 No Comments

Building a Deck to Code Decks are an icon of outdoor living for many Americans. Sadly, the CPSC estimates that over 6000 people are injured every year due to failures…

How to Upgrade Your Bathroom Fan & CFM Calculator

Juan Jimenez April 11, 2022 No Comments

How to Upgrade Your Bathroom Fan & CFM Calculator The bathroom vent fan is an underrated and under appreciated component in your home. Although lovingly nicknamed the “fart fan”, it…

What is Kick Out Flashing?

Juan Jimenez April 6, 2022 No Comments

Juan Jimenez April 6th, 2022 Roofing What is Kick-out Flashing? One of the most common questions we get from homebuyers, Realtors, and even roofers is "what is kick out flashing?"…

Custom Spring Maintenance Checklists

Juan Jimenez April 1, 2022 No Comments

Juan Jimenez April 1st, 2022 Home MaintenanceRealtor Focused Custom Spring Home Maintenance Checklists We’ve built our entire business by providing value and tools for Realtors and buyers. We know the…

Best Radon Monitor for Home Inspectors (2025)

Juan Jimenez March 29, 2022 No Comments

Best Radon Monitor for Home Inspectors (2025) We’ve got the goods if you want the best radon monitor for home inspectors.The EPA recommends all homebuyers test for Radon during a…

What Does Asbestos Look Like?

Juan Jimenez March 24, 2022 No Comments

What Does Asbestos Look Like? As a home inspector, I often get asked what does asbestos look like. The reality is that asbestos is a mineral that is mined. It…

Asbestos in Popcorn Ceilings

Juan Jimenez March 11, 2022 No Comments

Everything You Need to Know about Asbestos in Popcorn Ceilings Although these ceiling treatments were the bees knees for many years, we know now that there could be asbestos in…

What is Vermiculite Insulation?

Juan Jimenez February 16, 2022 No Comments

Juan Jimenez February 16th, 2022 asbestosindoor air qualityinsulation What Is Vermiculite Insulation? Vermiculite insulation looks like pebbles, or gravel. As an insulation material, contractors poured into attic floors, and sometimes…

Ultimate Winter Home Maintenance Checklist

Juan Jimenez January 30, 2022 No Comments

Ultimate Winter Home Maintenance Checklist The cold weather of the winter months brings special challenges to your home. Thats why your favorite home inspector has written this ultimate winter home maintenance checklist.Everyone…

How to Get Through a Tough Home Inspection

Juan Jimenez January 22, 2022 No Comments

How to Get Through a Tough Home Inspection Home Inspections Can be a Big Ol’ Pain in the ButtI want to help you get through your next tough home inspection.…

Are Fuse Panels Safe?

Juan Jimenez January 11, 2022 No Comments

Juan Jimenez January 11th, 2022 Electrical Are Fuse Panels Safe? If you’re into buying or selling older homes here in the Richmond area, it is only a matter of time…

How Many CO Detectors Should You Have?

Juan Jimenez December 8, 2021 No Comments

How Many CO Detectors Should You Have? The CDC reports that approximately 450 people every year from accidental CO poisoning. Another 50,000 people require emergency medical treatment every year from…

Best Black Friday Deals For Home Inspectors

Juan Jimenez November 25, 2021 No Comments

Juan Jimenez November 25th, 2021 home inspection businessHome inspector marketing Best Black Friday Deals For Home Inspectors We’ve compiled the best Black Friday deals for home inspectors in one place. …

Do Fireplaces Save Money?

Juan Jimenez November 16, 2021 No Comments

Do Fireplaces Save Money? Every time I perform a home inspection and look up the chimney, I get the same questions. Can the fireplace heat the home? Or do fireplaces…

Can You Save Money by Closing HVAC Vents?

Juan Jimenez November 2, 2021 No Comments

Can You Save Money By Closing HVAC Vents? If you want save money on your energy bills this winter, get a hoodie. JK. In reality, turning down the thermostat is…

Should You Replace Cast Iron Pipes?

