Darren Miller's (darrenm) Blog

Deck safety… May is National Deck Safety Month!Don't let this happen to you! This was next door to a house I inspected on Friday! Deck failure is a fairly common occurrence in the United States. From Jan 2000 through Dec 2006, there have been 179 reports of deck & railing failures. In these event...

This is a true story about being in the right place at the right time with the wrong outcome. Back in 1998, I was working as a construction superintendent for a mid-level construction firm here in New Jersey. We had just demo'ed an old flooring warehouse and were beginning to construct a new Home...

When house-hunting, buyers are focused on many aspects of the house; the style, the 'work-ability', the comfort etc. When it comes to safety, that's close to last on the list. Here's a photo of a set of exterior steps; simple enough? Not quite. There are many potential hazards in this photo that ...

Replacement Appliance Venting   In today’s world, a home inspector is required to know a lot of information in a lot of different areas. I cringe whenever I read a HI report that states something like “further review is required” because it seems this has become the normal cop-out statement. Howe...

  Did I APPEAR to do a good inspection?     I just read another inspectors report he actually posted on his website to show potential clients how good of an inspection he does.   I have to say, it appears he has fallen short of his goal. Here are some of his findings and reporting language:   Gut...

Appliances in garages     Today’s topic is what is required if an appliance is located in a residential garage.   The 2006 NJ IRC defines an appliance as “A device or apparatus that is manufactured and designed to utilize energy and for which this code provides specific requirements.”   Elevation...

    It’s all about the Shekels!     As a home inspector, my duty is to protect my clients. My fees, while not being the highest in my area, are by no means cheap. I charge what I think I’m worth, and I produce what I believe to be a terrific product. Business is slow right now, actually it’s pret...

About a month ago I blogged “So you want to be a home inspector’ and posted 10 questions that home inspectors run into, not every day, but sometimes. Starting today (and going about once a week), I will post a question and then the answer. Let’s start with #1:   A gas fired furnace is located in ...

  Laundry safety could be the most overlooked hazard in the house. Everyone knows stairs are a major fall concern and so the stair area is scrutinized by everyone. The laundry area; it doesn’t get a second thought! Let’s look at a laundry area with a gas fired dryer.   Let’s first look at the loc...

A good, sharp looking house makes the owners feel proud and should make for a quick sale. However, looks aren't everything. Using the right material for a specific job is just as important. I recently conducted an inspection where the main bathroom was recently renovated. IT LOOKED TERRIFIC! Howe...