Baker Home Commercial Properties Inspections Blog

Baker's Blogging Homestead is written To Enhance Customer Relationships, Mr. ActiveRain Bob Stewart, layed down another fine Challenge to all the members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Networking community. To write a blog post on just how we Enhance our Relationships with our Existing and New Clients with our blog writing in the ActiveRain community.

Back when I first joined the community, I had not ever read a blog. Now not only do I read and learn from visiting other members blog posts, I've  also had alot of fun writing over 600 blog posts to help others to learn, whether the folks are Real Estate Professionals or the many folks from all over the World, that stop by to visit, along with my Client's, and the folks that will become clients. 

Baker's Blogging Homestead is written To Enhance Customer Relationships, By writing blog posts several times a week, and comment-en on other folks blog posts, sure is like haven an opne phone line to a global audience. I get e-mails and phone calls from folks all over the I would not have ever met otherwise. Now let me tell ya, networken through blogging has all the value of local networken without the travelen and some of those bad breakfasts that can end up a happen. And it sure can do alot for ones ongoing meaningful, over the Country conversations thats going to result in more opportunities than you'll ever imagine. So please be to sure to write blog posts, that can and will be of help to all folks. And to help Enhance Customer Relationships with your clients.  
 

So just how is my blog useful for folks, and just how do I use my little ole Blogging Homestead to help my clients and the folks that are going to become clients, will one way is by writing blog posts. That help folks to understand about their new home and the many components that make up a home. When I have found a major item dring one of my Clients Home or Commercial Property Inspections I add a copy of the blog post, that will help them to even better understand about the problem that was found with their Inspectin Report.

 I also burn my blog posts on to DVD's to send or I send a link to a blog post that will be of help to pass Clients or a prospective Client that would like to determine, just what I do know about my profession. I also add blog posts in to the Home Care and Maintenance Manual, that I give to my Clients. They can either receive the manual, printed on linen paper in a nice binder, or on DVD.

Baker's Blogging Homestead is written To Enhance Customer Relationships, I always do my best to write about subjects that will be of help to folks, and of interest to help them to know more, and to get pleasure from reading and studying.

Link to another post you may like to read:

Baker Home Commercial Properties Inspections Blog can help You

Post 611 - 30 Oct. 2009

Baker Home Commercial Properties Inspections Blog can help You, Thank You for visiting, and its a pleasure to have you stop by, my little ole Blogging Homestead. I've done my best to keep my blog posts simple and straightforward. I've coverd everything from basic home safety, regular home maintenance, Home and Commercial Properties Inspections.

You'll be able to find out about basic household emergencies, plumbing, electrical, and all other things you and your family should be will aware of within your home. Please keep in mind that the blog posts are not a repair manual. And if your home should have a problem come up, then you really should contact the right professional, for that component.

Baker Home Commercial Properties Inspections Blog can help You, What my blog posts are really all about, is to help you understand about the many components of your home, and what to look for and how to avoid the basic problems that can occur around your home.

With all of that in mind, I'd like to Thank You once again for choosing to visit my little ole Blogging Homestead. Please feel free to share with your friends, and come back as often, as you would like.

Baker Home Commercial Properties Inspections Blog can help You, and of course, if you should  have any questions about your home and would like me to inspect your home to help you avoid the critical problems that inevitably and eventually strike most homeowners, be sure to give me a call or send off an e-maill my way. I can help you better understand your home and address potential problems before they become serious ones.


I'm a Certified Professional Home Commercial Properties Inspector, and you can rest easy knowing that after I've examined your home, you'll get a full report presented in a clear, complete and professional manner.

I'll take the appropriate measures to make sure that you are very familiar with the home and the condition of its major components.

Baker Home Commercial Properties Inspections Blog can help You, home ownership is a wonderful experience, but its not without its pitfalls. The good news is that the right information can help to ensure that the pitfalls are minimized and truly maximize the enjoyment of your home, for you and your family.

Thank You once again for visiting my little ole Blogging Homestead, I hope you find the blog posts to be helpful.   

