Repo's and the challenges they present. Is every thing what it seems? No Not at all. When we get to do an inspection on a repo home. There are a lot of issues at play. At Desert Sun Home Inspections in Carlsbad, New Mexico. We need to know what is supposed to be in the home and what is staying with the home. Here we have a look at the kitchen range. Every thing looks like it should. Looks like it's supposed to right? Here we get a glimpse into the minds of the previous home owners who thought it would be a really good idea to take the grill plate from the base of the ringe with them as they left the home. HUH. Why people do this is beyond me. These are the stupid little things that really tick off the lenders. To repair this range it will be around $80.00 to get a replacement grill plat... 05/14/2013

Electrical inspections. When things need to get changed and upgraded. At Desert Sun Home Inspections in Carlsbad, New Mexico. We really try to give the best advice for the buyers of a home. Even if it "ticks off the seller". I hear it all the time about how the seller is saying through their Realtor how the electrical system has worked fine for this many years why should it be changed now. I simply tell the buyers and Realtor's how things have changed since the home was built back many years ago. There is more draw on a home these days. There is a lot more electrical equipment in a home than there was back in the 1960's or even before that time. This is why when buying a home get a home inspection from a qualified home inspector. Preferably one that has been certified and has the experi... 05/12/2013

Home inspections and electrical nightmares. Safety number One concern. One of the homes most important features is it's electrical system. We would be lost without the electrical system working properly at all times. At Desert Sun Home Inspections in Carlsbad, New Mexico We inspect home for the buyers and sellers. When ever we run into electrical issues, there needs to be the understanding from the seller that these are issues that were addressed or never addressed in a proper way. Case in point. This home that has a 100 amp service to it. Very good for the size of the home. A simple box style home with 1,200 Sft. But when we get into the home to inspect the interior service for the home. It had never been upgraded. this home was built in 1965. This was code at the time. But was not upg... 05/11/2013

Fire place safety.  Home Inspections in Carlsbad New Mexico. In Carlsbad, New Mexico Home inspections are common but having the right home inspector is the most important thing. Buyers need to realize what is best for them as a home buyer. At Desert Sun home inspections in Carlsbad, New Mexico, we have the safety of the home buyer or home seller in mind. Safety is a number one priority when inspecting a home. I inspect homes for buyers or sellers. I perform energy audits for home owners who want to save money on their utility costs. But, during an inspection, safety is up front and foremost. When I was inspecting a home yesterday. A 2020 SFT home. It was clear to me there were issues with the fireplace and the wood burning stove. You know that feeling there are issues even before you in... 05/10/2013

Exterior Ceiling fans. Are they approved? Inspections in Carlsbad N.M. Many, many times when inspecting homes for Desert Sun Home inspections in Carlsbad New Mexico. I find that the ceiling fans that are mounted and used on the exterior patio's, decks and breezeways are not the proper ones for exterior use. There needs to be a sticker on the unit stating the unit is approved for exterior use or the sticker will say for use in wet areas. Here is a look at a Ceiling fan that is not for exterior use. When these fans are rated for exterior use. The composite for the fan blades are of a different composite. When I see the fan blades warped and coming apart like this. I can guarantee they are not for exterior use. Here we have a seller who was told they did'nt have to use exterior fans on the... 05/09/2013

Home inspections. How do you start. Inspecting in Carlsbad, New Mexico At Desert Sun Home Inspections in Carlsbad, New Mexico we inspect homes. When I drove into the drive way on this inspection I could not believe what I saw. This home was being sold "as is", and is a cash sale. Not even a Realtor involved in this sale. After...no during the start of the inspection I was thinking run don't walk from this home. But it's our job to report the condition of the home not whether the buyer should buy or not. That decision is ultimately up to the buyers and them alone. The report ended up being a lengthy one. This home is only about a 1,000 SFT home. Small by anyone's standard. So how could it have so amny issues? Can anyone say deferred maintenance? I got a good look at the exterior plumbing... 05/08/2013

Water heater safety. How many homes are in real trouble? Too many. At Desert Sun Home Inspections in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Safety is number one when we inspect a home. We make sure all safety aspects of the home are in place and working properly. With that said, How are your 1. Smoke detectors 2. C O Detectors 3.Fire extinguishers (too many homes, what are these) 4. Electrical systems 5. The water heaters temperature relief valve condition? Here we have a problem with the TPV for the water heater. Can you see what the real issue is? This valve is so corroded, it would not be able to operate properly even if it wanted to. Here we have on another home the TPV valve that had been so restricted, it would not be able to perform the proper function when and if the valve ever went off. This li... 05/04/2013

