Columbus Ohio real estate

WHO inspects for bed bugs?  (Cimex lectularius)

Dogs!

I am not calling home inspectors... or pest inspectors "Dogs."  I read about canines doing bed bug inspections first in New York Times article.  I read about bed bugs being a growth industry  before... but I had never read about canine Bed Bugs inspectors. It can take humans a long time to find bed bugs.  Dogs are quicker.   New York City has a big bed bug problem.... a New York Times article about bed bugs.

A New Breed of Guard Dog Attacks Bedbugs  The New York Times article is written by Penelope Green

The Central Ohio Bed Bug Task Force site now  says there are four bed bug sniffing  dogs in Ohio. I only see three canine bed bug inspectors listed on the Central Ohio Bed Bug Task Force site.  None of the bed bug sniffing dog's  phone numbers is a 614 or 740 area code. None looks to be in Central Ohio?  

Gotta wonder if my sweet mutt would like to start a new business late in life?   It's a growth industry...

Central Ohio WHO inspects for bed bugs? -  real estate agents?

You would almost think looking at the Central Ohio Bed Bug Task Force's words that we as real estate agents inspect for bed bugs.  Their site says to "realtors":

"the responsibility of discovering bed bug infestations is in your court"

Really? 

I don't inspect for wood destroying insects, raccoons in the chimney, bats in belfrys.  As the listing or selling agent I don't discover radon either... discovering defects is up to inspectors.   Am I going to strip the sellers bed and inspect the crevices for bed bugs?  No.

As a buyer your purchase contract with the seller will allow you to do inspections and tests on the property.Do you want a dog to inspect or a human?  Is there a reason to inspect?  Touchy subject...

Central Ohio WHO inspects for bed bugs?  -  pest inspectors human or canine...

HISCO - Does not inspect for bed bugs,  I wish they would for a fee.  I would feel more comfortable with HISCO inspecting because HISCO does not treat for bugs.

Ohio Exterminating* does Bed Bug Inspections for FREE, according to their site.  I am sure other Central Ohio exteminators inspect for bed bugs as well.

Would Pest Inspectors inspect for free for the sale of a home?  I doubt it...  Does a human spend hours searching for bed bugs, for free? I doubt it. 

Would they... could a pest inspector / exterminator say to a home buyer... "This home is Bed Bug Free?" What if the seller goes to NYC and stays in a hotel there after the home inspection but before closing? What if a Bed Bug hitches a ride back to Columbus in a suitcase?   Or even a local bedbug is introduced to the Central Ohio home after the inspection but prior to closing?

Central Ohio WHO treats for bed bugs? Exterminators

Do pest inspectors need to spend hours inspecting for bed bugs? Probably not if the home's occupant  thinks they have bed bugs.  If they've been bitten?  I bet it does not take hours to convince the occupants of a home or apartment who have been bitten to fumigate for Cimex lectularius.

The Central Ohio Bed Bug Task Force recommends getting three estimates for treatment.

Michael Bergin a Northern Virginia real estate agent  was my muse for this series...  Michael wrote: " Yuck! Bed Bugs are Back! " the link to the NYT article above in his post is where I first found out about dog inspectors.  Thanks Michael.

More about the topic on DiscoverColumbusOH.com - Columbus real estate:

bed bug contingency

Central Ohio Bed Bug Task Force ...Realtor Recommdendations    The .pdf document directed at Realtors also has the info about canine bed bug home inspectors you can get to that link above or from the first post in this series. 

*An owner of Ohio Exterminating is on the Central Ohio Task Force as the representative from the Ohio Pest Management  Association.

Love Clintonville?  Victorian Village?  Grandview?  Arlington?  Old Worthington?

Most older homes I am familiar with in Central Ohio have a basement so the beams and the columns are a lot more noticable than those in a crawl space.  Not that we don't have parts of homes (winges, additions) on a crawl space but as a real estate agent or a buyer we seldom get into the crawl space to see.

We rely on home inspectors! Inspectors like Jay who is in Virginia who wrote this.

Not an old home lover?  Don't read further... 

Love old or older homes?   Clintonville?  Victorian Village?  Grandview?  Arlington?  Old Worthington? 

Read Jay's post and next time you see "the gap" know to look at the structure below, if you are interested in the home.  Jay's  photos showing "the gap" reminds me of the Clintonville marble test, something YOU can do during a showing.  Get yourself a marble!

Thanks to Jay Markanich for allowing the Re-Blog.

Central Ohio home buyers - "wake up and smell the coffee" literally...

