by Nick Gromicko and Mike Marlow Here in Texas, every time we get a hail storm through the area, the shady contractors show up offering to replace your roof.  Additionally, contractors don't have to be licensed except in the larger cities, so anyone can call...

So, you want to buy a house cheap, and you look to the foreclosure market. Considering the over-abundance of these properties and just how little many of them are going for, it’s tempting to jump on the bandwagon and buy up. And it may pay off as a long-term...

While the terms “modular home” and “manufactured home” refer to two very different things, they are sometimes used interchangeably. Perhaps some of this confusion stems from the fact that modular homes are, in fact, manufactured (“manufactured” might be an unfortunate...

Formaldehyde is a colorless, pungent-smelling chemical widely used in industries that manufacture building materials and numerous household products. Thus, it may be present in substantial concentrations in indoor environments. Where indoors may formaldehyde be...

What is a home inspection? A home inspection is a visual examination of the home's major structure, systems, and components that are visible and safely accessible.  The inspector should substantially adhere to a standard of practice that outlines what should be...

As a home inspector, I see this issue all the time.  When we get a call for an inspection of a new construction home, one of the questions we ask is if the buyer has an agent.  Looking back, it seems about half of the buyers we work with do have an agent.  Our...

Galvanic corrosion (also known as bimetallic corrosion or dissimilar-metal corrosion) is an electrochemical disintegration that occurs when dissimilar metals come in contact with each other while immersed in an electrolyte. Galvanic corrosion is of major concern...

Veteran Home Inspections was asked to contribute to this article on Redfin: What to Look for When Buying a House If you’ve ever been to an open house or toured a home then you’ve most likely marveled at different home layouts, lamented over beautifully designed...

Handling an emergency situation quickly and correctly requires some practice beforehand. When a fire starts in your home, it can rapidly grow into a very dangerous situation, so knowing what to do is critical. Of course, the best option is to take steps now to reduce...

Are you considering getting a home inspection for an older home? A general home inspector could very well do the job. But there might be instances or cases when there is a need to hire specialists to make sure inspections of specific areas would be accurate. You could...