Send us a text first-time homebuyer’s emotional rollercoaster — from panic to potential — when they see an abandoned house they just bought. Part 1 First time home buyer Jason Land walks out of his first showing because it was a cluttered old home with overgrown vegetation even after i told him Don't Panic! Jason shares his emotional experience and we discuss how to best use his home inspection report. Support the show Listener Feedback Is Always Welcome and Appreciated. Is there a pa...

Send us a text John Laforme and YC with SoCal Seismic Foundation discuss the pros and cons of CMU (concrete masonry unit), brick and River rock foundations. They note that many older CMU foundations are hollow and difficult to retrofit, while brick foundations are often unreinforced and non retrofit-able. They emphasize the importance of inspecting for anchor bolts and rebar, which indicate a foundation's structural integrity. They also discuss the high cost of foundation replacements, averag...

Send us a text The posts and piers under your home support the foundation and floor structure of your house. They help distribute the weight of the home evenly to the ground, preventing sagging, shifting, or structural failure. Specifically, they support: John Laforme and YC from SoCal seismic construction discuss the importance of posts, piers, and beams in home foundations. They explain that these interior elements support the floor joists and walls, and can face issues like spalling, deter...

Send us a text John Laforme and YC of SoCal Seismic discuss foundation issues such as efflorescence and spalling. Efflorescence is white mineral deposits from moisture intrusion, while spalling is concrete crumbling. They emphasize the importance of proper foundation inspections and testing, such as the pen test, to assess the sturdiness of foundations. A foundation replacement can cost around $85,000. They also highlight the impact of expansive soil, which expands and shrinks with moisture, ...

Send us a text Seismic retrofitting your foundation is crucial if you live in an earthquake-prone area. Here’s why it’s a smart investment: 1. Protect Your Home from Structural Damage Many older homes were not built to modern seismic codes and can suffer severe damage or even collapse during an earthquake. Retrofitting strengthens your foundation and connections to prevent shifting or cracking.2. Enhance Safety for You and Your Family A stronger foundation means less risk of walls, roofs, or ...

Send us a textJohn Laforme and YC from SoCal Seismic Construction House Bolting discuss foundation issues, emphasizing the commonality of cracks in raised foundations. YC explains that vertical cracks are typically caused by improper drainage and can be repaired with epoxy injection and metal straps. Horizontal cracks, however, indicate foundation failure due to rebar issues. They highlight the importance of proper drainage and rain gutters to prevent foundation problems. Contact Informa...

Send us a textJames Walsh Explains what Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) is and how important it is to file before the 12/31/24 deadline. If you own a business in the United States do not delay and file today with link below.James has created a website to help you with filing your BOIhttps://boifilings.com/Click link below to watch the YouTube version of this episode.https://youtu.be/r7gfkBV8tWkFiling your Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) before December 31, 2024, is essential due...

Send us a textIn this podcast I am joined by Oreoluwa Babatunde Co-Founder & Head of Software @ UplinkRobotics LLCJohn Laforme and Ore Babatunde discussed the latest developments in robotics for home inspections, including drones, rovers, crawl bots, and camera technology. They explored potential applications such as navigating tight spaces and providing detailed images. Later, they discussed starting a robotics company and potential uses in search and rescue operations. They discussed de...

Send us a textJohn Laforme and Ron King discuss the effects of hard water on homeowners, They emphasize the need for proper evaluation and recommendations for water treatment systems, highlighting the importance of testing water quality and evaluating plumbing system tolerance. Ron also discuss's water quality standards and regulations set by the EPA and local water providers, arguing that these standards should balance consumer preferences with what providers can deliver.Homeowners can check...

Send us a textMy guest Doug Smaldino is the owner of Hillhurst Mortgage located in Los Feliz California. I purchased my home with the help of Doug and and his awesome team at Hillhurst Mortgage back in October 2022.Doug has a message for all first time home buyers!Stop Procrastinating and buy a home now! Don't worry about the rates so much just focus on getting your foot in the door of that house you have always wanted. Once your in you can always refinance to a lower rate when that time arri...