Don't throw your heating dollars away. Make repairs and save money. At Desert Sun Home Inspections and energy audits in Carlsbad New Mexico, We see these troubling things it seems on a regular basis. This post is for everyone who owns a home. Stop throwing your hard earned money away. With all the talk about conserving energy, we need to keep in mind a new furnace, A/C unit or water heater is not the full answer to your heating and cooling costs. I find in many cases after the Heating and cooling  and plumbing contractors had been to your home and installed the new unit's. They tend not to be energy conscious. Here we have a brand new furnace installed in 2012. But the ceiling of the furnace was removed to gain access to the ducting in the limited space of the attic. It was never replac... 05/01/2013

Curious findings with this home. Home inspection in Carlsbad, N.M. From time to time I find things that leave me a bit baffled. At Desert Sun Home inspections in Carlsbad New Mexico, we strive to get the best results for the client. Even if it means to find and or seek out additional help in response to a report. Every now and then I find something in or on a home that leaves me a bit baffled. Take a look at this picture and see if you can tell me what is causing the water lines to corrode like this. I had not seen this type of corrosion inside a home except in a wet basement or crawl space, This water line seems to be corroded with abandon. What is the cause of the corrosion? This corrosion is really bad and is baffeling to me. This corrosion has been happening for some time. I did'nt ... 04/29/2013

Metal roofs are a good way to go. If they are maintained correctly. When inspecting homes for Desert Sun Home Inspections in Carlsbad New Mexico. I find all kinds of issues. But when I drive up to a home with a metal roof, I'm thinking good for them. They were really thinking ahead. These metal roofs are a peace of mind roof. After they are installed and installed correctly, they can give the home owners a peace of mind for many years to come. The owners don't have to worry about any hail damage, or the wind. About the worst thing with metal roofs are , they will fade with time as the suns rays beats down on the roof. With that said. Never do any changes to the roofs coverings without a professional on site. Here we have a couple changes done above the roof. But the remains are a sight ... 04/25/2013

Deadly combination with this home. Safety features in place, nope. When inspecting homes for Desert Sun Home inspections based in Carlsbad, New Mexico. I get to travel all over Southeast New Mexico inspecting homes. This inspection was far from the normal inspection. There are no Smoke detectors in the home. There is no Co detector in the home. With that said, here is what we found when inspecting this home. The furnace was in place and working properly. The only problem was it is a major health and safety risk to the people living in the home. Take a look at this exhaust venting. How could this home even make it the the market and get listed without making sure the homes mechanical systems are safe? Did the owner not know what was wrong? or was it ignored? Now I know it's my job to eva... 04/25/2013

Active Rain postings work. They Really do. I have heard both sides of the debates on whether posting on Active Rain will actually end with a call or visit by a potential client. In  my last post that was Neighborhood featured in Hobbs New Mexico, called Home inspection electrical nightmare. What's next for the sellers? Find it here:   http://actvra.in/TSG It seems just about everyone here in the Active Rain Network of professionals knows about Desert Sun Home Inspections in Carlsbad, New Mexico. And getting a featured post is cool. But when it really pays off for the Active Rain Member it's even better. After my last neighborhood featured post, for Hobbs New Mexico I got a call from an agent that told me she saw the post online when looking at homes for sale in Hobbs New Mexico. After s... 04/23/2013

  Active Rain Meeting a huge Success. As many of the Active Rain members know, I had been gone for about a week on a vacation to go to a George Straight Concert along with Martina McBride In North Little Rock Arkansas. Then the Active Rain meeting in Russelleville Arkansas. All we could do is get Three members to attend. Myself representing Desert Sun Home Inspections from Carlsbad New Mexico. James Dray representing Wise Custom Realty from Bentonville Arkansas   Vince Chinell representing Vico Home inspection from Forsyth Missouri. Here we have a shot of the THREE AMIGO'S Standing by the Desert Sun Home Inspection Truck. This was a very productive meeting. I felt a lot like being out of water and the new kid on the block. I learned a lot from James and Vince. After learning and seeing ... 04/18/2013

