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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.

 

 

Are these wood burning stoves properly installed?

 

    

 

     

 

YES?????     NO????    Maybe????    How can you tell?   

 

 

The accurate answer is "None of us know for sure".  Only the manufacture knows exactly the clearance requirements between their wood burning stove and combustibles.  On the newer models of stoves, there will be a small metal tag at the back of the unit that tells you how close it can be placed to the wall; however, we seldom are able to find them.   By appearances, I would say that all of these stoves have been placed too close to the wall.

 

Here are some HARD facts that you can work with:

 

1.  All wood burning fireplaces (including stoves) are required to have a 16" wide hearth in front of the door or firebox.  (The stove above does not meet that requirement.  This installation does create a potential fire hazard and should be corrected.)

 

2.  Non-rated fireplaces (similar to the one above) typically require 18" between the stove and combustible material.  Combustible material is considered the framing member inside the wall.

 

3.  The distance requirements are NOT reduced with the installation of brick or stone on the wall.  The measurement is a straight line from the stove wall to the wood framing member inside the wall.  The "exception" to that rule is if you build your masonry wall away from the wall leaving at least a 1" air gap.  Then you are required to have openings at the bottom of the wall and at the top of the wall to allow the heated air to escape.  Constructing this wall will typically allow you to reduce your distance requirements by 50%. 

 

When in doubt....."Call it".   Simply inform your client that you don't think the stove meets current safety requirements.  The client can then decide his course of action. 

 

 

 

 

*  Is a further inspection "really" necessary?

 

Don't you hate it when that termite inspector recommends a further inspection.  Are they really necessary?

 

Its important to understand that the California Structural Pest Control Board "requires" a recommendation for a further inspection (1) into inaccessible areas that are typically accessible (2) into inaccessible areas that commonly have damage and (3) into areas where damage is suspected.  If the pest control inspector doesn't make that recommend, he could be held responsible for any damage that is later found. 

 

Probably the most frequent challenge NBI has is from home buyers that "don't" perform the further inspection prior to the close of escrow and then complain to NBI that "I didn't know the damage was THAT bad ! ! " or "I didn't think there would be any damage....its a new house".     

 

Often times when this happens, they want you to get involved and help them fight their battles.... even though it was their decision not to perform the further inspections. 

 

Here is a good picture story of a very common situation.

 

  

  NBI reported the underside of this deck as being inaccessible and recommended a further inspection.  The buyer chose not to perform the further inspection because the home was less than 10 years old. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shortly after the purchase, the buyer decided to replace the wood deck railing with a glass railing system.  As soon as he removed the first fascia board, he was shocked at what he found and decided to take a lot of pictures. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under the fascia board, he found the framing members were severely rotted.  This was even a greater problem because this deck was cantilevered into the house. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This deck appeared to be a regular wood deck; however, once the deck boards were removed, you see the contractor had created a "bathtub" under the deck boards.  He installed waterproof roofing material under the deck boards and installed a small drain line (white spot in the corner) to discharge all of the water. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The contractor had failed to wrap the water proofing material down the side of the framing member.  He forgot about the water that would become trapped between the decorative outer board and the interior framing member.  You can see that it is totally destroyed.

 

 

The damage extended around the entire deck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In one more year, someone would have literally stepped through this deck. 

 

 

YES! ! !  It's very important to perform the further inspections recommended by NBI's inspectors. 

 

Our inspectors can advise you on the best and least expensive ways to determine if further damage exists.  Just ask.

 

A little more effort during the buying process can save your client unwanted surprises and THOUSANDS of dollars after the close. 

 

 

(Pictures by Robert Swickard....NBI's Chief Inspector Alameda County )

 

 

Do yourself and your seller a favor.  Have NBI perform BOTH Home and Termite inspections prior to finding a buyer.

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NBI produces the highest quality inspection reports in the industry.   EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE! !

Like these pictures?  We provide pictures in our Home "AND" our Termite reports.  Go to www.goNBI.com for samples of NBI's home and termite reports. Click on Sample Report in the left column.

Place your inspection orders on-line, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. 

Have you missed previous Straight Fax Newsletters?  Click HERE.  We have many posted for your review.  They contain a lot of great information.

 
 

 


(Snippets of life from NBI)

Picture of the Week:

"Burglar proof your back yard for only $2.00"

YES....That's a LARGE rat trap at the top of the gate.  

I laughed out loud when I saw it....

I can just imagine the loud YELP ! ! made by someone trying to sneak into my back yard late at night. 

To the Top

We need your help! !

Our records are showing that thousands of our emails are being swept out to Sea by overzealous spam filters that filter on graphic text and pictures. 

If you feel that NBI's newsletters are informative and helpful, we would really appreciate you jumping up and down, waving your arms during your next sale meeting asking all of the other agents in your office to put us in their email address book.  They are missing out on very worthwhile information.

Thank You

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.) (Prices may vary between market areas.)

(San Francisco and Fresno County prices are slightly different.  Please call our office for exact fees.)

Home Inspection: $395.00
Termite Inspection: $240.00
Total:.. $635.00

If you fill a combination (home and termite) inspection for the day following your call; your client will have to pay only $335.00! 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 $435.00! A $200 SAVINGS!

If you fill one of our time slots 3 days from your call, your client will only have to pay $495.00! A $140 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.

NBI produces the highest quality inspection reports in the industry.   EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE! !

We provide pictures in our Home "AND" our Termite reports.  Go to www.goNBI.com  for samples of NBI's home and termite reports. Click on Sample Report in the left column.

Place your inspection orders on-line, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. 

Have you missed previous Straight Fax Newsletters?  Click HERE.  We have many posted for your review.  They contain a lot of great information.

Old Lawyer Joke

A lawyer died suddenly in his sleep.  As he entered the Pearly Gates trumpets blared.

St. Peter approached him with his hand outstretched, "Congratulations, you are the oldest person ever to arrive here."

"There must be some mistake," the lawyer replied, " I am only forty years old."

"Impossible," St. Peter replied, " We added your time sheets up twice and got 160 years both times."

To the Top

Like NBI's Straight FAX Newsletter?   Nearly 500 new agents per month are asking to receive our newsletter.  Encourage everyone in your office to register for this worthwhile information. Send to, Answerman@goNBI.com.

What issues would you like us to discuss in future Straight Fax Newsletters?  Electrical, Plumbing….Roofs???   Proper interpretation of pest control reports???   Let us know.

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

Editor Notes:  Dale J. Luger founded National Building Inspectors in 1986.  Mr. Luger has purchased; rehabilitated and sold over 1000 residential units in his career.  His credentials as a General Contractor, Roofing Contractor (1976), CA Real Estate Broker (1982), Pest Control Operator (1987) make him uniquely qualified and knowledgeable of all aspects of real estate transactions.