Properties, Houses and Condos for Sale in St Petersburg Treasure Island Florida

When a water heater is located on an upper floor, it is important that it be protected from leaking.  A drip pan is installed underneath to, hopefully, catch any leaks, sending the collected water to a safer place.

 

 

It's good to see such a pan.

They sometimes need to be cleaned of debris, but a pan in place is a good thing.

You might also see them under washing machines.  Any way to capture water and send it elsewhere it important.

Usually the drainage from such pans works off of gravity.

Why gravity?  Because gravity works every time!

 

 

 

In my experience gravity works best when water is allowed to flow downward.

That little lip as the water flows toward that plumbing in the distance doesn't help.

But even worse, can you see what that tube does when it reaches that plumbing?!

It needs to flow upward a good 18" to get the water into that tube!

Well, at least they covered the tube so no gases get out and into the closet!

There's also a very nice trap!  And all connected into the plumbing vent!

But, all said, this will not work.  That drip pan will be the thing dripping as the water has no way to get out.  And it will be dripping right into the kitchen ceiling below!

Water does not need much incline to be encouraged to flow downward.  The Roman aqueducts flowed for hundreds of miles, and at an incline at times of less than one degree.  They understood the principle fine!

My recommendation:   sometimes things that look to be properly in place are NOT properly in place.  Have a look at the whole thing, not just one small aspect!

P.s.  Home inspectors - the lack of a sediment trap on that gas connection is the subject of the next post!  

 

 

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

This is one question that I hear over and over again from clients: "What is a wind mitigation inspection and why do I need it?" The biggest complaint is that it COSTS money BUT it also SAVES money!

A wind mitigation inspection is the process of having a certified wind mitigation inspector verify that your home incorporates construction methods that provide improved protection against hurricane force wind damage. It is an inspection that generally takes less than an hour and can save you money on your homeowners insurance policy!

Depending on your exact location within the state, the windstorm portion of your policy is somewhere between 15 and 70 percent of your total premium! If you are on the coast, as Pinellas County is, you can be sure that you are in the higher percentile! As a matter of fact, the Florida Department of Financial Services estimates that homeowners who have not had a wind mitigation inspection are overpaying on average 22% on their windstorm protection! Knowing that, why wouldn't you get a wind mitigation inspection?

What is involved in this inspection?

The wind mitigation inspector will check to see that hurricane clips or straps are in place. These secure the roof to the supporting walls. Remember, without these connections being up to code your chances of having the roof blow away in a hurricane increase dramatically.

Shingles or whatever roof covering you have (for example barrel tile roofs) must meet the Florida Building Code requirements. These requirements were updated significantly after Hurricane Andrew. There will be a check to make sure that roof decking has been installed with the larger nails or screws that meet the new codes and that there is closer spacing between nails or screws.

Having full or partial impact resistant glazing on windows and glass doors also brings a discount. The newer windows and sliding glass doors that you find on new construction meet the latest codes. If you decide to change out your windows or sliders be sure that your money is spent wisely by bringing everything up to code. This will save you in the long run!

Does your home have hurricane shutters or coverings for your windows and glass doors? There are temporary structural panels that are installed if a hurricane is coming. This can be as basic as having preinstalled clips around your windows and doors that are used to install your temporary panels. There are also panels that are permanent and can be raised or lowered as needed. This is a bit more expensive but a good idea if you live in a coastal area.

Wind mitigation is something that should not be ignored! When you purchase a home the wind mitigation inspection should be done at the same time that your other home inspections are taken care of. Make sure that the home inspector you choose is certified to do the wind mitigation inspection. Often the inspector for wind mitigation is chosen by your homeowner's insurance company. To be sure that you can have the inspector of your choice do this inspection give your homeowner's insurance company a call and find out.

Remember, while it is no longer hurricane season here in Florida (hurricane season is June through the end of November) any time is a good time to have a wind mitigation inspection. If you already own a home and have not had this inspection done give your insurance company a call today and ask about it! The more you do to safeguard your home from storm force winds, the more you will save on your homeowner's policy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910

Ich Spreche Deutsch!!!

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi Charles Rutenberg Realty Serving the Greater Clearwater Florida Area, the Gulf Beaches and beyond Waterfront condos & homes relocation, investment, upsizing, downsizing Your Real Estate Specialist 727-512-0910 visit my website to see all my current listings www.barbarajo.com connect with me online

If you are thinking of purchasing in the Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Crystal Beach, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs area or along our pristine Gulf Beaches, give me a call! With years of experience in the local real estate market, I am here to assist you in making one of the most important purchases of your life! Give me a call today! Find out for yourself why living along the Gulf Coast is indeed living in Paradise!

No matter what your chosen career---there is a learning curve.

In the trades when the boss tells the helper to go do something, the boss may assume that the helper knows more about the details of what he has been asked to do than he actually does.  In some respects this accounts for how so many defects happen in new construction and in newly remodeled homes.  It is not that the contractor doesn’t know the right way to do it---the right way just hasn’t been adequately communicated.