Post 613 - 5 Nov. 2009       

Home Owners Do you Prevent Fats and Greases from Damaging your Septic, Fats, Oils, and Greases are not just bad for your arteries and waistline, these things are also very bad for your private Septic System  or public Sewer System. A Septic or Sewer System  a overflow or backup can cause health hazards, damage home interiors, and can very will threaten the environment. An increasingly common cause of overflows is sewer pipes being blocked by grease. Grease gets into the sewer from household drains as will as from poorly maintained grease traps in restaurants and other businesses.

Just where dose grease come from?

Most of us know grease as the byproduct of cooking. But grease is also found in such things as: Meat fats, lard, cooking oil, shortening, butter and margarine, food scraps, baking goods, sauces, and dairy products. Too often, folks wash grease into the home's plumbing system, usually through the kitchen sink. Grease sticks to the insides of sewer pipes, both on your property and in the streets. Over time, the grease can very will build up and block the entire pipe.

Home Owners Do you Prevent Fats and Greases from Damaging your Septic, your home garbage disposals dose not keep grease out of your plumbing system. These units only shred solid material into smaller pieces and do not prevent grease from going down the drain. Commercial additives, including detergents, that claim to dissolve grease may very will just pass the grease down the line and end up causing problems in other areas.

The results could very will be:

• Raw sewage overflowing in your home or your neighbor's home.
• An expensive and unpleasant cleanup that often must be paid for out of your home budget.
• Raw sewage overflowing into parks, yards, and streets.
• Potential contact with disease-causing organisms.
• An increase in operation and maintenance costs for your local sewer department, which ends up causing higher sewer bills for customers.
  

Home Owners Do you Prevent Fats and Greases from Damaging your Septic,You see its really best to keep, these kinds of materials out of the sewer system in the very first place. 

 Post 612 - 1 Nov. 2009

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A Safe Water Supply, a safe water supply sure is critical to protecting publie health, is the first obligation of all water suppliers. Without the modern water systems, diseases such as cholera and dysentery would be part of our everyday life.

In the United States, water utilities are monitored for more than 100 contaminanta and must meet close to 90 regulations for water safety and quality. Those water standards are among the world's most stringent.

A Safe Water Supply, States usual also require utilities to meet additional standards. Community water supplies are tested evey day. Tap water undergoes far more frequent testing than bottled water. Many North American water systems add small amounts of fluoride to their water supplies to help prevent tooth decay. Kid's cavity rates have been reduced b6y 20 to 40 % where fluoridation has been implemented.

Did you know? That water utilities provide customers with a detailed report on the quality of their drinking water every year. If you would like your utility's report, you just need to contact your local utility company. Or you can visit http://www.drinktap.org

Post 610 - 28 Oct. 2009

Hydrant Flushing in Cavendish Vermont, Monday 26 October through Wednesday 28 October 2009, during the hours 9:00 A.M. to 5 P.M. the Cavendish Municipal Water System, will be do-en the Town's Fall Hydrant Flushing.

The Cavendish Municipal Water System, would like to remind the system users that Hydrant Flushing  may cause temporary discoloration and turbidity of the water. This very important system maintenanance procedure is something that needs to be conducted each Fall and Spring. The flushing program allows the pipes to be purged and the hydrants checked for proper operation.

Hydrant Flushing in Cavendish Vermont, they would like to advise the users to avoid drinking the water or washing their clothes, (especially whites) while discoloration is evidence. Following Hydrant Flushing in any Town or City, users should run the cold water until its clear before resuming normal use. If you use water to heat your home, its also highly advisable to flush individual water heaters after the water clears following a Hydrant Flushing in your Town or City.

Post 609 - 25 Oct. 2009

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The Halloween Jack O' Lantern Learn about it in Chester Vermont, have you gave any thought as to why we carve Jack O' Lanterns for Halloween? You sure can find out today on the Green in Chester Vermont. You'll be able to meet Michael Caduto at Misty Valley Books at 4:00 P.M. will tell us about it. Mr. Caduto will perform the old Irish folk tale, Mean John and the Jack O' Lantern.

