Check The Water Pressure Before You Buy

In many cases the water pressure in a home is to high and this can damage the plumbing fixtures.  When you are previewing a property, check to see if the faucets are dripping and listen to see if the toilets are running.  If they are, then there is a good chance that the pressure reducer valve has failed and will need to be replaced. Check out this quick video about this issue… When … [Read More...]

Article courtesy of Metro Brokers Better Homes and Gardens
April 19, 2010 by Judy Jones

Many will miss the Federal Tax Credits because they believe they will be extended again!

As of today Congress has made no mention of proposing another extension of these homebuyer tax credits. In fact, many decision makers in Washington believe that the tax credits have been available long enough to produce the maximum results possible. They also feel it’s time to redirect these tax dollars toward other programs that could stimulate the economy and help with unemployment. Many of the current tax credit bills involve offering tax incentive dollars for the creation of new jobs.

The Homebuyer’s Tax Credits are due to expire on April 30, 2010.  If you haves friends, family members, neighbors or colleagues who are not aware of these tax credits, this could be their last chance to take advantage of this unique opportunity.

Yes there is still time to get a home under contract by the April 30, 2010 deadline and then close on it by June 30, 2010.

With the extremely cold weather and abundant rains, there is a possibility of rodents getting into and nesting in attics.  Please take a minute to make sure this is not a problem in your house as not only do rodents pose a potential health hazard but they can also cause extensive damage to your home — such as chewing through wiring, which could cause a fire.

It is worth a quick check of your attic to ensure that you do not have any unwelcome or uninvited guests!  If you find you do have rodents, you should contact a professional for disposal.

Your friends at Southern Home Inspection Services
770 645 2132
www.weinspect4u.com

Let Southern Home Inspection Services inspect your next home. For a quality home inspection – call us today!

Southern Home Inspection Services, Inc. is a service oriented, multi-inspector firm. We conduct home inspections and radon testing on one to four family dwellings. We do inspections on residential resales, new construction, construction in progress, warranty inspections on new construction, and Radon Testing.

Southern Home Inspection Services conducts home inspections all over North Georgia, from Newnan to Dalton and all places in between. We have appointments available at 9am and 2pm each day. Our Inspectors work Monday through Saturday and in many cases we have staff to conduct inspections on Sunday, as needed. Please know that our schedulers are available seven days a week to set up appointments for home inspections.

Below are some other important facts about Southern Home Inspection Services:

• We have ASHI & CABO Certified Inspectors
• We print the Inspection Report on site, in color, or we can email it to you
• Our inspectors have lock box keys
• We are licensed and insured
• Our client feedback is excellent
• Over 20,000 Satisfied Customers Since 1997
• Be sure to see the feedback from our customers

We have four inspectors who work the entire Metro Atlanta area. We have an ICC Certified New Construction inspector for all your new construction and 1-year warranty needs.

Give us a call to schedule your next inspection ~ 770 645 2132 or schedule your inspection on line at www.weinspect4u.com We look forward to working with you on your next home buying process!

Ken and Beth Compton and the entire staff at Southern Home Inspection Services

Courtesy of Ken Compton, President, Southern Home Inspection Services
(770) 645-2132

Hey Folks,

Ken Compton here with another Grow Your Real Estate Business Marketing Tip.

I tell my coaching clients that “nothing is certain but change!”  So to avoid a Bad Hair Day, learn how to manage the change!

Bad Hair Day
by Patti Kouri
www.coachpatti.com

Finding bliss in a changing marketplace…

We’ve all seen her: the woman whose hairstyle got stuck in 1954. It was good enough for her then and, by golly, it’s good enough for her now.

Sad to say, she’s not all that different from some real estate agents.

But the issue here is not hairstyles, it’s the market. Every day I talk with agents who are adding another coat of hairspray to the fading glory of an almost impossibly long run of amazing market conditions.

You might say they’re in denial or putting their heads in the sand. But whatever you call it, it’s not working. By resisting inevitable change, these agents are forcing themselves out of step, out of touch, and, sooner or later, out of business.

