Why getting a home inspection is so important for a buyer. Getting a home inspection when you are purchasing a home should be a "no brainer". Before you sign.Get A home inspection regardless of age. But there is still Realtors who want to forego the inspection and simply sell the home to you as a new home, a remodeled home or a re-conditioned home. Same thing to me. I have had client's call and say should I get a home inspection on this home even after the Realtor has told them there is nothing wrong with the home and the seller has nothing on the disclosure statement. A new home needs a home inspection right along side a home that had been built a long time ago. Un like the new Cars and trucks we buy. These homes are not guaranteed for the long haul. Most are simply guaranteed for a ye... 11/24/2012

When will they learn about proper venting? I'm talking about the home owners, the contractor builders and the mechanical inspectors. At Desert Sun Home Inspections, we try and leave no area of the home un inspected. This includes the attic area. There is a reason that there is a code and requirement for proper venting in the bathrooms within a home. When the venting is not properly ran and attached to an outside venting vent, this can mean serious consequences for the home owner in the long run. It takes a long time for the venting issies to become noticed. After you ahve noticed there is an issue, then it's propbably way too late. I can't recall how many times I have found this issue with exhaust venting in a older home. But in new homes it seems to be popping up more and more  it seem... 11/06/2012

Roof exhaust venting Rust and the dangers. At Desert Sun home Inspections We have found that,  many, many home owners never go up on the roof to look things over even after a really bad storm. They think that all is O.K. because the roof has not leaked during or after a bad storm with a lot of rain. The truth is you need to check your roof at least a couple of times  a year.  This is to check and see if there are any issues with not only the roof but the gutter system, the attic venting and most important the Exhaust venting. Here is a look at some exhause venting that has never been inspected till now. Here is what a rusted out furnace exhaust pipe looks like on the roof. Here is a damamged water heater exhaust vent on the roof. Both of of these vents are and will be leaking water from... 11/04/2012

Gaining ground in the inspection sector. Home inspections in Lea County New Mexico I am gaining ground in the inspection sector for the three counties I perform inspections in. I have a small area I do inspections in. I'm not greedy, I don't want every single inspection that may become available through a home sale. But i do want a "fair shot" at getting a chance to perform an inspection for a Realtor or a firm that I  have not done an inspection for. I recently got a call from a Realtor in Hobbs New Mexico asking about what all I do when I do a home inspection. I told her that if she takes care of me I definitely will take care of her and her client's with the best inspection and reports available for the home they want to buy.  Remember when you call Desert Sun Home Inspections In Car... 10/31/2012

Is going bald the best thing? Not in this case. On a recent sellers inspection by Desert Sun Home Inspections, I found what has to be the worst A/C line I have ever seen in all of my years of inspecting. This is a line from the A/C unit to the "A" coil in the furnace. This line needs to be fully insulated with a closed cell high density foam. If not it sweats and will drip into the existing attic and into the insulation and the the ceiling causing damages that you don't need a  a home owner. This line was not only un insulated on the outside of the home but when I got into the attic I was rather shocked to see the line's condition. Notice the dripping marks on the line. When the A/C unit is running in full usage the line will be dripping all along the line causing damage to the insulati... 10/29/2012

Halloween attic of horrors. A true story. With pictures. :-) At Desert Sun Home Inspections, it's not our job to get anyone introuble. It's our job to perform a home inspection for the buyer or seller and get the best results for the buyer or seller even if they don't like the results. The lack of pride when installing AC and or heating ductwork has a lot to be desired. There seems to be no pride in workmanship when it comes to installing new duct work. Then there are other issues that leads me to think if I looked really close I would find an array of other issues within the Halloween attic of Horrors. I have seen this type of work enough times to recognise the company that did the work. A very sad but true statement. In this first shot, I opened the access to the attic and this was st... 10/28/2012

Oddities found during a home inspection. HUH? When I am performing inspections on homes here in Southeast New Mexico, I find all kinds of things I think are really odd. Without the seller there to explain what it is, it makes it really hard for the inspector to explain in their report what exactly was found. This is why I take a lot of pictures as the member of Active Rain will attest to.  From time to time I find thins that are out of the ordinary and find this to be an oddity to say the least. Here are a few examples of what I have found recently. This "slotted drain" was found in the water heater room in a home that was built in 2009. I don't know what the plumber or the builder was thinking when a cover was not installed over the drain. I had to write up the find as a trip hazard an... 10/19/2012