This Irish folk tale, is in the newly pubished August House Book of Scary Stories. There are three main characters in the story, theres Mean John, Saint Peter, and the Devil appear in places far afield. Heaven and Hades, a blacksmith's forge and a lonely nocturnal marsh.

The Halloween Jack O' Lantern Learn about it in Chester Vermont, folks like's Caduto's storytelling for its expressive personalities, voices and imagery. Mr. Caduto will also tell another scary story or two and will be berforming the audience participation song, Keepers of the Night. Come on out and for a fun afternoon, enjoy youself.

Post 608 - 25 Oct. 2009

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Charlestown New Hampshire Folks come join A Halloween Carnival, on Sunday 1st of November 2009, the Cub Scouts of Charlestown are sponsoring a free Halloween Carnival from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. at Charlestown's Primary School. Theres going to be a whole lot of fun Carnival games, Costume judging to take part in, and a huge minatour maze.

Children attending must be accompanied by an adult. The P.T.A. will also be haven a winter clothing rummage sale, and taken wreath orders in the School at the same time, Please be sure to attend to show your support.

Post 606 - 24 Oct. 2009

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First Time Home Buyers Need to Know About Charlestown, NH Property Tax, Charlestown Town Governing body, being in the Economic times we are in, why are you going to make it harder on the folks that live here, and those that just might be thinking of bauying a home and moving their familys to Charlestown, New Hampshire, by increasing the Property Taxes 3.9 percent for 2009 Tax year.

This percent will raise home owners property Taxs to $24.30 per $1000.00 of assessed propery. First Time Home Buyers, and Home Owners this is a 94 cent increase over last year's. Charlestown Governing body's portion of this increase will be up 3 cents from the $5.92 of last year, to $5.95 for this current year's Property Taxes.

First Time Home Buyers Need to Know About Charlestown, NH Property Tax, Sullivan County's portion of the Property Tax rate has dropped 12 cents from last year's $2.77 to $2.65 for this current year. Our local School Tax is taken an increase of 90 cents, up to $14.29 from last year's $13.39, and the State School portion is up 13 cents $2.35 from last your's $2.22. All this means, that a home in Charlestown valued at $150,000 will be seeing an increase of $141.00 in Property Taxes this year.

Most of this is due to a loss of revenue sharing funds from the State of New Hampshire. Even after the State took a big raise of all fees folks have to pay. Motor vehicle registrations are way down in Town of Charlestown, this could very will be from the high increase of the fee by the State at the start of this year. Building permits are way down also for the Town of Charlestown.

First Time Buyers Need to Know About Charlestown, NH Property Tax, just may be if the State of New Hampshire, the Towns, the Citys, would stop and think. If they would take a real long and hard look at the money they spend, and if all the top Government Officals would take a decrease in what they pay them selves, then maybe regular folks would not have to have a hrad time of paying their bills and home mortgage, then we could see a decrease in foreclosures.  

Post 607 - 24 Oct. 2009

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Real Estate Agents Do You Recommend To Your Clients? I sure hope you do! To have a Mold Inspection and test? What I'm about to to talk with y'all about, could very will be a Halloween nightmare story for a movie.

This here story took place in a home in Greenville, North Carolina. The home had a bookcase with a hidden room behind it, the room had a dark and terrifen secret, along with a note. Seen that one of your buyer clients, may just pick one of Fannie Mae's foreclosed on home. You'll sure want to know about this.

Real Estate Agents Do You Recommend To Your Clients? I sure hope you do! as a Real Estate Agent, you just may want to recommend to your buyer clients, to have a Mold Inspection and have the home tested. Even if the home is listed as is. And you just may want to have a talk with your seller clients, about being sure to diclosing about any kind of Mold problem they may have had. After you read this.

Most State Standars of Practice protect a Home Inspector from this kind of a lawsuit.