Of course we want to fight it. Of course we look back nostalgically at those days of stratospheric prices, eager buyers, and multiple offers. But guess what? Those days are over—and we need to get over them!

Change is challenging. Some people thrive on it, others find it agonizing. But when we deny or resist change, a number of uncomfortable things happen: the change going on around us feels like an assault, we respond negatively to it, and we get churned up with anxiety.

The attraction principle—like attracts like—continues to work, but now we start attracting clients and deals that are, like us, fraught with negativity and stress. So we fight harder, with ever-diminishing results.

Maybe it’s time for a new hairstyle.

If the word acceptance sounds a little more Zen-like than you’re feeling about the current market, don’t worry. You can get there with small steps. Here are a few random thoughts to contribute to your new state of mind:

§         Answer the question. Do you really want to be in the real estate business? A lot of agents got into the business when there was easy money to be made. They saw opportunity and grabbed it. But they never had any special feeling for the business or the houses or the people. Now that the money is no longer easy, real estate has little allure. If that’s true for you, you can look for a new career or learn to love the business and embrace change. If you answered Yes, you really do want to be in the real estate business, you’re halfway home, so keep reading.

§         Control what you can. During times of major upheaval, we are hammered with rumors, e-mail speculation, and a constant blitz of screaming media. Don’t repeat rumors as fact. Don’t read the negative e-mails that people forward to you (and everyone else on their mailing list). Turn off the TV or severely limit your intake. Change the subject. Read a good book lately?

§         Change one small thing. We have a tendency to see change as something massive and inevitable and to see ourselves as powerless by comparison. But change—positive and negative—is actually a cascade of small events. You can begin your own counter-cascade by shifting an attitude or action in your life. For example: instead of waiting for someone to call you, call them; get up 30 minutes early and go for a walk; practice smiling; stop participating in client-bashing, market-bashing conversations; do that thing you’ve been saying you’re going to do “when I have time”; practice saying thank you; donate some time and energy to someone who’s more desperate than you are. Although we like to think of ourselves as skilled multi-taskers, we don’t really focus very well on several things at once; when you get busy doing something new, you are forced to take your attention away from resisting. And even one minute of not-resisting gets you closer to acceptance.

§         Take a break. Yes, it seems impossible. You’re way too busy. But if you added up the hours you spend fretting, spinning your wheels, and playing solitaire on your computer, you could easily take a day off every week.

And you should. Whatever the market conditions. You need to interrupt the chaotic pace of your anxiety. If you can’t X out a full day or a half-day on your calendar, start with an hour or two. Pull the plug. Don’t think about the market.

Don’t answer the phone. Get a massage or a pedicure. Read a book. Go to a funny movie. Stare out the window.

§         Take care of yourself. Change is stressful. You need to be strong and healthy to deal with it. That means eating regular meals, sleeping enough, getting some exercise, and minding your spiritual life. When you are physically and emotionally strong, the winds of change are less of a hurricane.

§         Find a power partner. One of the best antidotes to the pain of change is productive conversation. That doesn’t mean someone to moan and groan with, or someone to tell you what to do, but someone who will brainstorm ideas with you, who will support your determination to succeed, and who will help you find the light on the dark days. Look for someone you trust and admire, perhaps a colleague, a friend, a family member, or a coach.

§         Take a deep breath and practice saying, “Things are changing, and I’m okay with that.” Say it to yourself in the mirror. Write it on a piece of paper and stick it on your bulletin board, computer, and refrigerator. Write it on a bright-colored Post-it and stick it on today’s date in your calendar; tomorrow, move it to tomorrow’s date.

Accepting change does not mean you have to “buy into” it, or like it, or that you cannot question it. It only means that you greet change with a strength and peace of mind that will carry you forward as you adapt to the new conditions and prepare for whatever surprises are around the next corner.

Like anxiety, calm is contagious—and attractive. So is laughter. You may be out of the habit of calm, acceptance, and laughter, but they’re deep-rooted skills that will come back with practice. Give it a try.

You have nothing to lose but a really bad hairstyle.

As always, we stand ready to conduct home inspections for you and your clients.

