Author Archives: Steven Ramos
Petaluma Home Inspections – Attics
Petaluma Home Inspectors – Attic Inspection In this video clip Steve Ramos, Petaluma Home Inspector, walks you through an attic inspection of a typical home in Novato, CA. Home inspections in California are performed to a standard. There are more than one Standards of Practice that are applicable in California for home inspections. Most of the major home inspection associations are in agreement that attic inspections have limitations that are … Continue Reading
Petaluma Home Inspector – Electrical Wiring Systems Double Taps
Petaluma Home Inspector Steve Ramos on Inspecting Electrical Systems Home inspectors are required to look at the readily accessible wiring. In most cases this means that the panel cover for the electrical service is removed and the wiring and breakers are visually inspected. One relatively common home inspector finding is the “double tap”. A double tap is when two electrical wires are connected to one breaker and that breaker is … Continue Reading
Real Estate Sales and Marketing Tips 2013
Sales and Marketing Tip for 2013 Who doesn’t want more business? I think we are all in the same boat so to speak. We are looking to make 2013 the best possible year we can make it – financially speaking. To that end, I am making a commitment to update the Education Blog on a regular basis. My goal is to update it at least once per week or more … Continue Reading
Home Inspection of Federal Pacific Electrical Panels
Home Inspection Story About Federal Pacific Electrical Panels It was just another home inspection, or so I thought, when I walked up on this electrical panel as I have for so many years. I knew the panel brand, which is Federal Pacific or FPE, had a history so I always approached this brand of panel with a little more respect than the other brands that are common to our area … Continue Reading
Petaluma Home Inspector – Infrared Camera Finds Roof Leak During Home Inspection
Infrared cameras are an invaluable tool for a home inspector. Infrared cameras detect infrared light using a special lens called a microbolometer. Infrared light or energy is not detectable by the human eye and that is what makes infrared cameras so valuable because they help home inspectors see what we cannot see with our own eyes. In this short home inspection video I demonstrate what a roof leak looks … Continue Reading
Home Inspector – Roofing Inspection
Home Inspectors perform roofing inspections during a home inspection. One type of roofing material that is often inspected is the asphalt shingle (aka composition roof). In this home inspection video blog I walk you through the basics of an asphalt shingle roof inspection I conducted in Petaluma Ca. A home inspector will often give a range of expected service life and this case roof is at the end of its … Continue Reading
Sample Home Inspection Report
Here is a sample report for our home inspection service. Reporting details vary somewhat with the age and condition of the building. In this example the building is a 1955 single level slab home in average condition for its age. Home inspection reports are specific to a building and client requirements. All home inspections that are for the purpose of real estate purchase or sale should comply with industry trade … Continue Reading
The Power of Infrared Technology
There is cutting edge inspection technology available today that gives you the power to see what no one else can see. Before infrared technology that brown stain on the ceiling might be a leak in the roof, after infrared technology that brown stain,well, it just needs a little paint (because we verified using infrared powered technology that the leak is not active). That is just one example of how the … Continue Reading
Moss, is it devouring your roof?
The black growth covering roofs is a fungus. This fungus, because it lacks chlorophyll, is unable to manufacture food from raw materials as other plants do. It must therefore get nutrition from some form of organic matter. When fungus receives its nutrition from dead organic matter, it is called a saprophyte. This particular fungus also requires a warm humid environment to thrive in. Now that we know what this growth … Continue Reading