Send us a textIn this episode I am joined by Isaac Colon the owner of Electric Brothers Co. located in Pico Rivera California. I hired Isaac to do a major electrical upgrade on my home. I found his company searching on google, I am 200% satisfied with the work they did and their professionalism before, during and after the electrical upgrade.I highly recommend Electric Brothers Co.Isaac explains what we all need to know about electrical panels and which brands you should replace asap!&nb...

Send us a textIn This episode Skip Walker and I talk about home inspection report writing and you probably suck at it! Yes this means you! The report is your product and thats what your selling to your client, so consider each and every report to be your masterpiece. Fine tune your reports or risk having a potential legal issue with your clients. A well written canned response for a system defect written in 1980 is probably not going to cover most of todays homes so remember to proof rea...

Send us a textIn this episode I am joined by Isaac Colon the owner of Electric Brothers Co. located in Pico Rivera California. I hired Isaac to do a major electrical upgrade on my home. I found his company searching on google, I am 200% satisfied with the work they did and their professionalism before, during and after the electrical upgrade.I highly recommend Electric Brothers Co.Isaac explains what we all need to know about electrical outlets aka receptacles & plugs in your home in...

Send us a textPart 2: Emil Kapanadze with EKO Flooring joins me to discuss underlayment's for Engineered Hardwood flooring and Luxury Vinyl flooring. Emil explains correct installation techniques from his years of experience installing all types of flooring including correct underlayment and moisture barrier applications.Emil also gives ballpark costs for different types of flooring cost and installation.Did you know that most engineered hardwood and luxury vinyl flooring is discontinued afte...

Send us a textI am joined by home inspector Skip Walker who is also one of the co-authors of the Code Check series. Skip and I discuss report writing best practices as well as how to utilize the code check series of books.Code Check Series books are the most widely used code reference series in the U.S. Each Code Check book is a condensed guide to the most commonly used code sections. They include many of the most common code violations encountered by building inspectors, contract...

Send us a textEmil Kapanadze with EKO Flooring joins me to discuss Engineered Hardwood flooring Vs. Luxury Vinyl flooring.Emil explains correct installation techniques from his years of experience installing all types of flooring including correct underlayment and moisture barrier applications.Did you know that most engineered hardwood and luxury vinyl flooring is discontinued after just a few years? This is great information from Emil, So if your buying flooring be sure to buy an extra box o...

Send us a textIs home solar for everyone? Or is solar just snake oil? I have not been sold on solar because of past conversations with solar contractors and realtors as well as home owners. As of now no one has explained solar to me in a way i could understand it and how solar would benefit me. So does it really work? And is solar for all home owners or all homes?Lets Ask MannyI met the owner of Solar Service Professionals Manny Hernandez when he hired me to inspect his home from a referral c...

Send us a textFire Captain James Walker shares his 24 years of firefighting experience with us to better educate and bring awareness to common causes of home fires. Look, we all get complacent in our own homes and ignore potential fire hazards with everyday bad habits. Are you cooking dinner on the range and then going outside to watch the kids while the open flame is unattended in the kitchen?Are you lighting candles next to flammable materials?Are you falling asleep with a lit cigarette?If ...

Send us a textHome inspection attorney Greg Pyfrom is back with more legal claim discussion regarding home inspectors, home buyers and realtors. Greg shares a few ongoing legal claims with me as well as some past claims. Did you know that singer/song writer Rihanna had a major house defect claim on a home she had purchased where a major water leak into the home was discovered during a major rain event. Greg fills in some of the details.Support the showListener Feedback Is Always Welcome and A...

Send us a textIs home solar for everyone? Or is solar just snake oil? I have not been sold on solar because of past conversations with solar contractors and realtors as well as home owners. As of now no one has explained solar to me in a way i could understand it and how solar would benefit me. So does it really work? And is solar for all home owners or all homes?Lets Ask MannyI met the owner of Solar Service Professionals Manny Hernandez when he hired me to inspect his home from a referral c...