So Give Us A Call Today And Let’s Get That Home Inspection Scheduled.

Southern Home Inspection Services:  770-645-2132

Best wishes for successful marketing!

Ken Compton

ATLANTA — Although all new homes built in Georgia must pass inspections by county or municipal officials before the proper permits are issued, homeowners could still discover costly problems before the deal is complete.

Meet Pat Schneider a Newton County resident Pat Schneider has learned things can go wrong with a brand new house.

We really learned a valuable lesson,” she said recently. Months after moving into her new home, a bathroom leak led to a much bigger discovery and a repair bill close to $2,000. “The inspector told me is they probably put a flange kit on and then somebody came in and cut it off,” said Jeff Butler, a home repair specialist. “Now the toilet won’t go back on the original screws. The pipes to this toilet (can be seen) on the outside of the house.”Newton inspectors approved the plumbing work and Schneider’s home passed all other inspections during the construction, according to county records. But like many new home buyers, Schneider did not hire her own inspector to check the work. She believed the county inspection process would protect her. “I feel like the county has a major responsibility in assuring the homeowner gets quality work and gets things passed the way they’re supposed to be passed,” Schneider said.Homebuyers who wouldn’t close on an older home without an inspection gamble on new construction largely because they believe the warranty or county inspectors will protect them and their investment. Such an assumption can lead to trouble. Gary Lewis, president of the Georgia Association of Home Inspectors, said private contractors can spend between three to six hours on a job whereas county inspectors, “Just don’t have the luxury of having that amount of time. “Many county building inspectors agree, saying the number of assigned cases on their itinerary means they can only spend minutes at a job site. For example, Cobb County inspectors currently perform between 10,000 and 13,000 inspections every month. On one of the inspector’s busiest days, the official might have to review the workmanship of 40 homes. A new house will be reviewed at least three times but government inspectors say homebuyers should realize how much goes on between inspections. “You’ve got 3,000 or 4,000 houses at a time (and it’s) impossible regardless of how many inspectors you have to be there during every aspect of construction,” said Lee McClead, a Cobb building inspector. Schneider said she is still asking her builder to correct problems that she believes were missed by the county inspector. Newton officials, however, say any ongoing issues should be covered by her warranty.

Clark Howard’s Advice

• When buying a new house, don’t rely on the warranty or a government agency. Homeowners should hire their own inspector.
• Customers should ensure they have at least three inspections.
• Don’t do business with a builder who won’t let the inspector make multiple visits to the site throughout construction.
• The builder may restrict who can inspect the new house so homeowners should agree to such a restriction before signing the contract.

Inspecting the Home Inspector

Georgia law makes no mention of a provision that sets out qualifications for private home inspectors, meaning they do not have to be trained, tested or licensed. So it is up to the homeowner who is considering hiring an inspector to make sure the professional has the proper credentials.

Meet Joe Smith
Homeowner Joe Smith decided it was worth the money to have his house inspected before his one-year warranty expired but he did not think it was necessary to hire an inspector as the home was being built. “You figure you’re getting a brand new home so why pay the extra money to have an inspector to come through,” he said. His nearly-new home gets good grades overall. But the inspection report includes a few items inspector Steve Goolsby thinks were missed by county inspectors, including shoddy caulking and missing flashing. “The exterior items we’re talking about . . . should have been caught by the county inspectors and they should have been able to address them with the builder,” he said. Homebuyers who spend a little more to hire their own inspector during construction can find that the money is a good investment. The findings can be used to force a builder to repair problems before final payment is made. Consumers who hire the wrong inspector can find that they have wasted their money.”The most important thing is to hire a code-certified inspector,” said Gary Lewis, president of the Georgia Association of Home Inspectors. Inspectors who are code certified, or CABO, have passed independent inspection test on building standards. Although inspectors who are members of the Georgia Association of Home Inspectors must be code certified to join the group, state law does not require the certification for those who work as inspectors. Said Goolsby: “If they’ve got a flashlight, they’re qualified to be a home inspector in the state of Georgia.”The homebuilder may require the certification, however. The Greater Atlanta Homebuilders Association suggests that homeowners discuss it with the builder before construction begins. “It’s always important to make very clear with the builder what your expectations are for inspection before you get into a situation where you don’t feel like you’ve got the options you would like to have,” said Jeff Rader, a spokesman for the group.