The Standars of Practice could very will say, systems and conditions that are not within the scope of the inspection include, but are not limited to: environmental hazards, lead paint, toxic or flammable materials, asbestos, and radon. Pest infestation, portable appliances, like washer, dryers, window air conditioners. Security systems, telephone or in home television systems, fire or lawn sprinklers systems, swimming pools, spas or worlpools. Playground or any other recreational or leisurs equipment. Below ground septic or drainage systems, water wells, zoning ordinances, or any items that are considered cosmetic in nature. If the Inspector makes any general comments about any of these systems and conditions of these systems are informational only and do not represent an Inspection.

Real Estate Agents Do You Recommend To Your Clients? I sure hope you do! enough suspense, click to read the whole story, of the family that that ended up buying the home. 

Post 605 - 24 Oct. 2009

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The First Little Pig had a a Straw Home, that there first little pig, should have had a Home Inspection. Then the big bad wofe would not been able to blow his home down. Folks in Aermica, first started build-en homes with Straw Bales, back in the 1800's. There are folks now a days, that are using the technique to build their home. Did you know theres enough Straw growen in Aermica, to build a half million homes every year. And you very will could save 75 % on heating your home of Steaw Bales.

Straw Bales walls also have an excellent load bearing capacity. Some folks have even duilt them selves a two storey home using Straw Bales. There is one little ole problem for folks that come along, and want to buy a Straw Bale home. Will you see there just not very many Home Inspectors, that know how to Inspected a home built using Straw Bales. There are no courses offered to train Home Inspectors, to do inspections of these very unique homes. I'm very lucky, that I got to learn how from a man that built Straw Bale homes. He was a master builder.

The First Little Pig had a Straw Home, Seen that the Straw Bales used for the walls of the home, are hidden behind plaster, drywall even sometimes. Inspect-en these homes involve more than a stick home, does most times. An Inspector needs to do pre-inspection research, that should include a search for the plans of the home, find out if there was any photos taken as the home was being built, talk with the builder if at all possible. The Home Inspector should have an understanding of Straw Bale construction practices.

Even though a Straw Bale Home is very comfortable and energy-efficient, they can also be very unhealth if it was improperly designed or built. Some promotional campaigns have made these homes sound very simple to build, than they really are. Becouse of this, there have been homes constructed by builders and homeowners even, who were not at all qualified to do so.

The First Little Pig had a Straw Home, So folks if your thinking of buying a Straw Bale Home, be sure to have a Home Inspector, that knows about these home do the Home Inspection.   

Post 604 - 18 Oct. 2009

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Engineered Wood I-Beams Exposed to Fire Part one, a engineered wood I-beam is  a structural component of top and bottom flanges, which could be solid or laminated wood, united with a plywood or Oriented Strand Board web of various depths separating them. Engineered wood I-beams are primarily used for floor systems but can also be found in some roof applications. You'll find they are manufactured up to sixth feet in length for applications where folks desire an open floor space area. The cross section resembles the same shape of a steel I-beam, which is how its name came about.

The development of engineered wood I-beams, they were frist develop in 1969, The cost and performance drove the development of the engineered wood I-beam "I-joists as they are also known by ", They were designed to provide open floor spaces, At one time they were only considered for the high-end residential market.

Engineered Wood I-Beams Exposed to Fire Part one, the prevalence, they were used in fifty percent of new residential construction, the rising cost of solid sawn lumber made the engineered wood I-beam floor system affordable, the ease of there installation reduce the labor costs for builders.

Theres a real hazard in home that have had engineered wood I-beams used in the construction of them. The collapse potential of engineered wood I-beams that have been exposed to fire presents an extreme danger. 

Post 603 - 18 Oct. 2009

Link to Part two

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Engineered Wood I-Beams Exposed to Fire Part two, new construction, nearly half of all new residential construction utilize engineered wood I-beams, these and other truss floor components are the norm for wood construction. Residential buildings built after 1990 are suspect for haven engineered wood I-beams or some type of truss floor system.

The hazards and risks of engineered wood I-beams is they burn rapidly due to a very high surface to mass ratio characteristic of kindling.

Just like a common truss, the engineered wood I-beam substitute geometry for mass to support the intended load. Engineered wood I-Beams rely on their depth for stability and allow for a reduction of material to carry the intended load. A reduction in mass means a much faster burn time and alot less time to structural failure.

