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Home » About Us » Columnists » Biographies »

Roller shades get a bad rap

By Barry Stone, Tuesday, February 7, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-237463p1.html" target=blank>Broken window image</a> via Shutterstock.com.

DEAR BARRY: I am a licensed contractor and recently installed some roller shades above the windows of a new home. About two weeks ago a few of the glass panes started cracking -- some at the top and some at the bottom. The window supplier says this was caused by our shades being closer than 3 inches from the windows.

According to the shade manufacturer, the shades could be touching the glass without causing cracks. The manufacturer has been in business for more than 40 years, and they say they've never had this complaint before. But the window company has convinced the homeowners that we are to blame, and they are demanding that we replace the windows. What do you recommend that we do? --Tom  more...

Who is to blame for faulty septic system?

By Barry Stone, Tuesday, January 31, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-182188p1.html">Pipes image</a> via Shutterstock.com.

DEAR BARRY: We bought our home two months ago, and this week our septic system backed up into the basement. When the septic contractor dug up the tank, it had no lid and was filled with dirt. If we had known about this, repairs could have been made before we bought the property. Shouldn't this have been caught by our home inspector? --Whitney

DEAR WHITNEY: Home inspectors report defects that are visible and accessible. Conditions that are underground are exempt from that kind of inspection. The only clue your home inspector might have had would have been slow or congested drains at the sinks, tubs or showers. If those fixtures were draining properly on the day of the inspection, there is no way your home inspector could have known about the problem.  more...

Beware of vague advice in home inspection report

By Barry Stone, Tuesday, January 24, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-211147p1.html" target=blank>Home inspection image</a> via Shutterstock.com.

DEAR BARRY: Our home inspector failed to disclose that our roof is in deplorable condition. The inspection report says, "Due to the steepness of the roof, we were unable to walk on the roof and inspect the flashing, stacks and vent covers. We recommend having a qualified contractor evaluate further if desired."

This week, I walked on the roof with a roofing contractor and was astounded at the bad condition of the shingles. The roofer said the inspection report was worthless. Does the wording in the report absolve the inspector of liability? --Douglas  more...

Homeowner faces dilemma after water well discovery

By Barry Stone, Tuesday, January 17, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-555718p1.html" target=blank>Artesian well</a> via Shutterstock.com.

DEAR BARRY: The plumbing for my house is connected to the municipal water system, but there is an old artesian well in the basement that is pumped to a hose faucet in the yard.

When I bought the property two years ago, neither my real estate agent nor the home inspector said anything about the well being a problem. One year later, the city water department sent an inspector to check our water system. He informed us that a well within city limits was against code and had been for 10 years. We are now faced with a $3,000 bill to have the well sealed and the outside faucet replumbed.  more...

Beware of roofing contractor's apparent swindle

By Barry Stone, Tuesday, January 10, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-50306p1.html" target=blank>Roof repairs image</a> via Shutterstock.com.

DEAR BARRY: Last summer, we hired a contractor to put a new roof on our leaky garage. When he was finished, the final cost was higher than the original estimate because the contractor had to remove the old layers of roofing. Months later, the first rain came and the roof leaked in several places. We called the roofer, and he did some patching. Again, the rains came, and there were more leaks. He did more repairs, but again, the roof continued to leak. Now he blames the layout of the roof and wants more money for further repairs.

We checked his contract, and there is no stated warranty. It just lists the work to be done. What can we do to resolve this situation? --Christine  more...

Bad neighbor can cost you when it's time to sell

By Barry Stone, Tuesday, January 3, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-100760p1.html" target=blank>House for sale image</a> via Shutterstock.com.

DEAR BARRY: My neighbor's dogs inhabit a small chain-link enclosure, located behind my backyard fence. I don't believe anyone ever cleans this area, and the accumulated filth creates an unbearable stench. On days when I'm downwind, I don't dare open a window.

Complaints to the owners have only produced anger and unfriendliness. They just warn me to mind my own business. To complicate matters, I'm now preparing to sell my home and am afraid that this unsanitary condition will deter buyers. What, if anything, can be done to convince my neighbors to eliminate this problem? --Wayne  more...

Is septic inspection really necessary?

By Barry Stone, Tuesday, December 27, 2011.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-124927p1.html" target=blank>Septic system image</a> via Shutterstock.com.

DEAR BARRY: When we bought our home, we did not have the septic system professionally inspected. Instead, we ran water at the sinks, bathtub and shower for more than an hour. There were no backups, so we thought everything was OK because our water test exceeded normal use. Recently, the system was serviced, and we learned that the septic tank is substandard and will soon collapse if not replaced. Are the sellers and real estate agent liable for their failure to disclose this condition? --Ryan

DEAR RYAN: The sellers and agent were required to disclose the problem only if they knew about it. It is highly unlikely that the agent knew the condition of a buried tank. The sellers, on the other hand, may or may not have known, depending on whether there was a septic inspection during the time they owned the property.  more...

Uncovering home inspector kickbacks

By Barry Stone, Tuesday, December 20, 2011.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-3391p1.html" target=blank>Businessman bribery image</a> via Shutterstock.com.

