About New Haven County, CT

So much in life is open to interpretation. We are all individuals and the color of the sky may be just a bit in your world than it is mine. Our differences make us unique and give life a beautiful twist. What a dull world it would be if we all saw things exactly the alike. However in some instances ones opinion may better be left locked away in a corner of one’s mind.

As a home inspector I am paid for my opinions and above all else my knowledge. This is the same with all inspectors. What I have come to learn is there are times when opinion is good and when it should be substituted with information.

A case in point. On a recent inspection I was informed that the home had been previously not long ago. The buyer had walked because of the home inspector had said the boiler was no good. I was told there was a hole in it.

I usually do not want to know what the other inspector said or found. This info was foisted on me several times by different people before and during the inspection. Unfortunately I can not stop the eagerness of well intentioned help.

I checked the boiler, found the “hole” was in the fire box refractory ceramic liner. In fact the liner was overall in bad condition. I told my clients, the boiler is older, it is working and the refractory is a repairable item. I did advise that replacement is a good idea in the short term for several reasons. At no time did I declare the unit shot or no good. What I did advise was servicing and repairing the unit. I also advised for further evaluation of the boiler during repair of the refractory. The heating professional may at that time condemn the unit, but I certainly could not do so based on the little information I had, but more importantly I am not in this instance qualified to make that call.

Which leads me to a second point, my inspection is a visual assessment. That boiler required invasive inspection which naturally comes along with repairs. I explain to clients often several times during an inspection that what I see may in no way be the full extent of the problem. The repair person will ultimately determine the scope of the necessary work. In the case of that boiler, when the heating professional pulls the unit apart, he may find the heat exchanger is bad, or the unit also needs several other components in order for it to be repaired properly and safely.

That possibility should be anticipated by all parties in the transaction. In other words, asking for a new refractory liner may not cover the scope of the necessary work. Unanticipated repairs could lead to work being only partially done, especially if the seller is requested to make repairs. The seller and or their agent may believe the request was only for “X”, not XY&Z.

Ultimately home inspectors and their reports are going to be interpreted in different ways by different people involved in the transaction. The best course to resolving issues is probably one where the most information is obtained leading to fair compromises.

James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
Former SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services we offer in Connecticut click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our home energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

Serving the Connecticut Counties of Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, Southern Litchfield and Western New London.

SOUTHBURY CT-REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORT for FEBRUARY 2012

Southbury CT-Real Estate Market Report for February 2012 A slight increase in the volume of home sales in Southbury CT, coupled with a decline in average sales prices compared to both last month and last year, is great news for buyers looking for a home in Southbury. The number of pending sales at this point does not indicate a robust market over the next few months; however, the spring selling season is right around the corner, and the market history in Southbury says that usually the market picks up in terms of volume of sales between April and October. Sellers, if you are looking to capitalize on this, the best thing you can do is to price your homes at market value so that they can sell.

There are 104Southbury CT homes for sale

• Average asking price of $436,362

• Median asking price of $385,000

• 15 pending sales (under contract):
• Average asking price of $364,733
• Median asking price of $319,900

6 homes were sold in Southbury CT in the month of February

• average sale price of $338,667
• Median sale price of $357,500
• By comparison, in February 2011, 2 homes were sold in Southbury CT;both average and median sale price of $390,000

These are the six homes that sold in the Southbury CT area in the month of February:

Click on Southbury CT Real Estate - Market Updatesto see prior Southbury CT market reports.

Looking to relocate to Southbury CT? Visit Looking For A Reason to Move-Destination: Southbury CT

Are you looking for a home in Southbury CT? Click onSouthbury CT homes for saleto find homes in your price range.

For further information about the Southbury CT market and to determine if this is the right time to sell, call me at (203) 558-7463 to receive a free home evaluation and a list of tips that will help you prepare your home for sale. I look forward to discussing with you Southbury CT homes for sale.

©William James Walton, Sr. Market Report data provided by CTMLS. All data reported is accurate but not guaranteed at time of publication.

Sometimes you just have to Shake your Head . . . . Monday Humor

It takes all kinds of people to make life work, some are leaders, some are followers, and some are just ......

I was sent an email with some photos of signs, these just make your head nod and wonder:

Must be because they don't see very much?

Very considerate to not want anything to pop out unexpectedly.

With a special appearance by the Walker Brothers, Red and Black

At least they can't say you weren't warned!

Awwwww, now you went and done it, somebody is going to get mad.

No secret here as to what they thought was the bigger problem.

