FAQs
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
As a CREIA Certified Home inspector we are required to have 30 CEC per year. These are very important to keep up with the Building standards and health and safety concerns.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
In California Home buyers should use CREIA Certified Home Inspectors due to the fact they must pass a knowledge proficiency test on Building codes and standards of practice specific to California. We are required to achieve 30 hours of continued education per year to maintain our certification. Building experience is a big plus when considering a seasoned Home Inspector. I have over twenty five years in the building industry and have been a certified Home Inspector since 2004. Call us to schedule an appointment.
- What questions should customers think through before talking to professionals about their project?
I want to warn many of you of the ÃÂImpending DisasterÃÂ that my crew has had to handle recently. Home owners and new investors are turning utilities on in homes that have been vacant and idle for more than a year and the end result is a disaster. I want to warn as many of you as I can so you wonÃÂt have extra clean up cost and also warn current homeowners about their ÃÂImpending DisasterÃÂ. Before turning the water on, make sure all the shutoff valves under sinks, toilets are off or can be turned off. Check all the spigots to insure they function properly including the washer valves. Have the plumbing lines pressure tested to see if they can withstand pressure and hold pressure. Plan on changing bath and sink fixtures or have the seals changed if they are a good quality. The fill valve, flapper valve in the toilets will need to be changed as well as the seal between the tank and base. Before filling the tank on the toilet, pour water in the bowl using a five gallon bucket to insure the trap is clear and it has proper flow. You should plan on removing the P-trapÃÂs from under the sinks, remove dried debris and check the seals prior to pouring water down the drain. The garbage disposal will probably be frozen and will need to be lubricated and loosened prior to running water through it, (from my experience, plan on replacing it). The dishwasher will probably be in the same situation as the garbage disposal, depending on the quality of the unit will determine whether you repair or replace the unit. The water heater will need to be drained and inspected prior to turning on the gas or electric, (plan on replacing the coils in the electric water heater). Locate the main water shutoff valve and insure it works as well as any other secondary shutoffs so when disaster strikes, youÃÂll be prepared. For the homeowner; check all the shutoff valves to insure they work properly. Do not force a valve, (you could create a disaster by breaking weak pipes). If the valves are stiff, work them back and forth until they operate freely. If they are frozen, contact a licensed plumber to change them out and check the valves a couple times a year to keep them in working order. Make sure you know where your main shutoff valve is, make sure it's working properly and have a tool available that will work on your valve incase of a disaster. Water can do as much damage as a fire so be prepared and you can avoid an ÃÂImpending DisasterÃÂ.