Dryer vents and posting about them. Still are an issue. At Desert Sun Home Inspections we want you to be safe. On my last three inspections all three homes had major problems with the dryer vents. In a recent post I had provided a link about how dryers can cause fires. Go to Dryer vents cause fires.  Here is a look at a couple of vents and no vent that leaves you shaking your head. Yes this is the same home with the ducting on the roof. They used the old water heater exhaust vent to install the dryer vent to. There is lint in the top of the rain cap causing the unit to get more restricted after each use. bb This dryer vent is in bad shape. It's nealy plugged with lint that could cause a fire when overheated by the dryer. In this last shot the screen was installed by no one other than th... 10/10/2012

Confusing to say the least. I thought I had seen it all. It seems every single time I get to a older home, Uncle Bob has beat me there. He has already been there to make the repairs that he said would be good for life. I think he was right on one point though. The life part. Repairs made back in the fifties and sixties are not quite the right way to go. Check out these repairs that were not quite right. This electrical connection for the dryer was ran when the dryer was changed to go to electric instead of gas. Here is a bath vent in the second bath. See the plate on top of the vent. It will no longer vent anything. The good news is the vent works properly, the bad  news is it's completely closed off. What were they thinking?...Who knows. I think they were not wanting to cut into the ex... 10/07/2012

What the heck is that awful smell? At Desert Sun Home Inspections in Carlsbad New Mexico, we find all kinds of situations in homes. Ones that have been closed up for years and ones that are still being lived in.Then there are the ones that have not had a resident for a couple of months.  I arrived at the home with the buyer close behind me. He was at the Real Estate office when I stopped in for a key. (I know, I know) I did the usual inspection of the exterior, the roof, foundation, grading and vegetation. Then I was ready to go inside. I had just installed the ladder back on the truck when the buyer came out of the home acting like someone just choked him. I asked him if he was O.K. it looked like he had just swallowed a frog. Then he said "Oh God, this home really stinks, it stinks to... 08/01/2012

New roof venting installed incorrectly. It seems every time I go to a home that claims they just has a new roof put on I cringe. It never fails to amaze me how much stuff is done incorrectly. From boots for standpipes to venting installs to no vents installed. And these are from a licensed contractors too. This roof was installed about one year ago. Are these roof never inspected by the Building trades inspectors. By the way these installs look I would think not. Take a look at this one vent here. At least the hole was about the right size. Codes here say you cannot block a vent from 100% operation. And that means you cannot install a vent over top a roof truss. There were three of the vents that were installed wrong. Then on the roof I found two of the three stand pipes that did'nt eve... 07/25/2012

Shade is good for a home, but too close is not. I inspect a lot of homes in Southeastern New Mexico. They all have a lot in common when it comes to wanting to have shade trees. In the summer we can get temperatures that reach triple digit without even trying. Then you mix the high winds we get and it's a recipe for a damaging time. Remember to remove any parts of trees and bushes that rub against the home when the wind blows. Here the tree limbs are just starting to damage the shingles on the roof. Here the tree limbs have already caused significant damage to the roofs shingles. And that is never a good thing. Here is some damaged caused by the tree limbs rubbing the roof. Now this needs to be repaired. Remember to keep the tree and bushes cut back away fromt he home. It's a lot cheaper... 07/23/2012

Uncle Bob at it again. ARGH. I have yet to receive a comment or even a letter from "Uncle Bob". I see once again he was hard at work in the city of Artesia, New Mexico He really needs to go to some classes on how to run plumbing and electrical. Not to mention all the rest of the trades he thinks he knows what he is doing. Here he ties the washer hookups to the wall with baleing wire. In this next shot he did not want to go inside the wall when running the water lines to the sink in the bathroom. Here he decided to "NOT" go inside the wall to hide the plumbing. Leaves the plumbing exposed to the everyday traffic if the dining room. As stated before, "Uncle Bob, Please cease and desist". I hope every one has a great week ahead. 06/10/2012

