Jabuka Home Inspections has the extensive construction background combined with specialized training that clients need when buying or selling a home. Jabuka Home Inspections conducts business under a strict Professional Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice adopted from the California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA).

• More than four in five adults think foreclosures and short sales can be good deals.

• 84 percent of respondents say they would be more likely to purchase a distressed (foreclosed or short sale) property after a home inspection deemed it in good condition.

• Consumers are uncertain of the services traditionally included in a home inspection.

• The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) is the Gold Standard of Home Inspectors.

DES PLAINES, Ill, (April  18, 2012) –  According to a survey released today by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), 85 percent of those surveyed believe distressed properties, such as foreclosures and short sales, can be good deals. More than four out of five (84 percent) respondents state they would be more likely to purchase a foreclosed or short sale property if a home inspector found it to be in good condition. This boost in confidence delivered by a home inspection conducted by an ASHI-Certified Inspector (ACI) may be an additional factor to help increase sales of these distressed properties, depleting surplus of inventory and spurring the recovery of the housing market.

The online survey[1]was recently conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of ASHI to better understand current consumer perceptions about the value of a home inspection. Almost nine in 10 (88 percent) adults say a home inspection increases their confidence about the condition of a property. Eighty-four percent of adults believe home inspections are a necessity, not a luxury.

“It is encouraging to learn having a home inspection increases homebuyer confidence,” said Marvin Goldstein, ASHI president. “We look forward to prospective buyers acting on the security brought by home inspections to breathe even more life into the recovering housing market.”

Interestingly, while homeowners are aware of the importance of a home inspection, more than one in four (28 percent) mistakenly believes the purpose of an inspection is to verify that a home complies with local building codes. More than one in 10 (12 percent) confused a home inspection with an appraisal.

“ASHI is focused on raising consumer awareness about the value and components of a home inspection,” said Goldstein. “We will continue to take active steps to clarify for homeowners and homebuyers alike what should be expected during an inspection conducted by an ACI, and set high standards for our members to help ensure their customers are well-informed and satisfied.”

ASHI Certified Inspectors subscribe to the ASHI Standards of Practice, which visually examines the condition of the home’s roof, attic and insulation, foundation, basement and structural components, as well as interior plumbing and electrical systems. For a complete list of what’s included in a home inspection, please visit www.ASHI.org.

ASHI is the only home inspection association accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) for its Certified Inspector Program. Because not all home inspectors are required to be state-licensed, ASHI-Certification is a badge of professionalism and on-the-job experience consumers should look for when hiring an inspector.

To find a local ACI, visit the “Find an Inspector” tool on the organization’s website at www.ashi.org. Customers are advised to check with their local inspector for a complete list of services provided.

About the American Society of Home Inspectors
Founded in 1976 and with more than 5,000 members, ASHI is the oldest and most widely recognized non-profit, professional organization of home inspectors in North America. Its Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics is the industry standard. For more information, visit ASHI online. To stay connected to ASHI news and updates, please visit the association’s Facebook Fan Page and Twitter. 

About Harris Interactive
Harris Interactive is one of the world’s leading custom market research firms, leveraging research, technology, and business acumen to transform relevant insight into actionable foresight. Known widely for the Harris Poll and for pioneering innovative research methodologies, Harris offers expertise in a wide range of industries including healthcare, technology, public affairs, energy, telecommunications, financial services, insurance, media, retail, restaurant, and consumer package goods. Serving clients in over 215 countries and territories through our North American, European, and Asian offices and a network of independent market research firms, Harris specializes in delivering research solutions that help us – and our clients – stay ahead of what’s next. For more information, please visit www.harrisinteractive.com.

Editorial Contact: Roxanne Pipitone, Gibbs & Soell, rpipitone@gibbs-soell.com.

The GSEs issued new guidelines Tuesday that fall under the Servicing Alignment Initiative rolled out last fall and aim to bring greater transparency to the short sale process and expedite decisions related to these pre-foreclosure sales.

Not only is a short sale an effective foreclosure alternative when home retention is no longer an option, but it keeps homes occupied and helps to maintain stable communities, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

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Starting Saturday, April 14, real estate professionals working with BofA will be required to submit five documents for short sales initiated with an offer:

• Purchase Contract including Buyer’s Acknowledgment and Disclosure
• HUD-1
• IRS Form 4506-T
• Bank of America Short Sale Addendum, which includes the Agent Certification form
• Bank of America Third-Party Authorization Form

The acknowledgement and disclosure form, short sale addendum, and the form for third-party authorization are available through the company’s online Agent Resource Center.