Juan Jimenez November 1, 2021 No Comments

Should You Replace Cast Iron Pipes? Buying a home that is 45 years or older means there is a good chance that it has cast iron drain pipes. Although cast…

How to Clean Moss off Roof – The Right Way

Juan Jimenez October 14, 2021 No Comments

How to Clean Moss off Your Roof- The Right Way The best way to clean moss growth off your roof surface is to softly broom brush looser moss, leaves, tree…

What is a Split Bus Panel?

Juan Jimenez October 9, 2021 No Comments

What is a Split Bus Panel As a home inspector, one of the most common mistakes I hear is that the main panel needs a main breaker. Indeed, the National…

Guardrails With a Ladder Effect are Up to Code

Juan Jimenez October 4, 2021 No Comments

Guardrails with a Ladder Effect are up to Code The worst thing that can happen during a home inspection is that the home inspector misses something. The second worst thing…

Box Fill Calculations for Home Inspectors

Juan Jimenez October 3, 2021 No Comments

Box Fill Rating Calculations for Home Inspectors Determining if an electrical box has too many conductors by doing box fill calculations is outside the scope of practice for a home…

What are Tandem Breakers

Juan Jimenez October 3, 2021 No Comments

What are Tandem Breakers? What are tandem breakers? Tandem circuit breakers are particular kinds of circuit breakers that take up the size of one standard breaker, but allow the installation…

Ultimate Fall Home Maintenance Checklist

Juan Jimenez September 27, 2021 No Comments

Ultimate Fall Home Maintenance Checklist It’s my favorite time of the year – hoodie season! Many people also call it Fall, or Autumn. While this time of year is most…

Bat Proofing in the Fall

Juan Jimenez September 14, 2021 No Comments

Bat Proofing in the Fall Early fall is the best season for bat-proofing your home as the maternity colonies have finished raising their young. So now, the babies are old enough…

Best Ladder For Homeowners – 2025

Juan Jimenez September 13, 2021 No Comments

Best Ladders for Homeowners - 2025 I have an obsession with ladders. Although home inspectors are not required to have, carry, or use ladders, I own about 20 ladders between…

5 Fascinating Facts about knob and Tube Wiring

Juan Jimenez September 1, 2021 No Comments

5 Fascinating Facts About Knob and Tube Wiring I am totally a house geek. In fact, I own several historic code books, and I enjoy internet sleuthing all things houses.…

NAR Identifies #1 Real Estate Deal Killer

Juan Jimenez August 18, 2021 No Comments

NAR Identifies #1 Real Estate Deal Killer Real Estate Deal Killing IndexEvery quarter, NAR conducts a flash survey and examines local market reports to calculate its Deal Killing Index. The Deal Killing Index places a…

Hurricane Preparation Tips

Juan Jimenez August 16, 2021 No Comments

Hurricane Preparation Tips From a Home Inspector These hurricane preparation tips are based on my experience as a Richmond, home inspector. Obviously, the advice might be slightly different in Florida,…

Can Home Inspectors Turn on Breakers?

Juan Jimenez August 15, 2021 No Comments

Can Home Inspectors Turn on Breakers Can home inspectors turn on breakers? The simple answer is yes. There is nothing prohibiting home inspectors from turning on breakers, or turning on water…

How to Upgrade Two-Prong Outlets – The Right Way

Juan Jimenez August 12, 2021 No Comments

How to Upgrade Two-Prong Outlets - The Right Way If your older home doesn’t have three-prong outlets, you’ll want to know how to upgrade two-prong outlets – the right way.Before 1947,…

How to Identify Powderpost Beetles

Juan Jimenez August 9, 2021 No Comments

How to Identify Powderpost Beetles I am constantly stressing the importance of regularly checking your crawlspace for problems. As the old adage goes, an ounce of prevention is better (and…

Final Walk Through Checklist

Juan Jimenez August 5, 2021 No Comments

Interactive Final Walkthrough Checklist Get added peace of mind by using our interactive final walkthrough checklist Juan Jimenez August 5th, 2021 Home Buying GuidesRealtor Focused Our interactive final walkthrough checklist…

Why is There Ice on Your AC?

