Marshall Brown

During a recent home inspection in West Fargo I came across several inflatable lawn ornaments. These are more common nowadays and typically require power from the house. The ornaments are very cool but it was the extension cords that caught my eye and almost my feet. Extension cords present a real trip hazard and should be either secured to the ground or colored brightly to help alert passersby. The cord, running about 25 feet to an exterior outlet, was frayed and repaired with duct tape. Another extension cord ran under the garage side door and was plugged in inside. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that there are about 4,000 injuries annually associated with extension cords. These injuries can range from tripping to serious electric shocks. Make sure your extension cords are undamaged, plugged in to exterior outlets only and clearly visible to help prevent possible accidents.

At another inspection of a home in Moorhead I saw several Jack-o-Lanterns sitting on the front steps. The pumpkins had a melted look and the tops were covered with black soot from candles. These days you can purchase inexpensive LED lights or glow sticks to replace the traditional candles and spare yourself and your home from a possible fire hazard.

Fargo and Moorhead experience high winds throughout the year. Its a good idea to make sure any decorations you have outside ,such as lights or lawn ornaments, are safely secured. You don't want wake up one morning and find your carefully placed spooky decorations wrapped around your neighbors truck!

Take a few minutes to check the decorations on the outside of your home and you can have a scary but safe Halloween.

Mid-America Inspection Services, serving Fargo and West Fargo, North Dakota, Moorhead, Alexandria, Fergus Falls, Detroit Lakes, Wadena and the Minnesota Lakes Region

218-443-3555, 320-846-0004, 218-287-0877, 218-841-0444

midamericainspections@gmail.com

www.midamericainspection.com

Bi-partisan support for real estate green card may benefit Minnesota lake region

Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) have proposed a bill that would grant foreign investors a three year residential visa if they purchase real estate valued at $500,000 or more.

It does come with a few strings. The purchase must include a property valued at $250,000 while the balance of the $500,000 can be income producing property. Sorry, cash only and they must live in the property 180 days each year to fully qualify.

A BBC article said that foreign investors bought $82bn worth of real estate in the year ending March 2011, with nearly one third of it in Florida.

Since these visas are not work visas it makes sense that a certain portion of this investment would be vacation homes in areas known for top notch recreational attractions. It’s hard not to think of Minnesota lake country as a prime location for some of these purchases.

Supporters already include the US Chamber of Commerce and Warren Buffett and Senator Schumer is reportedly working to get the White House’s support.

Mid-America Inspection Services, serving Fargo and West Fargo, North Dakota, Moorhead, Alexandria, Fergus Falls, Detroit Lakes, Wadena and the Minnesota Lakes Region

218-443-3555, 320-846-0004, 218-287-0877, 218-841-0444

midamericainspections@gmail.com

www.midamericainspection.com

Common Housing Defects, Part 1

Home Inspectors may disagree on the exact order of a list of prevalent defects found in the course of home inspections. One thing they will almost universally agree on is that water is the enemy of a house and those defects that lead to water problems are among the most devastating.

Landscaping problems are often a simple matter of assuring that the soil slopes away from the structure for the first 10 feet or so at a rate of about 1 inch per foot. When coupled with a proper gutter system, this will help reduce chances of water entering the basement or crawl space.

Roof issues are more likely to stem from improper or worn flashings and sealants around protrusions such are roof vents and plumbing stacks than they are from worn out shingles. Even cheap shingles are usually able to shed water for 15 – 20 years when installed correctly barring damage, such as hail or wind. Obviously, at some point shingles will start to fail requiring maintenance and eventually replacement. A roofing professional is the best authority in helping decide when the most economical course is replacement.

Chimneys can be a source of water inside the house in several ways. As mentioned before, poor or worn flashings can cause leaking into the house. Cracks in the crown can allow water to penetrate inside of the chimney structure and lead to damaged bricks, blocks or liners. These defects are particularly dangerous with wood burning fixtures. Clean and inspect chimneys annually for frequently used wood burning fixtures.

Windows and doors, when improperly installed and maintained, can be another source of water inside the house. These can be insidious as the water can leak inside the walls and beneath the flooring causing considerable damage before detection. Check and maintain door and window sealant and flashing annually.

Foundations can leak through cracks and water migration through the porous concrete blocks and mortar lines in stone and brick foundations. In unfinished basements and crawl spaces, foundation cracks are easily detectable and should be properly filled to restore water tightness. Water movement through porous masonry is often seen as a white salty looking crust, known as efflorescence, around the area of penetration. This typically requires cleaning and sealing to help prevent recurrence.

Plumbing issues are often visualized as a gush of water and these certainly can be a major but easily located problem. The most damaging water problems tend to be those we are not aware of until damage is done. A slow leak beneath a sink, an aging wax ring under a toilet, a leaking flashing on the roof, all of these keep wood wet for a long time allowing decay to progress without warning. Water heaters store a large amount of water and become a source if not routinely monitored. Improper connections can be a source of leaks as can a failing temperature and pressure, T&P, relief valve. The most dramatic leak stems from tank failure. Routine monitoring or a home inspection by your favorite home inspector can reduce chances of having a tale of woe to share at work and potentially save you money on repairs.