I Re-Blogged a post Norma Toering a real estate agent in California wrote,  Seller Tip - Scent Matters

There are lots of old Realtorisms about houses needing to be fresh smelling in order for the home to sell... "If you smell it you can not sell it"  springs to mind.   Sellers have used potpouri, Febreeze,  "Plug-Ins", scented candals, air fresheners,  etc. for years... 

...some of the "tricks" make a stinky house smell like  a stinky house with scented candles....

I am a big animal lover but lets face it...I love my stinky dog but  someone else's stinky dog is icky....

The latest trick to make it smell good?  Coffee.

Catina Wright wrote in a comment on Norma's post:  

"I have a few listings that have animals and well they just dont pass the smell test at all:-( I was sharing with another agent ideas that I could do and she shared with me something that is really working!!! Take a bag of coffee put small pin holes in it and place one in each room..hidden of course. It has improved my feedback 100% and one home has finally went under contract. The coffee grinds seem to soak up any bad odors and even works for clients who smoke in there homes!" 

Is the seller leaving that coffee with the buyer after the closing or is that when the buyer discovers .... the house does not smell fresh?  Hopefully an animal smell moves with the seller's personal property, by that I mean hopefully the cat or dog smell is primarily in the sellers upholstered furniture and not the carpets.

Central Ohio home buyers beware...  wake up and smell the coffee

Home buyers if there are pets in the home pay close attention.  You may have to think about having carpets professionally cleaned or even replaced even if the place smells fresh during showings... has the seller  hidden or masked the true condition of the property. 

Or does coffee remove the smell from the house?  Does the hidden coffee absorb smell?

Is the fact the house stinks hidden by the newest secret weapon?  Coffee...

"a bag of coffee put small pin holes in it and place one in each room hidden of course"  bold added.

Some home prepartion and staging tips  for sellers make a lot of sense others seem like tips to hide problems... just wake up and smell the coffee when it comes to smelly houses.

It sounds like this latest trick is going to be shared with sellers everywhere... Catina Wright who shared the coffee tip Re-Blogged Norma's post for sellers too... and added a note she received from a national real estate coach Bernice Ross.

"Dear Catina,
Terrific, Your comments will run on a Monday, assuming our Executive producer runs them in the order I sent him. My best guess is that it will run on either April 12 or April 19. Thanks so much for helping us out. I'm asking Kevin to confirm the date you will suggestion will be on air once he gets the raw production recordings from us. BTW, we just got on iTunes last week and received a "new and notable" notice from them--so you'll be on iTunes as well. 
Have a wonderful week and thanks again!
Warmly,  Bernice Ross, CEO  www.RealEstateCoach.com
Are You Ready to Make More Real Estate Dough in Your Business? 
If so, join me daily at www.RealEstateCoachRadio.com "

Does anyone in Central Ohio already use this secret weapon?  Who knows but real estate agents everywhere will be coaching sellers to put  "a bag of coffee put small pin holes in it and place one in each room hidden of course" 

Remember Central Ohio home buyers you heard it here first...

Photo Credit:  The image is from Refracted Moments shared via Flickr with a Creative Commons license:

Criterium-Liszkay Engineers is offering Free home inspections for veterans returning from duty in Afghanistan and Iraq in appreciation of their service according to In Contract Magazine a publication of the Columbus Board of Realtors ®.

To determine if you are eligible contact Criterium-Lizkay Engineers at  614-418-7200.  

Art Wickerham with Criterium - Liszkay Engineers

Criterium-Liszkay is one of my favorite Central Ohio home inspection companies. They are featured on the home inspection page of my website.  All of the inspection staff are licensed engineers.

Granite myths...

"5. Granite and Marble are essentially the same:

Other than the fact that they are both natural stones and can be polished, granite and marble are otherwise very different. Marble is generally a calcareous stone, formed from oceanic deposits and then compressed under pressure (metamorphosed). Granite, however, is an igneous rock, essentially molten magma, that is cooled and then hardened below the earths surface."

Did you pay enough attention in school to know your calcerous stones from your igneous rocks?  

I did not.  I took a geology class in college but don't remember much from it and I doubt I was thinking about counter tops altough I majored in interior design the first 2 1/2 years of college so I should have been thinking about counter tops... more than rocks and stones but I don't believe I was thinking granite counterops back then... 

Granite myth #5 is from an email sent out by  Pillar to Post Home Inspections by Tim and Mariana Buell in Central Ohio. I'd be happy to forward the email to you if you need the other 4 myths.  Contact me via email and provide your email.

Or here are ways to contact Tim and Mariana Buell of Pillar to Post Home Inspections in Central Ohio. 
 
614-777-7922
 
PillartoPost.com Hilliard

A home inspection is an important step in purchasing a home.  Your home inspector can help you with knowledge about the care and maintenance of the systems and amenities in your future home.  Things like Granite myths...

