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
When you call Doherty Home Inspections, there is an excellent chance you will be speaking to co-owner Lori Doherty. And on the off chance she can’t answer your call, if you leave a message she WILL call you back asap. That in itself is a bit of a rarity these days and as simple
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
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
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
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,
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
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.
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
Happy 2019 everyone! Doherty Home Inspections had a very successful year helping home buyers and sellers prepare for their next big life adventure. We are so grateful to all of you – our clients and real estate agents – who have entrusted us with your current or future homes. We are thrilled to begin 2019
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