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Posted on Friday, September 23, 2011 2:44 PM
If you want to build a
new home, there are things you need to know before you begin. Learn about
construction standards and about buying land, so you know your rights.
 MPS Supplementing Model
Building Codes
The Minimum Property Standards (MPS) establish certain minimum standards for
buildings constructed under HUD housing programs. This includes new
single-family homes, multi-family housing and healthcare-type facilities.
HUD Minimum Property
Standards and How They Supplement the Model Building Codes |
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Richard Morse - Inspector Rick: Posted on Monday, August 15, 2011 4:21 PM
I wrote on the topic, “Safety In Vacant
Homes” recently, but did not touch on what to look for when first viewing a
home that had been supposedly vacated.
First, it is very important to know that foreclosed, vacant homes
account for a very large percentage of the homes that are on the market today.
If you work with investors and preview the properties
before you take your client for a look,
please think about what to do when you arrive for the first time. |
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Richard Morse - Atlanta Property Inspector: Posted on Friday, July 01, 2011 5:53 AM
Of all the homes that I perform
inspections on, approximately 60% of them have HardiePlank lap siding installed
on at least one of their exterior walls. I like the product. It wears well, is
quite attractive and requires less maintenance than many other products out on
the market today. Each and every home I see with the siding installed, I find
that the butt joints are open. The caulk that had been installed at the time of
the installation typically fails within the first 4 years after its original
installation and will require replacement. |
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Richard Morse - Atlanta Home and Commercial Property Inspections: Posted on Wednesday, May 04, 2011 8:10 AM
First impressions when purchasing a new home are
very important to you, as they should be. You may have noticed the gardens with
their bountiful flowers and have noticed the unmistakably smell of freshly cut
grass. You then see the crisp and clean, newly painted siding and trim, and you
have certainly noticed the beautifully stained hard-wood front entry door. When
you enter into your dream home, you notice the cleanliness of the rooms, the
stainless-steel appliances and the granite counter tops. |
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Richard Morse: Posted on Saturday, December 04, 2010 8:29 PM
I love the look and feel of the older Atlanta bungalows, especially after someone renovated it with the help of an architect. These houses have been changed from their very simple pre-war design to an elaborate, open floor plan that allows for entertaining and flows better than you think it possibly could. When using a professional architect, designer, and general contractor, the “renovated” house is essentially a new home with most everything updated or replaced. |
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Richard Morse: Posted on Thursday, October 07, 2010 8:49 AM
I guess that this is my rant for the day. First off, I do admit that this may not always be possible. But, if the home is currently occupied, or recently vacated, cleaning or straightening up the home should be and can easily be done. I recently entered into an occupied home that was almost impossible to have a complete inspection performed on. Large piles of debris (boxes, bags, dirty clothes, etc.) were around the mechanicals in the garage, as well as in the attic next to the furnace. |
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Richard Morse: Posted on Friday, October 01, 2010 7:51 AM
How many of us out the field, including agents, inspectors, appraisers and pest control companies look at foreclosed homes alone? I spend approximately half of my time inspecting homes in Atlanta that are vacant. Many of these homes are for investment firms that are outside of the metropolitan area and for the most part, out of state – so of course, they are not present. What kinds of precautions do you take before you enter into that property? Do you let others know where you are? If you are with a client, how well do you actually know them? |
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Richard Morse: Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 9:16 AM
Of course I am not going to say that agents discourage their clients from being present. I do feel that sometimes not enough emphasis is placed on the importance of being present. I cannot pin this just on any agent, but also on the buyers themselves. Some just do not feel that it is extremely important to be present. I will always encourage that a client attends the inspection. I even encourage that the agent be present. Not necessarily for the whole inspection, but for at least the final portion where I can explain the locations of several items, how certain systems operate and what concerns were noted that will require repair. I recently was called back to look at a home after an in-wall water pipe had broken. I also perform Mold Assessments and the homeowner wanted to test the air-quality within the home. The majority of the damage did not occur because of the actual water line break. Much more damage occurred because the homeowner did not know the locations of either of the water shut off valves. Should the homeowner have known exactly where the shut off valves were and how they operated, much less damage would have occurred. And yes, the homeowner did not think it was necessary to be present at the inspection. Inspections not only give you a list of items that require immediate and future repairs, it also gives you and your client an education to their new home and its many features and systems. Encourage that they be present. |
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Richard Morse: Posted on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 9:13 AM
Lately, I have been working with a lot of Attorneys. Not because of something that I did, but because something I havebeendoing. Ok. It doesn't make a lot of sense yet, but just wait. The latest Court dealing was with a property owner and his tenant. The property in question is a gas station in Atlanta. I was retained by the owner over three years ago to perform periodic inspections or assessments of the property to determine if the tenant had been performing required maintenance as per the Lease Agreement. |
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