A home inspection is to determine defects in the property but information about care can be welcome when you are caring for mechanical systems which may be different or materials like granite or marble, or concrete counters or...

ActiveRain members: Comment at your own risk.  Please note if this content is for the general public and not for the real estate industry, I will delete most comments from ActiveRain members.  Nothing personal. Move along and comment where it will be appreciated!  Thanks.

Note there may be errors! see comment

Home Inspection Answers - Home Buyers

As a home buyer you will want to inspect your prospective home, and your purchase contract (the Columbus Board of REALTORS® purchase contract)  has a lot of information about your rights to have  a home inspection(s)  and tests on the property.  Central Ohio Home Inspection recommendations on my website.

Read your contract for your time frames, rights and obligations when it comes to inspecting the Central Ohio home you are in contract on.

The Home Inspection Crossword Puzzle - Answers

It is not too late to try your luck at the home inspection crossword puzzle.  Click on the link to go to the original with a much larger crossword puzzle.

The Home Inspection Crossword Puzzle Answers are bold and in caps!

Across

4.   The home inspector may tell you if your water PRESSURE is low   

6.   The home inspector will look at the homes downspouts and gutters, the roof's DRAINAGE system

9.   If the kitchen APPLIANCES  are staying the inspector should check the oven, the stoves burners, run the dishwasher, etc.

12.  The home inspector will open the ELECTRICAL service panel and look at the wiring for you.  ***DANGER*** DO NOT DO THIS YOURSELF! 

14.  An INSPECTION clause allows you to have professional(s) look at the physical condition of the home you have a purchase contract on 

16.  Radon MITIGATION is when the level of radon is reduced to a safe level in the home.

17.  The home inspector inspects the homes structural components including the FOUNDATION and framing.

18.  ASHI is a home inspection professional organization, others are NIBI and NAHI.  ASHI stands for AMERICAN  Society Home Inspectors

19.  Home inspectors are not LICENSED in the state of Ohio

24.  The inspection clause in your purchase contract is a CONTINGENCY, because there is language like "contingent on home inspection"

25.  A pest inspector can look for signs of subterranean TERMITES eating the wood parts of your future home

Down

1.  If the house was built before 1978 the seller will do a LEAD paint disclosure, and you may test for it's presence, during the home inspection period per your contract

2.  RADON is an odorless naturally occurring gas that you may want to test for during your home inspection period

3. Mold grows because there is MOISTURE

4.  When the home inspector looks at the pipes that is the PLUMBING system

5.  The pipes in your home may include copper, PVC, GALVANIZED and more.

7. The home inspection is a VISUAL inspection of the home and it's systems. 

8. Your home inspector will be looking for components and systems within the house that need repair or REPLACEMENT

10. Your home inspector may suggest you get a mold inspection based on water INTRUSION

11.  Some home inspectors are ENGINEERS

13.   In the winter months, often your home inspector is unable to test the air CONDITIONING unit for you because it is too cold 

15. An ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) member follows the ASHI  STANDARDS of Practice and Code of Ehtics

18. CARPENTER  ants or bees might be discovered by your pest inspector, the insects have hammers and wear an itty apron with pockets <---- just a pest joke... your pest inspector can tell you how they know 'em when they see 'em
 
19. The wiring in the home and the electrical service to the property may be ALUMINUM or copper

20. Your home inspector is going to look at the FURNACE and tell you whether there are defects and if it is going to keep you toasty warm in the winter

23. Your home inspector is not doing a CODE inspection, that is done by a municipal inspector on new construction or remodeling

More about home inspection:

Do you see what I see? - Infrared imaging in home inspection

Helpful Hint Air Infitration at window panels next to the door  - for homeowners

Maureen McCabe Real Living HER Worthington

Home Inspection

"The American Society of Home Inspectors" is a professional organization for home inspectors... it is sometimes referred to as ASHI.

I have information on the home inspection page on my website about home inspectors who are ASHI. I also have info on  NAHI and NIBI (other home inspector professional organizations) as well as a local company which is not affiliated with any inspection organization.... one of my favorite local home inspection companies...  

The Home Inspection  page on my website.  

Here is some home inspection advice from Real Living:

"Real Living suggests that buyers select an inspector who can provide proof of membership in the American Society of Home Inspectors. Home inspection is presently a comparatively unregulated industry in many states, and ASHI-certified inspectors meet stringent requirements and abide by a sturdy Code of Ethics."

Enough small talk, (there's  is at least one clue above) and this is of course an open book and Internet quiz... or puzzle

Home Inspection Puzzle

Across

4.   The home inspector may tell you if your water _________ is low   

6.   The home inspector will look at the homes downspouts and gutters, the roofs ________ system

9.   If the kitchen _______ are staying the inspector should check the oven, the stoves burners, run the dishwasher, etc.