I guess the bridge being out wasn't as important (small print)

Sometimes you just have to shake your head

Meriden\Woodtick-Waterbury CT Real Estate Market Report for January 2012

Meriden\Woodtick-Waterbury CT East End Real Estate Market Report for January 2012 Average sale prices, and the volume of sales in this section of Waterbury’s East End, have improved from December, but are still lower than last year. There are easily affordable homes in the Meriden\Woodtick area, with the majority of homes being under $150,000. Buyers should seize every opportunity to buy a home now, with prices this low and with the relatively small number of homes available.

There are 33 Meriden\Woodtick-Waterbury CT East End homes for sale, with an average listing price of $125,257, and an average of 173 days on market, ranging from a 1302 sq. ft. 3 bedroom cape being offered for $37,900 to a 1790 sq. ft. 3 bedroom ranch being offered for $179,900.

Here's a breakdown of the Meriden\Woodtick-Waterbury CT East End homes for sale prices:

You can search for Meriden\Woodtick and other East End-Waterbury CT homes for sale by visiting William's Places!

3 homes sold in Meriden\Woodtick-Waterbury CT East End in the month of January. The average sale price was $82,000, had an average of 73 days on market and an average sales price/list price ratio of 85%, ranging from a 1404 sq. ft., 3 bedroom split-level ranch that sold for $38,000 to a 1252 sq. ft., 3 bedroom split-level ranch that sold for $135,000. By comparison, in January 2011, 2 homes were sold in the Meriden\Woodtick section of Waterbury's East End, with an average sale price of $135,800 and an average of 125 days on market.

The Meriden\Woodtick-Waterbury CT East End real estate market is still in a buyer's market with 16.5 months of inventory at an absorption rate of 2 homes being sold each month over the last 6 months with 33 homes currently on the market.

These are the three homes that sold in January in the Meriden\Woodtick-Waterbury CT neighborhood:

If you want more information on Meriden\Woodtick-Waterbury CT, you can visit these blog posts:

Meriden\Woodtick-Waterbury CT Real Estate - Market Updates

Meriden\Woodtick-Waterbury CT Neighborhood Profile

For more details about the Meriden\Woodtick-Waterbury CT East End market and to determine if this is the right time to sell, call (203) 558-7463 in order to receive a free home evaluation and a list of tips that will help you prepare your home for sale. I look forward to discussing with you Meriden\Woodtick-Waterbury CT East End homes for sal.

©William James Walton, Sr. Market Report data provided by CTMLS. All data reported is accurate but not guaranteed at time of publication.

Lately the conversation among inspectors I am in contact with has been about report writing. This subject is a common one, full of opinion and controversy. Every inspector has their own way of gathering info and writing. At end of the day, the discussion and debate usually helps everyone to see something new and helpful.

One topic I rarely if ever hear talked about is taking pictures of inspection issues. Sure most every inspector takes pictures on the inspection. We inspectors love to share these photos with everyone. After years of looking at and taking photos, there is one thing I have come to realize, not all photos are equal.

I half jokingly tell my clients that I have learned to be a photographer because of all the pictures I have and do take during inspections. I have learned a few tricks along the way to make the photos I take show clearly the problem I am focusing on. I would be in the past and still am today frustrated by poor photos. Out of focus pictures is the most common problem. Another is not getting the subject clearly in the frame.

Focus I find is usually due to one of two things, either rushing the shot, not allowing the camera to focus and or moving while shooting. The other reason for unfocused shots I discovered by reading the manual.

All inspectors take pictures of data plates and labels. I would struggle with out of focus pictures of these items constantly. Then I learned about the macro setting, a true, duh! moment for me. What a difference that setting made in my pictures.

I have learned other tricks along the way, inspired by my “discovery” of the macro setting. Basically there are times when I simply have to fiddle around with the settings to get the shot I want. For example, on a recent inspection I found the interior liner of the boilers combustion chamber was cracking and pulling away from the sides. There was also a hole that was visible from the inspection port. The trick became how to make it show up in a photo.

Taking several shots, trying to focus on the hole and cracks located at the back of the chamber yielded disappointing results. The best I was able to get was a shot of the liner that was pulled away from the wall that was in front of the inspection port.

I wasn’t satisfied with the picture as I felt it didn’t sufficiently convey the issue. I then turned on the boiler, shut off the flash and played with the camera settings. I got several good shots that clearly show the damaged liner and the hole. The burner in operation I believe makes the photo more dramatic, getting across the point.

I also happen to think it’s a pretty cool looking shot, but that’s just me.

James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
Former SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

To find out more about our other high tech services we offer in Connecticut click on the links below:

Learn more about our Infrared Thermal Imaging & Diagnostics services.

Learn more about our home energy audits, the Home Energy Tune uP®.

Serving the Connecticut Counties of Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, New Haven, Southern Litchfield and Western New London.