Engineered Wood I-Beams Exposed to Fire Part two, just as a common truss, engineered wood I-beams are dependent on the bonds of its composite parts for stability. The adhesives used in engineered wood I-beams can quickly lose strength and integrity when damaged and weakened by heat exposure and flame impingement. Structural integrity will be compromised by improper cutting or notching of structural members during construcyion. The strength of a engineered wood I-beam is dependent on proper installation which may not be assured in construction practice.

A distinct building advantage of engineered wood I-beams is they can span up to sixty feet with out additional support. That sure will lead to much faster installation in itself, and less costly building material to the builder.

Engineered Wood I-Beams Exposed to Fire Part two, a bad thing is, theres no benefit to extinguish a burning truss, theres no repairing them. Often times the entire floor must be replaced. Fires involving the structural components of a building built with wood truss systems, including engineered wood I-Beams are usual a total loss.

Post 602 - 18 Oct. 2009

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My Blood is Boiling and I'm going to Take Them On, you might be asken, what in the world is wrong?

Seen that I'm a Vet, just as many other members of the ActiveRain community are. Receiving an E-Mail from a low life Scammer, claiming to be a Lt. Colonal in the U.S. Army, and stating that he is the Commander of the 1st. Battalion 63rd. Armor Regiment in Iraq. Is truely enough to royally pess this Vet off.

The Scammers of the world, operate in a number of different ways, but a Scammer always work on the emotions of folks. To force them to make decisions that can bring them real harm, if they should fall for the scam.

My Blood is Boiling and I'm going to Take Them On, the Scammers know that most folks who end up getting scammed, very often have so much pride that they will not admit to being taken, Scammers know that they can operate without impunity, going from household to household with their plan to extract money from hard working folks. Don't let your pride get in the way, report Scammers to the police and be prepared to file a complaint and testify in court if need be.

Pleace stand with me to help stamp out the Scammers of the world.   

Post 600 - 16 Oct. 2009

The E-Mail

First Time Home Buyers did the home have any water intrusion into it, a having a Mold Inspection and Testing can help to know for sure. When your going to buy a new or a used home, you should think about also have a Mold Inspection.

Here are some question you really should ask yourself, when your looking at homes on the market.

• Was there any kind of musty smell in the home or other buildings?
• Was there at all any visible signs of water damage in any where in the home?
• Did the home have a wet basement?
• Did the home your looking at, ever had any roof leaks?
• Did the home ever have a plumbing leak?
• Does the home have a crawlspace?
• Did you have any allergic symptoms, as you were looking at the home? Like sneezing, runny or itchy nose, watering or itchy eyes, did anyone start wheezing and coughing, or an asthma attack as you viewed the home?

On behafe of Leilani with Souza Realty out in California, I'm adding this tip to the list, from her fine comment.

• If the interior has been freshly painted, look even harder...it may been done to cover up something.
  

First Time Home Buyers did the home have any water intrusion into it, being a First Time Home Buyer, you may not really know the whole water intrusion history of the home or the home has had any past mold related problems it may have had.

Post 598 - 13 Oct. 2009

First Time Home Buyers and Home Owners Water Pipe Leaks and Mold, if your home has any water pipe leaks, Mold sure is going to love your home. Mold needs moisture in order to thrive and grow. Many of the mold problems folks have in their, originate from the result of some kind or intrusion by water, especially the ones that folks have not resolved quickly. Water and pipe leaks are very common culprits, seen they provid all the moisture, that mold needs and loves. And because most leaks are so often undetected for months, and sometimes even years if they are minor ones.

Most home owners, when they discover a leak of some kind. Do not take the appropriate steps are not usual taken to minimize the potential of mold growth problems.

First Time Home Buyers and Home Owners Water Pipe Leaks and Mold, by the time leaks are discovered by the home owner, they have found too late, and seen that the mold had ample time and opportunity to grow in the same hard to find spot where the water leak had occured, such as in a wall cavitie. Following a monthly home maintenance schedule, it can help you cut down on having problems in your home.    