DEAR BARRY: What is your opinion about home inspectors who pay referral kickbacks to Realtors? HUD has said that these kickbacks are illegal, but they are still happening in the marketplace. What are your views of this practice? --Randy

DEAR RANDY: The legality of referral kickbacks may vary from state to state. But regardless of legality, the practice of paying referral fees to real estate agents is entirely unethical and is prohibited by recognized home inspector associations such as the American Society of Home Inspectors, the National Association of Home Inspectors, and similar state associations.  more...

Asbestos disclosure kills home sale

By Barry Stone, Tuesday, December 13, 2011.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-102209p1.html" target=blank>Man in respirator image</a> via Shutterstock.

DEAR BARRY: When we bought our house, our home inspector found a list of "normal" problems but said nothing about asbestos. Now we are selling, and the buyers' home inspector reported "possible" asbestos in all of our heating ducts.

The buyers were so alarmed by this that they canceled their purchase offer. So now we are waiting for a lab report to see if we do have asbestos.  more...

4 truths about home inspectors

By Barry Stone, Tuesday, December 6, 2011.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-528871p1.html" target=blank>Home inspection image</a> via Shutterstock.

DEAR BARRY: I read your column religiously every week and it seems that most of the problems answered by you deal with questionable inspections by home inspectors. I am beginning to think that the majority of home inspectors are either extremely incompetent or are in the pocket of the sellers or realty agents. How can a buyer find an honest, reliable and competent home inspector? --Archie

DEAR ARCHIE: Your question raises more than one issue, so I offer the following four answers:

1. Many of the questions I receive are complaints about home inspectors. Human nature being what it is, people speak up more readily when they have a bad experience than when they have a good one. The fact is, there are many competent home inspectors in the profession, but people don't write to say what a great home inspection they just had. Therefore, the complaints show up often in my articles.  more...

Don't let agent talk you out of home inspection

By Barry Stone, Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-730588p1.html">AISPIX</a>/<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com">Shutterstock</a>

DEAR BARRY: We are buying a mobile home, and our agent says we don't need a termite inspection or a home inspection. She disclosed water damage at the bathroom floor and said this was caused by a window being left open during heavy rain. She says that a contractor can assess the damage. What do you think about this? --Sharon

DEAR SHARON: Any agent who advised clients to forgo a home inspection is either unethical or totally ignorant of the real estate profession. There is simply no excuse for giving that kind of irresponsible recommendation to a buyer. You need to look out for your own interests because your agent is apparently not doing so.

   more...

Soldier's 'as is' home purchase plagued by lies

By Barry Stone, Tuesday, November 22, 2011.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-146416p1.html" target=blank>Tatonka</a>/<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com" target=blank>Shutterstock</a>

DEAR BARRY: I purchased my home a few years ago, but was stationed overseas during the transaction. I trusted my agent and the honesty of the seller, but that confidence was misplaced. They disclosed that the additions were all permitted and that the termite damage was all repaired. They also had me sign that I accepted the property "as is," but I signed this based on their disclosures.

After being discharged and moving in, I learned that two additions were not permitted, the screened porch was separating from the building, and the termite damage was not repaired. Do I have any recourse? --Cheryl  more...

Disclosing trace amounts of asbestos in ceilings

By Barry Stone, Wednesday, November 16, 2011.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-176470p1.html" target=blank>3d brained</a>/<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com" target=blank>Shutterstock</a>

DEAR BARRY: My mother's house was tested for asbestos and it has less than 1 percent asbestos fiber in the popcorn ceiling. The house is for sale, and the disclosure form has a question about asbestos. Is her house in the range where we need to disclose this? If so, is she required to remove the ceiling texture? If she doesn't remove it, will this scare away buyers? --Michelle

DEAR MICHELLE: According to the Environmental Protection Agency, material that is more than 1 percent asbestos fiber is designated as asbestos-containing building material (ACBM) and is subject to special handling and disposal if the material is being removed.  more...

Some home defects not worth fighting sellers over

By Barry Stone, Tuesday, November 8, 2011.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-123907p1.html">sima</a>/<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com">Shutterstock</a>

DEAR BARRY: Ever since I bought my home, the shower has drained slowly. From time to time, I've had to use drain cleaner. But recently, it has gotten really bad, so I finally called a plumber. He said the drain is blocked with concrete and there is no way to get it out.

I called three other plumbers, but they said the same thing. The recommended repair involves tearing out the shower pan because the house is built on a concrete slab. My home inspector said nothing about this when I was buying the home, so I assume the previous owner used drain cleaner before the inspection.  more...

Get overlooked code violations fixed

By Barry Stone, Tuesday, November 1, 2011.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-195160p1.html" target=blank>Binkski</a>/<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com" target=blank>Shutterstock</a>

DEAR BARRY: Last year, we purchased a newly built home. Before closing we hired a home inspector, and no defects were reported. But now we've learned that there were code violations. How could the house be sold if it didn't meet code, and why weren't these things found by the home inspector or the city building inspector? How do we find out who did the code inspections during the building process? What do we do next? --Sandy

DEAR SANDY: Without knowing the nature of the code violations, it is hard to say why these defects escaped the attention of the home inspector and the city building inspector. But here are some general perspectives.  more...

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