Take this brand new home’s master bathroom shower. 

Any electrical contractor is going to know that the light fixture inside the shower has to have a water tight cover.  But when the contractor leaves instructions for the helper to install all the decorative trims on the can-lights---while he is off skiing for the day---you might end up with the wrong trim installed on the can-light in the shower.

It is a pretty simple fix---and one the helper will not likely forget the next time.  This is of course unless this is not the first time and he ends up getting fired.

 

 

Charles Buell, Seattle Home Inspector

 

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Click on the Rose to check out: AHA!---A Forum of Landmark Proportions---your Group

PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.

My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.

DeCroe, is my "ethereal" home inspector assistant and occasionally flies into my blog and other people's blogs to offer assistance. To find out more about her beginnings just click on Raven.

 

As houses sit for months, and in the case of this house over a year, conditions can develop that buyers might not consider.  This one photo is reason enough to get a home inspection!  This buyer told me he had been to (and since there was a combo box on the door INSIDE) the house many times.  He had not noticed a lot of what I had on my extensive report, but certainly had not noticed this.

Unfortunately it was a very cloudy and dark day, so this picture may not do this circumstance justice.

This is the gas water heater vent. 

IT HAS BECOME A BIRD CONDO!

At the lower center hole a little one is actually looking out, but not too visible!

This is what I was reminded of when I saw it.

It's a virtual apartment building for birds!

There was grass or a little head peaking out of all eight holes the water heater vent had to offer.

These birds are very clever little fellows.  They know that nobody is living in the home.

Finding this convenient place to locate their nests, probably last spring, they moved in and have raised their families there ever since!

BUT WHILE THIS LOOKS CUTE, IT IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THING FOR A NEW HOMEOWNER!!

I mentioned that the buyer had not noticed this.  What if he had decided NOT to have a home inspection?  He would have moved in.  That water heater is located in an attic space, right beside the upstairs bedroom in this cape cod home!  They would have lit the pilot light and began heating the tank. 

This flue goes down vertically about 2' below the roof, where it turns at a 45 degree angle for about 3' and then to a slight incline for another 4' or so.

Birds would have been killed by the CO produced by the heater.  As they died, they may have fallen into this vent, partially or totally clogging it!

As that poisonous exhaust was discharged it would have been blocked, forcing CO into the home, and that bedroom.

NEED I ASK YOU THE RESULT?

The simple removal of bird nests will prevent all of this, and it was discovered during a home inspection.

My recommendation:  Get a home inspection before you buy!  It may save a life, or two, or more.  Maybe even yours!

 

 

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

Crutch - noun - /krutch/ - a long stick with a crosspiece at the top, used as a support by a lame person.

My first introduction to a crutch was in reading Uncle Wiggily books as a small child.  He had a barber pole crutch to help with his rheumatism, and was never without it.

I was pretty sure I knew what a crutch is used for.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And if you did too, we were both wrong!

Yesterday, on a home inspection with AR's Renee Montgomery, we ran into this.

Oh, it's a long stick, with a crosspiece at the top, but in this case it does not support a lame person.

And it's working pretty well!

The door on the left had the hardware still in place to lock the door.

But the right door had no hardware, and since the garage door opener was disconnected and not operating, there was no way to lock the door.  An enterprising person, with a vision for multi-use, found this crutch somewhere in the house and put it to use.  And it works great!

When a house is for sale it is not a good idea to have an unlocked door.  Too inviting!

When is a door not a door?  When it's ajar!  And ajar, it's an invitation...

 

 

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia

www.jaymarinspect.com

email from North Carolina . We will be relocating to Philadelphia and are looking to buy a home  We saw your profile and web site on the internet. We would like you to help us find a home. How much do you charge ?

ANSWER. If you employ me as your Buyer's agent, you do not have to pay me any thing. I will accept the fees offered by the seller's agent as mentioned in the multiple listing. 

When a seller lists with an agent , the seller offers a certain amount to the listing agent and the agent signs a contract with the seller as to how the agent will split the fees with another agent who procures the buyer. This amount  is mentioned in the mls .

The amount is paid to buyer's agent at settlement. If you do not buy a house I do not get paid for my time and expenses.

When you sign a buyer's agency contract with an agent , you should read it carefully. Some agents may mention that if the seller does not pay a certain amount, you may have to pay the difference. The term of contract and fees are negotiable.

If you need legal advice before signing the contract, talk to an attorney. Please note that laws vary by state.

Gita Bantwal is a Realtor with RE/MAX Centre Realtors in Bucks County, a Northern suburb of Philadelphia. You can view 1000s of listings on her web site www.GitaBantwal.com

She can be reached at 215-343-8200x124 or direct 215-275-8491 or via email gita01@aol.com