Carl Winters Blog, Real Estate Inspector, New Braunfels, Texas

I had my badge on today after my last inspection and was standing in line at Walmart when the person behind me asked  what did the badge mean, advanced inspector. I explained to him briefly that it was for a home inspection, structural and mechanical to identify items that may need to be repaired or in need of further observation.

The home buyer would have the home inspected prior to purchase by someone like myself to identify items that may need repair or replacement. I also informed them that we also represent the seller that may be preparing to sell their home. The reason being, they would be able to fix or replace these items before they put the house on the market.

Why guess about a properties condition when you can have a professional investigate, review and summarize the property for you. 

The man asked me for my card. I quickly pulled a card out of my billfold and asked if he should ever need an inspector to please call. I didn't think much about it, just a little PR.

Well, about two hours ago this person called and scheduled an inspection. It is for a 4300 sq. ft. home with a septic. Always be on your best behavior, you never know when and where your next inspection may come from. Remember me next time you are standing in line at Walmart.

My trip to Walmart was well worth the wait in line to check out. 

Garage door openers, particularly older models can be dangerous. Please read this information carefully to help prevent injury.

 When people think of household hazards, they often overlook the largest one. Garage door openers.

Most automatic garage-door openers have a safety feature that causes the door to reverse if it encounters an obstruction. To test your garage-door opener, place a roll of paper towels under the door and lower it. When the door hits the towels, it should reverse. If it doesn't, have it checked.

Another feature of modern garage doors is the electric eye, which reverses the garage door if anything crosses in front of it. Electric eyes have been standard equipment for garage-door openers since 1993.

Older manual garage doors use torsion springs to make opening and closing easier. These springs are under extreme tension and should not be adjusted without the proper tools. Newer manual doors incorporate a closed-spring design that can be adjusted by turning a bolt with a drill or ratchet. Torsion springs should be adjusted only if the door doesn't stay open or is difficult to open or close. Torsion springs should be sprayed periodically with lubricant to prevent excessive rusting.

The garage doors on most new houses use automatic openers, and safety plays an increasingly important role in garage-door design. All new garage doors incorporate photoelectric eyes that stop and reverse the door if a child, an animal or an object passes in front of them. Newer photoelectric eyes use wireless technology for added convenience. These eyes should be installed no higher than 4”-6” from the garage floor.

Test both the reversing mechanism and the electric eye once a month. (When you change you’re A/C filer is a good reminder). If the reversing mechanism doesn't work, you may be able to correct the problem by adjusting the force screw in the door opener. If you have your owner’s manual check for instructions. I recommend any adjustments or repairs be done by a professional in this area. Therefore this may prevent injury to yourself.

If you ever need to open the door when the power is out, use the red emergency cord to release the locking mechanism.

Place the control switch for your garage-door opener at least 5' above the floor so that small children can't reach it.

Another recent innovation is the wireless keypad, which opens the garage door when the correct code is entered. Keypads can be especially helpful if you find yourself locked out of your house.

Newer garage doors incorporate a "pinch proof" design that doesn't allow you to get your finger caught between the panels as the door opens or closes.

You may want to print this important information for future reference.

Another helpful hint from your Active Rain Hill Country Inspector

Can you believe this weather in Texas. It just keeps raining, raining, and raining. I have never seen a July so wet. Last year this time we were praying for rain and this year we are about to float away. What's UP?

I had to cancel an inspection today due to road closures in Bulverde, TX. I heard that some roads in San Antonio have been opened and closed several times. The weather "authority" says it is going to continue raining and if that disturbance develops in the Gulf we may get more rain.

What's happening in Houston and Dallas, more of what we are experiencing over here in San Antonio?

I think I will sell my truck, go green, and buy a paddle boat. (I tried to upload a picture of me in a row boat but it didn't work) so use your imagination. Maybe I'll g fishing.

Take care everyone and stay safe.

Four things to ensure consumer-friendly referrals.

• Service – Let the consumer know their interest is your first priority.

• Service - Be ethical, honest and professional.

•    Service - Be knowledgeable (know what you are doing; don’t second guess an item that you are inspecting, check your code books if necessary).