Clark Howard’s Advice
Before hiring a home inspector, homebuyers should ask the professional a series of questions, including:

• Are they code certified?
• How many inspections of the home they plan to make as it is being built? The standard is three.
• How long does it take to perform an average inspection? Experts say even the smallest homes require several hours.

Copyright 2004 by WSBTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Please know that in the State of Georgia, Home Inspectors are not licensed or regulated. How do you know what you are getting? You have got to ask questions. Check out our web site at: www.weinspect4u.com to find out some very valuable information on home inspections and why it is important to have one; whether you’re buying a resale, building new construction, having a maintenance inspection done or a pre-listing inspection. You are also welcome to call our office and talk to us about what we offer 770-645-2132. We look forward to working with you on your home buying and selling process. Beth

How to Maintain and Prevent Problems with your Refrigerator

Refrigerator coils are located in the rear or the refrigerator. You can simply vacuum the vents and coils to clean them. Dusty coils have to work harder to cool down the interior and contents of the refrigerator.

The drip pan of the refrigerator should also be cleaned. It is located beneath your refrigerator and can be removed by pulling it out.

Keep gaskets in good shape by washing them down with soapy water.

Replace gaskets when they are no longer in good condition. You can test the condition by trying to slide a piece of paper between the rubber seal and the wall of the refrigerator. If the piece of paper slips between the seal and the wall, the seal is not tight enough and the gasket requires replacement.

For optimum performance, maintain refrigerator temperature between 36½F and 38½F.

Minimize moisture by keeping food covered and containers shut. Moisture can cause the compressor to work harder unnecessarily.

Keep your refrigerator around 37-40 degrees F for the fresh food compartment. Use a thermometer to check inside temperatures.

Consider the location of your refrigerator and/or freezer. Do not position them in direct contact with hot appliances as this will make the compressor work harder.

Anything that we can do today to help minimize our utility bill is a good thing. Check out your refrigerator and see if you can save a few $$ each month by doing these few items above.

If you have a good appliance, home maintenance or general tip, please reply to this comment. We can all use good maintenance information!

If you have any questions about home maintenance, or if you’re looking for information on a home inspection, please give us a call at 770-645-2132 or check out our web site at www.weinspect4u.com or our home inspection blog at www.asktheatlantahomeinspector.com We are more than happy to be of service to you.

]]> http://jasperpickenscountyga.com/southern-home-inspection-services-tip-of-the-month/feed/ 0 http://jasperpickenscountyga.com/southern-home-inspection-services/ http://jasperpickenscountyga.com/southern-home-inspection-services/#comments Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:40:32 +0000 Beth http://jasperpickenscountyga.com/?p=38 Southern Home Inspection Services, Inc. is locally owned and operated by Ken and Beth Compton. Ken and Beth live in Bent Tree and started Southern Home Inspection Services in 1997. We are going into our 11th year in the business and we have a ton of good clients and agents who refer us to their family, friends and their clients every day. We have 7 home inspectors on staff and they are located throughout the Metro Atlanta area. The inspectors do two inspections per day, one at 9am and one at 2pm, Monday through Saturday and sometimes on Sunday. We have an inspector who is our radon specialist and he also does our pool and hot tub inspections. The average inspection take about 3 hours, from start to finish, with the inspector printing the report on site, in color and including photos of issues found during the inspection. On resale property, the inspector is doing a visual inspection, looking for safety, function and structure and also for evidence of wood rot, termites, leaking insulated glass seals, etc. With New Construction, the inspector is doing a Code Compliance inspection, looking for building code violations, along with safety, function and structure. The report could be 15 to 20 pages and any issues found are pulled to the front to the summary page. The inspector also emails the report to the client and the agent once he gets home . The inspection is quoted per the features of the home and averages about $350.00. Please check out our web site at www.weinspect4u.com for more information.

Also check out our new blog at www.asktheatlantahomeinspector.com