Putting Public Safety First I get these up dates from tssa, you too can if you subscribe to them, this one is on gas lines coming into the couse or building below grade. Last yeasr we had a client that had the gas shut off the day she moved in because of this, we did not have any idea it was a concern with the gas company as in Brantford we see this very often and they do not do anything until it is a new owner (DUH that is really smart as the meter reader see's it every month ). Anyway have a read . Hope this helps, Chuck. Please see the following Advisory which provides clarification for pipe entry below grade. 07/28/08 Advisory - Pipe Entry Below Grade (22Kb) FS-132-08         Yours in Safety,Technical Standards and Safety Authority"Putting Public Safety First"Visit our Corporate we... 07/28/2008

As home inspectors, we have some tricks for figuring out the age of a house. In newer subdivisions we pick up dates from manhole covers, sidewalks and curbs. This will give you an idea of when the subdivision was built. This obviously doesn't work in older neighborhoods.  Thermal pane windows usually have a metal strip which separates the two panes of glass. On that metal strip you will often find the manufacturer's name, a CMHC number and the date of manufacture. Again, this information must be used carefully. It will tell you the age of the window but not necessarily the age of the house. Check several windows. If they are all the same, you have just figured out how old the house is or the date when all of the windows were upgraded. On houses built within the last 20-25 years, you wil... 07/27/2008

Go to this link and check it ou, http://www.the-cma.org/?WCE=C=47|K=224217 you can at least try and get the unwanted mail, phone calls to stop or at least slow down, I did it and it seems to have worked, I got this info from my sister in law who like most of us does not have time for all the unwanted junk mail and phone calls. Hope this helps. Chuck   07/24/2008

10 Most-Likely do-it-Yourselfer Mistakes The standard rule for do-it-yourself projects is that they will take twice as long and cost three times as much as you expected. Or maybe it's takes three times as long and cost twice as much. Either way, the reason is the same. DIYers make mistakes. Lots of mistakes. The good news is that you can learn a lot from mistakes. The bad news is that mistakes always wind up making your home improvement project more expensive and more time-consuming than you wanted. Here are their top 10 DIY mistakes: • Not taking out the required permits. Considered a bother at best by many DIYers, permits actually serve a greater purpose than just raising money for the government.  o For some jobs, such as putting in a wood stove, you need proof of the permit or your... 07/24/2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Use a Home Inspector for a Checkup Provides benefits of annual property check ups for homeowners. July 24th/ 2008 -- You don't have to be buying or selling a home to have a home inspection. A home inspector can assist you in giving your home an annual checkup. "It's like having the doctor conduct your annual physical," Chuck Crooker, owner and operator of CROOKERHANCOX HOME INSPECTIONS INC. said. "The home inspector will come to check out your home. The inspection report will point out what's okay, what's not okay, and what needs monitoring. This could potentially save customers a lot of money by catching issues early." A professional inspection of your home can be a tremendous help in keeping it in top condition. Especially if you don't know what should be checked... 07/24/2008

For termites in Toronto you'll want to call Aetna prior to your inspection their number is 416-469-4111.  Let them know you are doing a home inspection at such and such adr. and ask them if they could pls. check their database to tell you if that home or neighbouring homes have ever been treated for termites.    Aetna will tell you if the home you'll be inspecting "has" been treated by them in the past - ask if the warranty has been kept up.  This is important because if the current owners have had Aetna back in once a year since the treatment to check for reoccurrence of termites the warranty they issue following the initial treatment is kept up - and fully transferable, as I understand it, to the new owner - aka your client.  If they don't have the home you are inspecting in the data ... 07/23/2008

During our inspection we will find a lot of floors that squeak, carpet, hardwood and resilient flooring will all at some time squeak. When this happens we will tell our clients about these screws that will tak care of this problem, here is the link to the web site and it does have videos on how to do it. http://www.123itsdone.com/ Hope this helps, Chuck.   07/22/2008

Here is pretty good package of "free" info for continuing your education. Give it a look. You may wish to save this link in your files so you can retreive it later. As inspectors we are asked all kinds of questions and hopefully we can give our clients what they need.  http://www.free-ed.net/free-ed/BldgConst/default.asp Some basic info on decks at:  http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/publications/decks/     Hope this helps, Chuck. 07/22/2008

Renovating your home at age 30 What to expect. RENOVATING AT AGE 30 Up to age 30, houses are fairly predictable because of the standardization of building techniques and the predicted life expectancies of the major components of the house.  A knowledge of life expectancies is helpful but you are now also being faced with increasing problems with functional obsolescence. Our tastes and perceived needs have changed drastically, as most people now require more storage areas, closets, and bathrooms.  Many houses have floor plans not suited to these changes.  Closet sizes, bath sizes, kitchen storage, window sizes, etc., may not be up to modern standards.  But don't let outdated floor plans, plumbing and electrical systems discourage you.  They can be modernized.  In general, older houses ha... 07/22/2008

