Tag: Home inspections
A Chicago home inspector’s termite horror story
I managed to reach this point in the year without thinking about termites. And then this morning's e-mail brought the July issue of Tomacor's news [...]
Corbett’s complaints: Sloppy brick work and ineffective repairs
Nothing irks Tom Corbett quite as much as a bad patch-up that costs homeowners money but doesn't solve any problems. Last week, Tom took me around [...]
Home inspections in 2010: Recent trends, and tips for 2011
This morning I met up with home inspector Tom Corbett and went out in search of shoddy construction on the North Side. After we were finished, but [...]
More examples of porch problems
Home inspector Tom Corbett took me down a North Side alley last month to point out a variety of all-too-common deficiencies in porch and stair const [...]
How to spot improper porch construction
We live in a city of wood porches and decks, and we've seen the terrible things that can happen when poor construction goes unchecked. Last month, w [...]
Know your fuse boxes and circuit breakers
Today's tip from Tom Corbett is this primer on identifying the two most common varieties of overcurrent protection devices found in Chicago homes -- [...]
A little ground to cover: identifying a properly installed electrical system
Learn how to quickly identify a properly installed electrical ground system inside or outside of a home in this segment from our new home inspection [...]
Structural damage: "It's not going to get better on its own — it just gets worse"
Home inspector Tom Corbett points out a classic case of a structural deficiency in a Chicago home: a timber beam that has slipped from its pocket an [...]
Identifying electrical deficiencies in basements
In this segment from our wide-ranging discussion about home inspections and common home safety issues, Tom Corbett of Tomacor points out several ele [...]
Tell-tale signs of termite treatment
You know to keep an eye out for termite damage as you shop for a home, but what exactly should you look for besides chewed-up pieces of lumber? In t [...]
How to spot termite damage before you buy
Contrary to popular belief, Chicago does have termites, and the damage they cause isn't just "an old house phenomenon," says home inspector Tom Corb [...]
Hiding problems in condo common areas
Continuing some thoughts from an earlier part of our conversation, home inspector Tom Corbett talks briefly on a trend in the real estate community [...]
How real estate agents interfere with home inspectors
Tomacor's Tom Corbett has been a consistent advocate for his clients for decades -- often at the expense of his relationships with real estate agent [...]
Chicago's porch safety issues still with us
On tonight's CBS Channel 2 News investigative reporter Pam Zekman took up, once again, the issue of porch safety and inspections in Chicago.
Zekman [...]
A pro's POV: A home inspector's take on the market and construction issues
I'm running into more people buying foreclosures or distressed buildings than before -- situations where the previous owner can no longer afford their [...]
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