Home Inspection

Two new websites can help buyers save on closing costs and mortgages

2009-06-28 00:00:00

One of the problems with new Internet-based ventures is that they often lack critical mass. Jeff Lazerson, a Laguna Niguel mortgage broker, found that out firsthand. Lazerson had a great idea: a website that would allow home buyers to hunt anonymously...

Asbestos-backed flooring does not have to be disclosed

2009-06-05 14:44:52

Question: I bought a home several months ago and had it inspected. But in my opinion the home inspector missed an important defect. One room has old-looking vinyl flooring that I recently discovered has asbestos in the backing. I realize that the...

Builders likely to offer incentives after federal tax credits expire

2010-04-18 00:00:00

With the April 30 deadline looming, home buyers need to get a move on if they hope to qualify for the federal tax credits of $8,000 for first-timers or $6,500 for owners wishing to move up. But even if you don't have a binding contract in place by the...

With time and help, a mom may learn to conquer anger

2009-12-13 00:00:00

The well-dressed woman in hoop earrings and glitter eye shadow took the podium. "Hello," she said, her voice gruff and resonant. "My name is Darlene, and I'm an alcoholic." "I'm the alcoholic who was sweetly hit upside the head when Children's Services...

'Life Unexpected': Home sweet home

2010-01-26 16:34:12

Advice about wet lawn raises question of liability

2009-05-24 00:00:00

Question: We bought our first house and hired a home inspector before signing the contract. During the inspection, my husband noticed a wet spot in the yard and pointed this out. The inspector said it was probably due to the recent rain and advised us not...

Who's liable when a furnace that wasn't inspected is found to be unsafe?

2009-04-19 00:00:00

Question: When I bought my home, it was the middle of the summer and very hot, so my home inspector did not test the forced-air furnace. This winter I found the heater to be inoperative, and the contractor I called said the system was unsafe. The repair...

Independent home inspections are crucial for would-be buyers

2009-04-18 21:08:00

Would-be home buyers who come across unoccupied houses in their search for an abode should be extra careful. Homes aren't cared for all that well even when they are lived in, according to independent home inspectors. When it comes to regular maintenance,...

Home Foundation Problem Poses a Quandary for Seller

2002-02-17 00:00:00

Question: My home will soon be listed for sale, and a preliminary home inspection revealed cracks in the foundation. Because of this, my Realtor advised a price reduction to reflect the cost to repair it. As an optional approach, he suggests having...

Offers Made in Writing Are Always Best

2002-06-04 12:27:57

Imagine this: You're on your way out of town when your real estate agent calls to let you know about a hot new listing. You arrange to meet your agent at the property to take a look before you go. The house is just what you've been looking for. But...

Casting a Critical Eye on Church of Castoffs

1999-02-01 00:00:00

God himself pulled the needle out of Sonny Arguinzoni's arm, or so the story goes. Grateful, the high school dropout, part-time purse snatcher and hope-to-die heroin addict repaid the miracle with one of his own. From an apartment in a Boyle Heights...

Cosmetic Defects Worth Including in Disclosure

2002-05-30 12:49:01

Question: What's the point of a home inspector disclosing cosmetic defects? I'm selling my home and just had a "structural" inspection. The report recommended repainting a stain on the ceiling. This stain is not a "structural" problem, but it has...

Mike Stephans of 3-D Home Inspection Inc. has been named 2010 Associate of the Year by the Northern Illinois Chapter of the American Society of Home Inspectors. The society, founded in 1976, is North America's oldest professional society of home inspectors.

2011-01-17 00:00:00

Home inspections can help determine scope of work

2010-06-19 00:00:00

Navy unit from Yorktown (Right) Lt. Dan Day and Thomas Blaess (Left from German Army) check over and inspect the conditions of the building after the earthquake at this local orphanage to judge how they can help.

2010-01-21 00:00:00