 This is on a large wall print in our office, so for those of you that sometimes think of giving up read this.                                                                                                                                                                                               To Achieve your Dream Remember your ABC's Avoid negative sources, people, places, things and habits. Believe in yourself. Consider things from every angle. Don't give up and don't give in. Enjoy life today, yesterday is gone, tomorrow my never come. Family and friends are hidden treasures, seek them and enjoy their riches. Give more than you plan to. Hang onto your dreams. Ignore those that try to discourage you. Just do it. Keep trying no matter how hard it seems, it will get easier. Love y... 07/21/2008

So when you have time you should block some time for building your biz. Reading good books on this is a great way to start. The ones that I read and enjoyed are The EMyth Revisited by Michael Gerber, and Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, starting The Power of Focus by Jack Canfield,Mark Victor Hansen and les Hewitt. You can get them in paper back cheap. Worth every $. Hope this helps, Chuck.  07/18/2008

 I have sent this letter to many, it is not meant to bust anyone's ballon, just a wake up note. Hope it helps. Chuck.  I think this is a very frustrating and difficult career to get into. Wonder they the colleges are not cranking out more inspectors?Let me see if I can sum up the ideal requirements:You need to have years of experience in the construction business or in one of the trades, which would take, well..... years! Hard to get that coming out of a college!You need to complete a ton of specialized courses that will cost you $ 4,000 to $ 6,000 or more, and take about 2 years of a lot of night school, while, presumably, you try to hold down a day job to pay for all this.You need some equipment, ie: truck or van, ladders, and as many tools as you are foolish enough to use.You need a ... 07/18/2008

                            Accessory Dwelling Units and the Ontario Fire Code What You Need to Know About Retrofit Section 9.8   Accessory Dwelling Units can contain some dire pitfalls for a new owner and anyone involved in the sale of such a unit.  It's one more thing to be concerned about, because the consequences of having an apartment declared illegal or closed down can be disastrous.  Any separate unit with its own cooking, eating, sleeping, and sanitary facilities in a detached or semi-detached house or row house is classified as an "accessory dwelling unit".  It doesn't matter whether it's a basement apartment for rent or a unit to accommodate a family member or a nanny.  In Ontario it's been a roller coaster ride for homeowners in recent years.  In 1994 the New Democratic gover... 07/18/2008

http://www.epa.gov/region09/toxic/lead/documents/Lead_Pamplet_English.pdf  This is a must read Pamplet on what you need to know and do if you have lead in your home. Agents, this may a nice item to have in your arsenol of items to give to your clients (buyers, sellers,renters,etc.) . Lead is not just in the water! One of the main items we stress at the inspections is saftey, and when children are invaulved the clients really listen. Hope this helps, Chuck  07/18/2008

As an inspector I from time to time come across issues that are hard to help our lcients get around. Cat urine is one of these issues. Once it gets into the under flooring material(wood) it is really hard to get it out. I believe that your local vet can sell you something called "Out Right" to get rid of the cat urine stains and or odour. It works by pouring a liquid onto the stain and the bacteria/enzyme actually digests the urine. I got this product name from another inspector (Mr. Ron Tropea) who's brotherer is a veterinarian. I hope this helps. Chuck. 07/18/2008

  You might find these two sites illuminating:From time to time we all find ourselves not being able to get the answers we need or like. I have found these two sites to be very usefull and even some times able to give me a good laugh and when you have had not so good of a day a good laugh really helps. Hope this helps, Chuck.   http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=Electric+motor&gwp=11&curtab=2222_1 http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/motor.htm 07/17/2008

For a Real Estate Glossary from a to z that you can use have a look at what we have on our site . Feel free to use any of the info you find here  to help you with your clients.  http://www.crookerhancox.com/?D=83 If you need any help in the area of Building Inspeciton just send me an e-mail.  07/17/2008

Bill (Harland) McAdam's Fund   CROOKERHANCOX HOME INSEPCTIONS INC.  is proud to support Bill and his fight with ALS see here http://www.alsa.org/als/what.cfm  for some info on this terrible disease.                                                                                                      To let you all in on a little of what I know about Bill. I have only been lucky enough to know Bill for a short time as I had the great pleasure of meeting him after I started to lure my girl friend Peg (Now my wonderful Wife) into my world. Not really knowing or realizing that I was going to be blesssed with becoming Bill's brother in-law, you see, Peg's sister Madonna is Bills wife. I kept hearing all about this sister Madonna and brother in-law that some call Wink, and all the great thing... 07/17/2008

                Welcome Home                       A Helpful Resource for Homebuyers  Three Deadly Mistakes Every Homebuyer Should Avoid  Deadly Mistake #1 Thinking You Can't Afford It.  Today, buying the home of your dreams is easier than ever before. Many people who thought that buying the home they wanted was simply out of their reach are now enjoying a new lifestyle in their very own new home.  Buying a home is the smartest financial decision you will ever make. In fact, most American and Canadian home owners would be financially broke at retirement if it weren't for one saving-the equity in their home.  Furthermore, mortgage rates are more flexible today than ever and tax allowances favor home ownership.  Real estate values have always risen steadily. Of course there are peaks and ... 07/16/2008