• Be yourself. The consumer is looking for a hard working individual to inspect their home. If they attend the inspection you want them to walk away at the end of the inspection and say. WOW! This may be their first experience at seeing an inspector in action.

Service, Ethics, Honesty, Professionalism, Knowledge = Referrals

This is a little out of the ordinary but every once in awhile you have seen me stray from my home inspector blogs. My wife had this sent to her email address and thought it was cleaver. Maybe you have already seen this. You can check it out at  MY M&M'S® for Business

It says you can write a cleaver message with a creative font, upload your own logo and use up to three vibrant colors. It has additional information but seems pretty easy. I think this is something maybe even I can do. 

I have tried to copy a sample but was not able to; probably best it may be against the law on something. Therefore you will have to go to the website to see what I am talking about. It may just be something else to put in your budget for advertisement; first time I have seen it done with M&M's. You can probably guess by now I am an M&M Monster. I would probably eat them all and wouldn't have any to give away.

If this is not OK for me to put this on would someone let me know. I thought it was cleaver.

Please follow this link to vote for Judi the M&M Queen or Jimmy for The Fried Rate for King:

Your Vote Counts-Jimmy for King of Fried Tree Rat or Judi for Queen of M&M's

I think the word assume should be taken from our vocabulary.

I had a client call Friday to schedule an inspection for Monday (today). I then called the buyer's agent to set up the inspection for noon (today), this way the client could attend the inspection. Fine and dandy.

The buyer's agent said she would not be able to attend the inspection because she had a closing. BUT  she would get in touch with the Seller's Agent and let him know the client had contacted me. I told her I would be glad to do that and that I would also need to get the CBS so I could get in. She assured me she would notify him, either she or he would call me back with the CBS. Saturday, Sunday, Monday morning still no word. I called the office and left a msg. for him to make sure he had notified the owner and to see if he was planning on attending the inspection. If not I still needed the CBS. Now, how many times have I asked for this information.

End result. The buyer's agent never contacted the seller's agent. Infact he was out of town. I was able to get the CBS from the Realtor's Office after explaining the situation. During the inspection the Seller's Agent called and had just found out what had happened. He was not a happy camper.

Therefore, never, never, never "assume" people are going to do what they say. Is it just me or do you sometimes feel like we have to jump through hoops to get the information and corporation we need. What is so hard about dialing a telephone number and giving someone an update on the situation. I would think that would be the professional thing to do. After all....aren't we in the business of selling homes. If you can not get the background work handled how are we ever going to accommodate the client.

By the way, my next inspection went just as it should have. No problems. Thank goodness 

Let me begin by saying, no home is perfect. When your inspector identifies problems, it does not indicate you should not buy the home.

His findings will educate you in advance of the purchase the condition of the home. This information will be valuable to you and the seller. The seller can agree to fix these items or may adjust the purchase price. The inspection report will also be of value to your Realtor in negotiations with the seller.

Active Rain Group: Hill Country Inspector (we would welcome your membership) 

How do you cope with life's most challenging moments?

How do you cope with personal tragedies? 

 *Your answers may help someone that may read your comment. I think we are going through a transition in the real estate market in some areas of the country; therefore your comments may help someone that may be questioning their resilience.

We all know President Bush will undergo a colonoscopy and transfer of power will be transferred to the vice president for a few hours.

What would the first thing you would do if you were the President of the United States for a couple hours.? 

Update: Saturday morning: President Bush went into surgery at 7:15 Eastern Standard Time. Transfer of power has been transferred to the Vice President.  

Update: President Bush's Executive Powers have been transferred back to him at 9:21 Eastern Standard Time.

Surgery went well. 

Question: 1. Do you carry and use a laptop when you do your inspection?

               2. Will you give me your manufacturer?  (Share likes and dislikes)

               3. Do you generate your report at the inspection and give the client  the report when you complete the                    inspection?

Looks like my laptop has taken a vacation. I am considering a Gateway Tablet but not sure of this is what I am looking for. Your input would be appreciated.

Thanks, Carl