Ray Wilson - NYS Licensed Inspector

Most older homes I inspect have replacement windows, but many of these older windows do not have child safety stops or locks on them. These are usually plastic and protrude from the upper sash of a double hung window to keep the lower half of the window from opening more than a few inches. Windows with these types of safety locks SAVE LIVES EVERY DAY!

Most casement windows do not have this type of feature, but many sliding windows do. There are even stick-on 'stops' that will work on some types of windows that do not have safety stops.

If you have infants or young children, you want child safety stops on your windows, especially if you are well above ground level, or higher.

Don't loose a child over something so simple. Ask a local window dealer if you cannot find something that will work at your local home center. - Ray

Being thrust into the middle of a transaction can be a tricky place to be. Of course I mean as a home inspector. The buyer wants a good deal with as little outlay of cash as possible after they move in, and the seller obviously doesn't want to spend a dime on the house they are selling.

This situation can be tricky to navigate because I also want to please the real estate agent as well. The listing agent on a recent inspection was obviously not happy the buyer backed out of the deal after the inspection report was received. At the inspection I stated the facts in front of the buyers and sellers, and the agent as well. I let everyone know what I found. Some inspectors will not even speak in front of the listing agent or the seller. I believe all should know whats going on. No surprises, no games.

I received a call from the listing agent 3 days after the inspection. He was not happy the buyer backed away from the deal, and he let me know it. The house, although was relatively solid, had a 40 plus year old (but working) furnace, older sloppy windows, amateur electrical work, a roof needing repairs (not replacement), an uninsulated basement apartment, and a number of other deficiencies. It was still a relatively solid house, and I stated this.

This agent called me and asked me to call the buyer and tell him it was a good house and that he should go forward. I told him I absolutely could do no such thing. I cannot and will not sway my client either way. I do not tell them it is a good deal or a bad deal. I do not state the house is 'mint', or is a 'money pit'. I cannot go there. I will not go there. I simply let them know what my findings are, and the decision is theirs.

I will make statements like 'the things I found are commmon for homes of this era', or that this is 'considered normal for a house of this age'. I do these things because I realize the limitations of an old house, and my client should as well. You will never find a perfect house - especially when it is an old house. But these limiting factors should not prevent a buyer from buying. They, however, must be put into the equation however.

Personally, I would not want a 40 plus year old furnace, or sloppy windows in the house I was about to purchase, so I can understand the buyer shying away from this house. But I also let the buyer know that unless you are purchasing new or a relatively new house, that there will always be deficiencies.

If you do not have the money to repair these deficiencies, then you may not purchase this house. If the seller has no money to make these repairs, then you can't ask for 'blood from a stone' either. You must continue to look at other houses. I know these are trying times for all, especially agents, but please do not ask me to convince a client to purchase a house if they have reservations. -Ray

I am asked regularly by return clients for a discount, and I hate doing it. The cost of doing business never gets cheaper. As an independant - not a franchise owner - I am at the lower end of the fee scale anyway, so to offer a discount doesn't help my bottom line a bit.

However, my clients generally are so happy with my 'meticulous' service, that they tell everyone they know. I get a lot of business from the friends and relatives of past clients. They really do talk me up. So I can live with a small discount to my client to get the word out via past clients who have been thrilled with my service.

I was at my monthly home inspectors' meeting 2 nights ago, and when I told one of the large franchise owners that I performed 31 inspections in October, his jaw hit the table! The look on his face was priceless. His company charges much more for their inspections (to pay for the franchise fees and other things), and I have really taken a bite out of his business.

That is the BEST part! -Ray

Last night was different - we did a bus tour of 7 homes that have been foreclosed upon. These were in Woodbury, Syosset, and Plainview, Long Island. We had members of the BBC filming us for an upcoming special in Europe, and we had fun too!

Some houses were water damaged, others were nearly move-in ready, but all were a real good deal. If you get a construction-type mortgage you can have the money set aside to pay for repairs. All of these homes sold for much more that the current asking price by the banks. We had several agents from Remax Village Properties (thank you Sherri Cambereri, Tara Downing and David Farrell), as well as Rob Morandi from Wells Fargo as our mortgage consultant, and yours truly as the on-board home inspector.

We were able to answer all questions put to us, and we had real buyers, not the 'tire-kicker' types you sometimes get.

So don't make a fuss, just get on the bus! -Ray

I have been asked to be a part of a large event at the Melville Marriot hotel on Route 110 where over 100 real estate professionals will be seeing one of today's more popular speakers on real estate and mortgage speaking circuit, Mr. Brian Bailey of the Money Tree Training Group.

This event for the 'Sales Elite' on Tuesday, December 2 will be promoted by them, and anyone who is currently a licensed real estate agent or mortgage officer can go. Please check out: Moneytreetraininggroup.com/sign-up.html, or call 1-866-259-8894, or you can call the Melville Marriot at 631-673-4325.

I am lucky to be the only inspector at this event, and will be given a 10 minute slot to promote myself and my business. Hope to see you there! - Ray