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Time to Read: 5 Minutes or Less

 

Routinely, agents confess how little they know about the physical product they sell…(the house). At times, they are embarrassed that they can’t answer client’s questions regarding the physical aspects of the house.

Each publication, you will find helpful comments and pictures to help build your knowledge base. This information is not to make you a home or termite inspector. It’s to increase your core knowledge to make you even more valuable to your client.

What is this???

 

We found this mounted on the wall in the basement of a Bay Area home.    What is it?

Is it a built in vacuum system?

 

Is it a furnace?

 

Is it an Air Conditioner?

 

How about a water heater?

 

 

Yes....its a water heater.  Its an "on demand" water heater that only heats the water when you ask for it.  They are very efficient and cost less to operate because they only heat the water when you "ask for it".  I saw my first On Demand water heater in the mid 1990's.  I'm surprised that they still really haven't caught on. 

OK....here's a test.  When were the first production "On Demand" water heaters installed?

20 years ago?

40 years ago?

Over 100 years ago?

Click on your closest estimate.  Aahh come on!!  You will like this.  :-)  You will see a picture of the most unusual water heater you've ever seen. 

 

 

BEWARE......"Be Aware" of this construction method

 

NBI's Inspectors know how homes "go together"....but more importantly, they know how they "fall apart".

 

Routinely, we will be presenting different architectural styles of homes that have characteristic design and/or construction flaws.  Rather than BEWARE, we recommend you simply "be aware" of the potential flaws.  Knowing of the potential problems will help prepare your client for what NBI may find during our inspections. 

 

Problem homes are not always old.   Here is an example of home construction method that we can nearly guarantee the same findings. 

 

These homes are constructed with pressed board siding and wood trim around every opening. 

 

  

 

 

 

If these homes are more than 4 years old, it's nearly inevitable that we will find fungus damage to the wood trim.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

To cut costs, the builders use regular pine or Douglas fir boards to trim out all of the windows and doors.  At nearly every joint, we will find damage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each year, more and more trim pieces will become damaged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keeping the joints perfectly sealed will "prolong" the life of the trim boards, but I've never seen it last.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exposed rafter tails are rotted the same way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Window after window....door after door we find damage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If this trim is not replaced, the damage continues to the framing members "inside" the walls.  The only long term correction is to remove ALL of the trim and replace it with redwood, cedar, or pressure treated material.  On a home of this size, the replacement could cost $4000 - $5000. 

 

Don't shy away from these homes....just be aware of their potential problems.   Your clients will appreciate your knowledge.


(Snippets of life from NBI)

Helpful Advice from Mom!

The son is buying a home in the Bay Area.  He was concerned about the hardwood kitchen floor.

Helpful Mom said …”Son, that is 50 year old solid oak flooring.  If you had to buy that today you couldn’t afford it. “…   Purchase price of the home….$1,098,000.00. 

(Mom....I'll bet he could.)

To the Top

NBI has only two things to sell, unequalled construction knowledge and “TIME”. We understand that we will never be able to sell “TOMORROW” again. NBI would rather give your client a GIANT discount for acting fast, than not filling an open time slot.

By ordering a “Last Minute Home and Termite Inspection”, your client could save up to $300.

Our normal rates are: (Based upon homes under 2000 sq. ft.)

Home Inspection: $375.00
Termite Inspection: $210.00
Total:.. $585.00

If you fill a combination (home and termite) inspection for the day following your call; your client will have to pay only $285.00! A $300 SAVINGS!

(Example: If you call NBI on Monday and you are able to fill an open time slot we have on Tuesday, you will receive up to a $300 discount.)

If you fill one of our time slots 2 days from your call, your client will have to pay only $385.00! A $200 SAVINGS!

If you fill one of our time slots 3 days from your call, your client will only have to pay $485.00! A $100 SAVINGS!

(Note: Our condominium inspection prices are $240, $310, and $380 respectively.)

Call our office at (800) Go-NBI-NOW (800) 466-2466 for complete details. For additional information about our company, please visits us at www.goNBI.com.

The Perfect Husband ...


Several men are in the locker room of a golf club.


A cell phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands-free
speaker function and begins to talk.


Everyone else in the room stops to listen.

 MAN: "Hello"

 WOMAN: "Honey, it's me. Are you at the club?"


 MAN: "Yes"


 WOMAN: "I am at the mall now and found this beautiful leather coat.
It's only $1,000. Is it OK if I buy it?"

 MAN: "Sure, ..go ahead if you like it that much."


 WOMAN: "I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw the
new 2004 models. I saw one I really liked."

 MAN: "How much?"

 WOMAN: "$80,000"
MAN: "OK, but for that price I want it with all the options."

 WOMAN: "Great! Oh, and one more thing....the house we wanted
last year is back on the market. They're asking $950,000."

 MAN: "Well, then go ahead and give them an offer, but just offer
$900,000."

 WOMAN: "OK. I'll see you later!    I love you!"

 MAN: "Bye, love you, too."

 The man hangs up. The other men in the locker room are looking
at him in astonishment.

 Then he asks: "Anyone know who this phone belongs to?"

 

 

Like NBI's helpful hints? Send us the email addresses of fellow agents that could benefit from these hints. Send to, Answerman@goNBI.com.

HAVE QUESTIONS or concerns regarding a potential home problem, ask NBI's AnswerMan at Answerman@goNBI.com.