Home Inspection Tips

The Things We Find in Attics

Look who I found behind that screen, tucked away in an attic far from prying eyes. Can you tell by the outline of its pointy little ears? It strikes fear in the hearts (and wallets) of homeowners everywhere … bats. Now bats in the wild are an extremely important part of our ecosystem and play […]

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bat in the attic

What’s Wrong with This Picture?

​Can you spot the problem here?​We’ll give you a hint… it rhymes with ‘hissing clownsprout’. . . ​. This gutter is missing a downspout (right side). That means that all of the water from rain, melting snow, etc. drains directly into the area next to and into the foundation. As water penetrates into the foundation

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missing downspout

Thinking of Buying A HoME?

Thinking about buying a home? Join us this Saturday, March 9 in Chapel Hill! It’s free and packed full of excellent information and opportunities to ask questions. Our very own home inspector, Rick Doherty, will be on hand to explain the home inspection process and share tips on what to look for when searching for

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Buying A HoME

How NOT to SupPort Your Home…

  This is definitely NOT what you want to see when entering a crawl space. Nearly all of the beams and joists in this home were being supported by very unstable “piers” that have been cobbled together using bricks and other materials (including a doorstop!). These are  temporary fixes at best and very dangerous, as

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mold in crawl space doherty

Testing HOT Water TempERATURES

Testing water temperatures from all hot water faucets and shower heads is an important part of our comprehensive inspections. This process helps alert the inspector to potential problems with the hot water heater or the plumbing delivery system. Personal preference plays a large role in determining what temperature setting is right for your family, however,

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Testing the water temperature

Crawl Space 101

The crawl space is one of the most crucial areas a home inspector should inspect. This particular opening isn’t exactly large, but trust us, our inspector Rick has gotten into MUCH smaller spaces (attic openings are especially fun!). A home’s crawl space often contains HVAC components, exposed plumbing pipes, insulation, and vapor barriers and/or other

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inside the crawl space

Comprehensive Inspections

Rick Doherty, NC Licensed Home Inspector, on a roof checking for wood and structural damage. Roof inspections, when safe and accessible, are just one of the critical areas covered in our comprehensive home inspections. Rick moves through your home (or potential new home) foot by foot in order to provide the most thorough inspection possible.

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Comprehensive Inspections

Gap in the Attic

This home had a significant – but not obvious from the outside – gap in the attic. I discovered it during the home inspection and made sure to alert my client, the buyer. Gaps like this are an easy entryway for animals and insects like bats, squirrels, birds, hornets, etc. If a bat colony decides

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structural holes
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