Why do sellers do this? And why do Realtors overlook it? There are a lot of homes i see with problems the sellers could have taken care of pretty easily. Why the Realtors don't inform the sellers of these issues before they even list the home? Why does'nt the Realtors look at the home before they start showing the home? And if they did look at the home Why did'nt they tell the seller about the issues with the home? It seems the Realtors and home owners would want a simple sale. No issues for inspectors to find. I know it's our job as a home inspector to point out issues with a home. But....in many cases, these small issues could be taken care of by the seller or their contractor with little or no effort.   Number one, repair the wall. Number two, Install the receptacle cover. Ther are f... 04/17/2013

Why do sellers do this? And why do Realtors allow it? There are a lot of homes i see with problems the sellers could have taken care of pretty easily. Why the Realtors don't inform the sellers of these issues before they even list the home? Why does'nt the Realtors look at the home befor ethey start showing the home? And if they did look at the home Why did'nt they tell the seller about the issues with the home? I know it's our job as a home inspector to point out issues with a home. But....in many cases, these small issues could be taken care of by the seller or their contractor with little or no effort. If these items are not, then we as inspectors need to list them in the inspection report as an issue. Here we have a few electrical issues that should have been taken care of well befo... 04/09/2013

Hidden dangers in the crawl spaces. Gas lines need support, always. At this home inspection for a buyer. I had to get down and dirty in the crawl space. We are used to this at Desert Sun home Inspections in Carlsbad, New Mexico. There are times when I see all kinds of issues, some good and some times some not so good. Here on this inspection we have a new gas line that was ran under the home for the new gas appliances in the kitchen and the furnace. Un like the post about a crawl space and the dryer dangers of all the mountains of lint, see it here. http://actvra.in/Thd There are other issues in crawls spaces all the time. But when a new gas line is ran, you would expect it to be ran to code and nothing out of the ordinary right? Here we have a gas line that is ran under the home but ne... 04/08/2013

Playing hide and seek with the gas line shut off. Not accessible use. When inspecting homes there are a lot of factors that factor in when we inspect homes for Desert Sun Home Inspections in Carlsbad, New Mexico. As in past posts, safety is paramount when inspecting, then comes common sense. Many times common sense has been thrown out the broken window.  Here you can see why common sense was not home when I did the inspection on this home. The window being a metal thermal pane window was broken, both panels of glass were broken clean through. This is a safety issue, even for the buyers and Realtors who want to see and show the home for potential buyers. Never show a home with a damaged window in this shape. Get it repaired before you show the home. With this in mind we got a good look a... 04/07/2013

Electrician does another great job. Not. What to do next when buying. After the fiasco of the post about an electrical job done half way and terribly. See the post here at http://actvra.in/Tcz At Desert Sun Home Inspections in Carlsbad New Mexico.This is the second home in a row that looks like the same electrician came to visit. After the so called upgrade the walls were left undone. The work was done, but not done correctly. There are double taps in the breaker panels, the outside receptical will not work and the panels on the wall are not correct. Was this the same electrician? Unknown by this inspector, but there seems to be a trend with all the work and flips being done today, there seems to be little effort on what is right and what is the wrong way to complete a job correctly. Wh... 04/06/2013

Should I write this in the report as a defect? Or simply "Oh Well"? Before the fiasco of yesterday happened, I was actually working inspecting homes for Desert Sun Home Inspections in Carlsbad, New Mexico. I was at another town home and found these exposed blocks. Not a big deal right? But if water gets into them and freezes, then there could be more significant damage in the future. Here we have the second set of blocks with open cells in them. You can clearly see the old mortar has slipped down inside the block cells. So Do I write this up as a defect? Or simply say Oh well and move onward. I always want and have the resposibility to inform the buyer of any and all defects with a home. Even if it is as simple as this. It will not take much to repaire the issues with the open cells of ... 04/02/2013

Seldom seen and always forgotten. Attic accesse's need TLC too. There are a lot of homes I see when inspecting homes for Desert Sun Home inspections in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Many of these homes are in pretty good shape when it comes to an insulated attic. Some need more and some a little less. But one thing that is always slipping through the proverbial cracks is the attic accesse's. They seem to be a forgotten treasure. I call the access door a treasure because they are going to save or cost you a lot of money in the long run. Here we have an attic access that is missing, I mean gone and not coming back. Why is it missing is anyone's guess. When to access is missing then the heating and cooling of the home is wasted. Right out the access door that is'nt in place to stop the chimney aff... 03/31/2013