12.  The home inspector will open the _________ service panel and look at the wiring for you.  ***DANGER*** DO NOT DO THIS YOURSELF!

14.  An ________ clause allows you to have professional(s) look at the physical condition of the home you have a purchase contract on 

16.  Radon _________ is when the level of radon is reduced to a safe level in the home.

17.  The home inspector inspects the homes structural components including the __________ and framing.

18.  ASHI is a home inspection professional organization, others are NIBI and NAHI.  ASHI stands for _______ Society of Home Inspectors

19.  Home inspectors are not ________ in the state of Ohio

24.  The inspection clause in your purchase contract is a __________, because there is language like "contingent on home inspection"

25.  A pest inspector can look for signs of subterranean ______ eating the wood parts of your future home

Down

1.  If the house was built before 1978 the seller will do a ______ paint disclosure, and you may test for it's presence, during the home inspection period per your contract

2.  _____ is an odorless naturally occurring gas that you may want to test for during your home inspection period

3. Mold grows because there is ___________

4.  When the home inspector looks at the pipes that is the _________ system

5.  The pipes in your home may include copper, PVC, ____________ and more.

7. The home inspection is a ______ inspection of the home and it's systems. 

8. Your home inspector will be looking for components and systems within the house that need repair or ____________

10. Your home inspector may suggest you get a mold inspection based on water _________

11.  Some home inspectors are __________

13.   In the winter months, often your home inspector is unable to test the air ________ unit for you because it is too cold 

15. An ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) member follows the ASHI  ________ of Practice and Code of Ehtics

18. __________ ants or bees might be discovered by your pest inspector, the insects have hammers and wear an itty apron with pockets <---- just a pest joke... your pest inspector can tell you how they know 'em when they see 'em
 
19. The wiring in the home and the electrical service to the property may be _______ or copper

20. Your home inspector is going to look at the ________ and tell you whether there are defects and if it is going to keep you toasty warm in the winter

23. Your home inspector is not doing a ______ inspection, that is done by a municipal inspector on new construction or remodeling

Home Inspection

Ohio House Bill 257  Failed

I like Home Inspectors with small shoulders

Here Flashing, Flashing, Flashing....

Maureen McCabe Real Living HER Worthington

Old news...

I found out in January in talking to a home inspector that the bill to license home inspectors in Ohio had failed... or Ohio House Bill 257 had not passed.  Or maybe I knew in 2008... and it just did not phase me with everything else going on in the housing industry.

I could have read it here at the end of January:  Ohio House Bill 257 - Licensing of Home Inspectors in Ohio on Tim and Mariana Buell's ActiveRain blog post in December 2008.  Ohio House Bill 257 would have required Ohio home inspectors to be licensed.  The post says:

"this bill never made it to the Ohio Senate floor for a vote."

That is more never passed than failed, to me.

The Ohio Association of Realtors (OAR) endorsed the bill.

New news...

In my mailbox today an email from Pillar to Post Inspections, Tim and Mariana Buell says:

"However, Ohio Senators Turner, R. Miller and Fedor have re-introduced a similar licensing bill in this session which is Senate Bill 14. "

I understood from talking to a home inspector in January that there is just no money for it NOW. 

Someday.  Maybe.

Until sometime in the future, remember home inspectors are NOT licensed in Ohio.

"Introducing, U.S. Inspect, America's leading national home inspection company"

I have never heard of U.S. Inspect.  I have no idea if they are in the Columbus area.  I am just a sucker for Top 10 Lists!  This is a re-blog of U.S. Inspects post.

Wonder if locally the Top Ten lists would vary.

Are these pretty sparkly icicles on an old drafty house without modern insulation?  Nope the Columbus Ohio  home is only about seven years old, the builder did not insulate over the utility room at the front of the house for some reason.  Or the company that does the insulation did not install the insulation in this part of the house.  The builder did not catch that there was no insulation.  

I am not sure if many new home buyers in Central Ohio spend the money to inspect a newly built house.   It would probably have cost about as much to have the inspection as it is going to cost someone today to have the insulation installed.

How much money has the present owner lost over the years through the roof? 

The present owner is NOT the original owner so the home builder (one of the biggest in Central Ohio) will not put in the insulation for the present owner.  It is not structural. 

Wouldn't it have been great if the present owner's home inspector had caught it when she bought the house?  I wonder if she had an inspection of the house.  It is tempting with a nearly new house to forgo the inspection isn't it?  The house passed all the inspections when it was built right?  And this builder is a bigger and stands behind their product.... right?

Copyright 2009 Maureen McCabe