Post 597 - 12 Oct. 2009

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First Time Home Buyers and Home Owners do you know about Relative Humidity, Are you going to be liven in an area that has high Humidity, then your going to be on the look out for potential Mold problems. Did you know that outdoor Humidity affectes the indoor Humidity levels of a home and even commercial properties. This creats the perfect environment for  toxic Mold growth.

If your home has a Relative Humidity level, thats greater than 55 percent promotes growth of Mold and other fungi. Even though Relative Humidity remains fairly consistent outdoors, its a different story for the inside of a home, it fuctuates drastically. This is from the result of your Home being altered by the artificial heating and cooling.

First Time Home Buyers and Home Owners do you know about Relative Humidity, because of this happing inside of the home, and commercial properties , its critical for you to closely monitor the Relative Humidity levels in different parts of your home or commercial properties. Seen that Relative Humidity can very will vary from room to room in a building. 

Post 596 - 11 Oct. 2009

Home Inspectors have a Heart that can Brake also, we some times get a phone call, that just brake's our heart. Just like the one, that I received the other day. There was a very nice lady on the line, and she started telling me about her home, that she, her son, and her baby thats on the way live's in. She is need-en and want-en an Inspection and test-en done for Black Mold. I could hear in this poor lady's voice that she was really truely worried as she told me, that she believes her home has a major problem, and could very will be full of this very deadly Mold. I'll be leaveing to do the Inspection and testing in just a bit.

This kind of thing sure is one of the major reasons, why folks really need to have a Home Maintenance plan in placed, for their home. And its a very good idea to have a Home wellnes Inspection done ones a year. Or at least every other year.

Home Inspectors have a Heart that can Brake also, there are approximately 400,000 types of mold, and less than 100,000 have been named. About a 1,000 types of mold are found indoors all across America. Less then 80 molds are suspected of caus-en some kind of illness, and only a few of them are considered toxic.

 Post 595 - 10 Oct. 2009

First Time Home Buyers do you understand Your Real Estate Agent's language, as far as to the language your Agent is speaking. The language that any professional, like Contractors, Engineers, Builders, Lawyers, even some Home Inspectors. All these folks, can sound like they are speaking a foreign language at times. Real Estate terms sure can also be a bit confusing. Heres a a mini-glossary of the most common ones used, to help you out.

• CMA: Comparable Market Analysis, a home evahuation based on properties that have sold in a neighborhood, that similar to the home and property your looking at.
  
• Disclosure: This coves many Documents, its a document that a seller needs to fill out, disclosure laws vary from State to State, but most sellers are required to tell you about, known material defects, that could very will could affect the value of the home you thinking of buying. At the closing, you'll receive a packet of disclosure statements, many of them are required by law. The documents could very will include: The appraisal notice, private mortgage insurance disclosure. transfer of mortgage servicing disclosure statement, these are a few.
• Earnest Money: A good faith deposit provided as consideration when a buyer makes an offer to purchase a property contract.
  
• Purchase and Sale's Agreement: A contract from the Buyer to the Seller offering to purchase the home and property for a certain price.

First Time Home Buyers do you understand Your Real Estate Agent's language,These are just a few of Real Estate terms, you'll want to be able to understand, when talking with your Real Estate Agent. I'll be posting more on this subject, to help you.     

Post 594 - 7 Oct. 2009

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What is a Warranty Deed and Wording You can find in it, in New Hampshire!, a General Warranty Deed from is used to convey an interest in real estate. The General Warranty Deed, is to help guatrantee that the title conveyed is good and its transfer is rightful. It includes a promise by the preson maken it (the Seller) that he or she, or both will defend the Grantee (the Buyer) from any and all claims of others. (I need to add, that it does not always) I'll explain why I made that statement at the end of this post. Heres another part of the Warraty Deed, that does not always hold true, in New Hampshire. A General Warranty Deed is used in most Real Estate deed transfers and offers the greatest protection of deed.

What is a Warranty Deed and and Wording You can find in it, in New Hampshire!, Two certain tracts or parcels of land situate in the Town of XXXX, County of XXXX and State of New Hampshire, more particularly bounded and described as follows:

Tract 1