Mid-America Inspection Services, serving Fargo and West Fargo, North Dakota, Moorhead, Alexandria, Fergus Falls, Detroit Lakes, Wadena and the Minnesota Lakes Region

218-443-3555, 320-846-0004, 218-287-0877, 218-841-0444

midamericainspections@gmail.com

www.midamericainspection.com

For several months now my son, Sterling, and grand daughter, Kyra, and have driven by a construction site of a new fire station in West Fargo. Lucky for them, once construction was complete they held an open house to celebrate the new station and it was an excellent opportunity for the family to learn more about the roll firefighters play in the community and steps they can take in their own home to stay safe in case of a fire.

The visit made my son think of how, as a home inspector in the Fargo and Moorhead area, he is always highlighting areas where fire could be a concern for a new home buyer.

Make sure the door leading from your garage to the interior of the home is fire rated. Typically the edge of the door will have a fire rated seal made of neoprene weatherstripping or other material.

Ensure that the door is self-closing either by latch or spring hinges. Spring hinges are fairly easy to install yourself because you can attach them one at a time and leave the door hung during the installation.

Verify that you have a proper firewall between the garage and the interior of your home. Check for exhaust vents, attic hatches and other protrusions that might cause a break in your firewall.

Invest in commercially available fire extinguishers for your kitchen and garage and make sure you and your family know where they are and how to use them in an emergency.

Develop an escape route from your home in case of a fire and practice it with your family on a regular basis.

Know the location of the fire station nearest to your home and take time to visit. If you are like them and own a home built on slab you might ask if the fire station is available as a shelter during a bad storm or tornado. Also, check with your home owner's insurance if a new fire station has opened in your area. You may find that your rates will decrease because of your close proximity to the station.

During their visit they got to climb around a fire truck, try on some of the equipment firefighters use in their job, learn about fire safety and most importantly to Kyra, have some free cookies and juice.

Mid-America Inspection Services, serving Fargo and West Fargo, North Dakota, Moorhead, Alexandria, Fergus Falls, Detroit Lakes, Wadena and the Minnesota Lakes Region

218-443-3555, 320-846-0004, 218-287-0877, 218-841-0444

midamericainspections@gmail.com

www.midamericainspection.com

Making a home more aging friendly

Aging in place access issues.

Safety in the home as we age is of paramount importance but still to utilize, and enjoy, our home we must also have reasonable access. In ideal circumstance the design would serve all users without regard to ability.

Generally this would start outside the home with a proper ramp to at least one of the entrances. For a residence there is no minimum width but 36 – 48” is recommended. Guard rails and handrails are required on both sides and the rise should not exceed one inch per foot. There needs to be a landing every 15 feet to allow the user to rest, if needed, and one at the top sufficient sized to allow parking of a wheelchair or walker while the door is fully opened.

Doors should be a minimum of 34”, 36” is preferred, where possible. Where space is prohibitive pocket or bi-fold doors might be an option. As dexterity declines door lever handles are superior to knobs for ease of use.

Relocate electrical outlets to 18” above the floor to reduce the need to bend to plug devices in and reducing the height of light switches to 42” will ease access to them. Additional lighting eases tasks for older people and, if controlled by a dimmer, offers the ability to adjust appropriately for those with no sight impairment.

Bathroom access requires clear space for a wheelchair or walker and properly placed hand rails adjacent to the commode and tub or shower. In retrofits this can be the most complex remodeling project due to the size and configuration of older bathrooms. Commodes should be 17”-19” high to allow easier transitions. Walk in showers with a seat are preferred to tubs and controls equipped with levers rather than knobs are vastly easier to use.

A refrigerator with side by side access and the addition of larger easier to grip knobs on doors and drawers can ease kitchen work. Often extra lighting beneath upper cabinets is welcomed for reading recipes and other close work. Ranges with front controls reduce the need to reach across possibly hot burners. If a gas range is installed consider installing a gas monitor to alert the homeowner of leaks.

Easing access aging can help make a home more comfortable and enjoyable for the long term and is a worthwhile investment when it comes time to sell.

Visit http://www.ada.gov/adastd94.pdf for more detailed and complete information and feel free to consult with your Realtor or Home Inspector for more suggestion to make aging in place as safe and comforting as it should be.

Mid-America Inspection Services, serving Fargo and West Fargo, North Dakota, Moorhead, Alexandria, Fergus Falls, Detroit Lakes, Wadena and the Minnesota Lakes Region

218-443-3555, 320-846-0004, 218-287-0877, 218-841-0444

midamericainspections@gmail.com

www.midamericainspection.com

Sterling M. Brown

Mid-America Inspection Services LLC