Strange things I have seen during an inspection. I ran into a couple of really strange looking ways to decorate the home. One persons "IDEA" of interior decorating  just might not be my cup of tea. How about you take a look and see what you think of these "IDEA'S". This first shot was in the living room of the home. This application went around the entire room. All I could think of was "O.K.". I opened the closet to inspect it and what did I see? But a bunch of 22 shells. Yes these were very "LIVE SHELLS". Kids beware. Here is a closet with a tiolet paper hanger mounted in the back of the wall. The closet measured three feet by three feet. Too small for a "used to be commode". Have a great day everyone. If you "LIKE" this post hit the like button. Best, Clint Mckie 06/03/2012

Dear Uncle Bob, Cease and desist. I guess I need to send a letter to uncle Bob who still keeps on doing work around here. Dear Uncle Bob, I have been inspecting homes around Southeast New Mexico. I have noticed you have been quite busy all over the place. Even though you need to make an income, this I understand. With that said you need to do the repairs correctly. Stop performing repairs that are worthy of a ten year old on drugs. With some of these repairs "what were you thinking"? I have enclosed a picture for you to look at and tell me "what were you thinking when you made this repair"? As you can clearly see the exhaust vent was installed or repaired with duct tape. (HUH). Some things are better off left to the professionals. Awaiting your reply.  Best, Clint McKie Desert sun home ... 05/29/2012

My roof is leaking, now what do I do? I was called out to a home that was to have had some hail damage. We have had a lot of hail and rain as of late. So it was not very surprising to get a call like this one. When i got there the client wanted me to inspect the roof for any hail damages. She told me that a "Contractor installed the roof about two years ago.  Look at the top layer of shingles. They were left exposed and have no protection against the weather and water getting under them.  Here was the source of the water leak. The "spray sealant" did not do the job as intended. Why am I thinking Of Jay Markanich right now. LOL The roof had a lot of other issues too numerous to mention in a short post. Here is what started it all. The leaking ceiling and the dining room light. There was ... 05/19/2012

Contractors, and what they think you won't see. Why are so many contractors cutting so many corners? If they keep this up they will be building a "round home" instead of a rectangle home like the blue prints layed out  to build. When I'm inspecting a home, my guess is that the contractor is counting on the fact that when the building inspector shows up, he/ she is not going to be looking all that closely at "all" the items they are supposed to be inspecting. I have heard from the mouths of city and state inspectors that certain contractors "do a really good job". "I don't need to look at the roof. I know this contractor and they do a good job". Why not just get a permit and have a "drive by inspection"? Why waste the time of even getting out of your truck?  If this permit is for a contr... 04/29/2012

Home Inspections in Lea County New Mexico. What's under your home? At Desert Sun Home Inspections, we strive for the best we can be at all the inspections we perform within Eddy, lea and Chaves counties in South East New Mexico. In the first shot you can see the insulation coming down and the exposed water lines without any protection from freezing. This is an "unheated crawl space". There are a lot of homes we inspect that need a lot of tender loving care. Here is one example of what I found under a home. So the question of the day...What's under your home? Here the insulation actually was pulled down by a lot of squirrels. They did get into the crawl space via a vent that had been repaired. But the damages were already been done. In this shot you can clearly see the wet flooring and t... 04/08/2012

Don't walk run away quickly. The upper bedrooms. With the previous posts about the issues with this home. I thought it be appropriate that the new readers find the post that lead up to this post. First post...Don't walk run I yelled. Did they hear me. Second post...Don't walk run away fast. Home inspection nightmare. As we go through this home with a fine tooth comb. I am finding more thing that need the attention of a repairman. I have completed the mold samples and they have been sent off to the lab for the results. I think we all know the foregone conclusions to the tests for mold. With the roof in the shape that it is on the garage section of the home. How is it over the rest of the home. Let's take a quick look. With all the roof damage, there is no way to protect the home from fur... 04/01/2012

Don't walk run I yelled. Did they hear me. I did'nt actually yell this comment out loud. But I was hoping they were listening to me in "not so many words". At Desert Sun Home Inspections, I get calls about going out to a home and performing an inspection without the client present. I really prefer for them to be there. But in this case they could'nt make it. It all started Friday morning when I went out to a home to take a look at it for a purchase as a rental. I pulled into the drive, and could see right away, something was wrong...very wrong.   First thing I noticed was the slats on the roof. This means there was or is a roof leak. I hoped there was not a lot of damage to the homes interior. This section of the roof is over the garage. I thought I might as well start in this area. It ... 03/30/2012