Juan Jimenez July 31, 2021 No Comments

Why is there Ice on Your AC? Why is there ice on your air conditioner? It’s simple—ice forms on the ac components when the refrigerant inside the AC is below…

Can Home Inspectors Offer to Make Repairs?

Juan Jimenez July 29, 2021 No Comments

Can Home Inspectors Offer to Make Repairs? Whether or not home inspectors can offer to make repairs is a regular conversation in the industry. It is a common misconception amongst…

What is the R-Value of Cellulose Insulation?

Juan Jimenez July 26, 2021 No Comments

What is the R-Value of Cellulose Insulation? Quick FactsThe R-value of loose-fill cellulose insulation is approximately 3.5 per inch of thickness.For example, 12 inches of insulation material would give you…

Odor Removal In Richmond VA

Juan Jimenez July 22, 2021 No Comments

Odor Removal and Control in Richmond If you are looking for odor removal services in the Richmond area, and Central Virginia area, Chris Gilson, from Re-Freshen is the only man you need…

How Long Does a Home Inspection Take?

Juan Jimenez July 20, 2021 No Comments

How Long Does a Home Inspection Take? How long SHOULD a Home Inspection Take? Juan Jimenez July 20th, 2021 Chesterfield home inspectorHome Buying Guides Quick FactsOn average, a home inspection…

Home Inspection Marketing Tips for Guaranteed Growth

Juan Jimenez July 18, 2021 No Comments

3 Home Inspection Marketing Tips for Guaranteed Growth There are plenty of ways to skin a cat. These strategies aren't for everyone and they aren't necessarily fun or popular. However,…

Should You Get Your Ducts Cleaned?

Juan Jimenez July 17, 2021 No Comments

Should You Get Your Ducts Cleaned? Homeowners get bombarded with ads and deals about home services. It can be overwhelming and confusing about which services are legit. So, let's tackle…

The Best Thermal Camera For Home Inspectors (2025)

Juan Jimenez July 15, 2021 No Comments

The Best Thermal Camera For Home Inspectors (2025) Quick FactsThe best thermal camera for a home inspectors in 2025 is hands down the SeekShot pro.If you want to take my…

25 Crucial Summer Home Maintenance Tasks

Juan Jimenez July 15, 2021 No Comments

Summer Home Maintenance Tasks Neglect is the home’s worst enemy. Regular maintenance is the key to extending the life expectancy of your home’s major system and components and preventing costly…

Notching Joists Based on 2024 IRC Code

Juan Jimenez July 14, 2021 No Comments

Notching Joists Based on 2024 IRC Code Notching joists is a regular and safe part of home building as long as its up to code.DIY repairs and remodeling are more…

How to Become a Home Inspector in Virginia – Complete Guide

Juan Jimenez July 11, 2021 No Comments

How to Become a LicensedHome Inspector In Virginia Inspections have been calling you and you're wondering how to become a home inspector in Virginia. Well, you have to come to…

How to Fix Sagging Gutters – The Right Way

Juan Jimenez July 10, 2021 No Comments

How to Fix Sagging Gutters-The Right Way A gutter system, aka rain gutters, is a super important home system. When it rains, your roof's large surface area collects a lot…

Should You Install a Dehumidifier in Your Crawlspace?

Juan Jimenez July 9, 2021 No Comments

Should You Install a Dehumidifier in Your Crawlspace? There’s a good chance you’ve never been in your crawlspace. I don't blame you though. No one likes tight spaces, musty odors,…

How to Unclog a Tub and Replace the Drain

Juan Jimenez July 3, 2021 No Comments

How to Unclog Your Tub and Replace the Tub Drain The drain pipes are your home are designed for water, bodily waste, and some grinded organic food scraps. But we…

Is an AC Condensate Trap Required?

Juan Jimenez June 27, 2021 No Comments

Is an AC Condensate Trap Required? It's hot. Some parts of the country are reaching record-breaking temperatures right now. Although everyone is trying to stay cool, many people overlook making…

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