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The award is a reflection of the hard work of not only our company, but of many people that have supported our business and contributed to the subsequent success of our organization. We proudly accept this selection to such an elite group of small businesses.

The USCA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

If you are selling a home, you’ll get the highest price in the shortest time, if your home is in top condition. And you want to find out about any hidden problems before your house goes on the market. Almost all sales contracts include the condition that the contract is contingent upon completion of a satisfactory inspection. This is known as the “inspection contingency”. Buyers will insist on a professional home inspection performed by an inspector they will hire. If the buyer’s inspector finds a problem, it can cause the buyer to get cold feet and the deal can often fall through. At best, surprise problems uncovered by the buyer’s inspector will cause delays in closing, and usually you will have to pay for repairs at the last minute, or take a lower price on your home. It’s better to pay for your own inspection before putting your home on the market. Having a pre-listing inspection done will make the entire sale process easier. Find out about any hidden problems and get them corrected in advance, on your own terms. Or present the items “as is” and reflected in the purchase price. Otherwise, you can count on the buyer’s inspector finding them, at the worst possible time, causing delays, and costing you more money. One of the key benefits of having the inspection done before listing the home for sale, is that if there are any problems discovered that need to be repaired, you can have the repairs done on your own terms and on your own schedule. When a problem isn’t found until the buyer has an inspection performed, the deal you’ve worked so hard to get done may fall apart unless you act quickly to get the repairs done. Or you may have to take a lower price, in order to keep the deal moving. In either case, you’ll almost certainly have more headaches, and spend more money, than if you’d known about the problem and had it repaired before negotiations began. You could save thousands by simply being able to shop around and get competitive bids from contractors, rather than being forced into paying for a “rush job” at the last minute. Another area where you can save money is in having flexibility to choose the materials used in repairs. Sales contracts usually specify repairs must be made using materials of “comparable quality”. By identifying needed repairs early, you’ll have the option to save money by using less expensive materials or equipment for the repairs. You can also benefit from simply offering certain items “as is”. Often, you can negotiate with a buyer to accept items in the current condition by stipulating that they are reflected in the purchase price. But that same buyer may walk away from the deal if the conditions come as a surprise, after an offer has already been made. If the home is inspected before the house goes on the market you will be aware of the condition of the house before an offer is made. There won’t be any surprises and the deal is far less likely to fall apart. It takes a lot of effort to get a sales agreement signed in the first place. If the inspection turns up problems, the buyer will want to negotiate a new deal and that second sales agreement is usually even harder to get done than the first one. By having a pre-listing inspection done, you can identify problems early. You may choose to correct them or present them “as is”, assuring that the first offer you accept can move quickly and smoothly to closing without delays or costly surprises.

In preparing for a presentation on insurance and claims, I read in a home inspection manual that the best way to prevent claims was to write good reports. Sounds simple? Sometimes it is, as demonstrated by one of the finest examples of report writing I have seen. In this actual case, the home inspector was able to make a complaining client (an attorney from Nevada) JUST GO AWAY.

With the permission of Scott Kaylor, Pelican Property Inspections, Inc. I’m able to share with you the actual documents and the sequence of events.  He sent me three documents to review: the complaint letter, a copy of the inspection summary page, and his proposed response. First I reviewed the letter to see what was alleged, next the report and then the proposed response.

VIEW THE FULL PDF HERE

Single wall ducts serving range hood require a minimum of 1” clearance to combustible materials since 1997.

Range hood ducting shall be secured with (3) small sheet metal screws at each joint connection, with duct tape or aluminum tape over connections.

Vertical clearance from cook top to hood shall be 30” inches with exception of 24” inches cook top to microwave.

Hood must be the same size as cook top, 30” cook top, 30” hood. 36”

Cook top 36” hood.

Range hoods shall discharge to exterior of the building through single wall ducting.  The duct serving the hood shall have a smooth interior surface, and be air tight. The hood or vent piping shall be equipped with a back draft damper.

Hoods or microwave ovens with rectangular discharge openings must have proper transition connection and be sealed properly.

Ducts serving range hoods shall not terminate in attic, crawl spaces or inside the building.

Jabuka Home Inspections has the extensive construction background combined with specialized training that clients need when buying or selling a home. Jabuka Home Inspections conducts business under a strict Professional Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice adopted from the California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA).