Latest news with #homeinspection
New York Times
a day ago
- General
- New York Times
What Every Buyer Should Know About Home Inspections
I recently reread the inspection report for the house my wife and I bought last January. The experience was strangely comforting. The report is far more thorough than I remembered, and its 42 pages read like a road map of the little home that I've spent the last 18 months renovating. The inspector, Mike Brancato of MJB Inspections in New Jersey, caught dozens of minor issues that otherwise might have taken me months to address (and in some cases even to notice), such as a missing strike plate on the front door and loose gutters at the eaves. Each issue was accompanied by a photograph and a suggested course of action. Happily, he found no major problems with the house's critical systems — roof, wiring, plumbing, HVAC, foundation. We bought the house confident that it wasn't a wreck and that none of the repairs we'd need to make would come as a surprise. That sense of confidence — even if it's the confidence to walk away from a bad deal — is what a home inspection is for. But not every inspector is as meticulous as Mr. Brancato. If you're considering buying a home, there are questions you'll want to ask your inspector, from basic qualifications and experience to all the things they don't inspect for. Here's how to get a good one. Prospective home buyers should first familiarize themselves with their state's standards of practice, said Lisa Alajajian Giroux, a Massachusetts-based home inspector and the incoming president of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). These typically include the requirements for becoming a licensed home inspector in the state, a code of conduct and ethics, and a list of conditions that every home inspection must assess. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Globe and Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Inspections Over Coffee Revamps Home Inspection Franchise to Increase Accessibility and Affordability for Entrepreneurs
"'Our goal is to make small business ownership achievable for driven individuals—especially veterans, career switchers, and solo entrepreneurs—who are often priced out of high-quality franchise opportunities.' Curtis Kloc, Founder" Inspections Over Coffee has restructured its franchise model to offer one of the most accessible and best-valued home inspection franchises under $10,000. Tailored for veterans, solo operators, and career changers, the new model includes lifetime training, operational support, and proprietary tools—helping entrepreneurs succeed in the growing real estate services industry with low startup costs and proven systems. Phoenix, AZ - Inspections Over Coffee, a professional home inspection brand with a national footprint, has announced a significant update to its franchise model. The company's restructured offering now positions it as one of the most accessible and best-valued home inspection franchise opportunities available for under $10,000—opening the door to more aspiring business owners across the U.S. The update reflects the company's commitment to reducing the financial barriers typically associated with franchising, while providing robust support, digital training systems, and access to proprietary tools to help new owners launch and grow their businesses confidently. 'We believe this is the best-valued home inspection franchise under $10,000, based on the training depth, startup support, and long-term systems we've built,' said Curtis Kloc, founder of Inspections Over Coffee. 'Our goal is to make small business ownership achievable for driven individuals—especially veterans, career switchers, and solo entrepreneurs—who are often priced out of high-quality franchise opportunities.' The newly structured franchise includes lifetime access to the company's digital training platform, operational playbooks, marketing assets, and its proprietary inspection reporting system. Franchisees also receive onboarding support and ongoing guidance designed to help them build repeatable, efficient businesses in their local markets. This shift comes at a time when the U.S. housing market remains active and home inspections are in continued demand. The company reports that many franchisees enter the business with limited technical experience and still succeed due to the systematized nature of the training and operations. 'This isn't just a brand name,' Kloc added. 'It's a full, real-world system that equips franchisees with everything they need to succeed in the home inspection space—without the six-figure buy-in required by many service-based franchises.' To learn more about the newly updated home inspection franchise offering, visit Inspections Over Coffee Franchise Page. For those seeking the best franchise under $10,000, detailed information is available at With its renewed focus on accessibility, quality training, and value-driven support, Inspections Over Coffee is setting a new benchmark for what a modern home inspection franchise can offer.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Roof contractor urges homeowners to have roofs assessed for damage after Wednesday's hailstorm
AUSTIN (KXAN) – Local Austin roof repair business Quality Exteriors said that even if homeowners are not seeing leaks after the Wednesday hailstorm, their roofs may still be damaged. The Wednesday storm brought damaging winds, large hail, and localized flooding, leading to widespread damage across Austin. Dustin Golden of Quality Exteriors said he and his team have been busy ever since. 'This has been one of the busiest times,' Golden said. 'We have seen trees on people's roofs. We've been seeing a lot of just general hail damage on roofs in Austin.' Leaks are a clear indication that a roof has been damaged in a storm. However, even if it is not leaking, Golden advised people to have their roofs inspected if hail moved through their area. 'You have to get it checked out to see if there is actual damage,' he said. 'You might not have a leak now, but the hail's impact could lead to one in the future.' Golden said most insurance policies cover hail-related damage, and that it's best for a homeowner to act quickly to ensure eligibility. 'The sooner the better,' he said. 'I'd highly recommend at least getting it all documented.' Documenting includes things like taking photos and videos. Also, reporting any issues, even minor ones, to protect long-term property value. If a quick fix was needed to repair damage immediately after the storm, Rich Johnson from the Insurance Council of Texas said to save receipts, as insurance companies often reimburse for those purchases. 'Let's say, you have a broken window and you need to put a piece of plywood over it… that could be reimbursable,' Johnson said. And while both Johnson and Golden recommended having your property assessed after a storm by a contractor, they both encouraged homeowners to be wary of fraudulent companies. 'During storm season like this, we will see contractors and roofers who come from out of town looking to take advantage of the situation,' Johnson said. One 'red flag' would be if a contractor offers to waive a deductible, he said. 'That is totally illegal in Texas,' Johnson said. Johnson recommended taking photos of a contractor's license plate, ensuring the company is based locally and checking for positive reviews. 'Your insurance company may have a list of preferred contractors in the area,' Johnson said. 'Oftentimes, you'll get a little bit of an extra warranty if you do go with one of those preferred contractors.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Entrepreneur
6 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Pillar To Post Home Inspectors is a Trusted Franchise in the Growing Home Inspection Industry
Join a nationally recognized franchise with a reputation for quality and professionalism. Why Own a Pillar To Post franchise? Are you ready to take the next step toward business ownership in a stable, high-demand industry? At Entrepreneur, we're excited to introduce you to Pillar To Post Home Inspectors—North America's leading home inspection franchise and a trusted name for over 25 years. As a Pillar To Post franchise owner, you'll provide essential home inspection services that help buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals make confident decisions. With a proven business model, comprehensive training, and ongoing support, you can build a thriving business with the backing of an industry leader. Benefits of owning a Pillar To Post Home Inspectors: Established Brand: Join a nationally recognized franchise with a reputation for quality and professionalism. Growing Market: The real estate industry's continued strength drives steady demand for home inspection services. Comprehensive Support: Benefit from in-depth training, marketing resources, and operational guidance from day one. Flexible, Scalable Model: Start as a single operator or grow into a multi-inspector business at your own pace. Click the button below to learn more about how Pillar To Post can help you achieve your entrepreneurial goals.
CBC
11-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Home sellers hid foundation cracks with storage containers, buyers' lawsuit alleges
The buyers of a house in Winnipeg have filed a lawsuit claiming the house sellers deliberately hid information about its cracked foundation, and that a home inspector did not inform them about the problem after doing an inspection. After taking possession of the house in the summer of 2023, the buyers discovered serious cracks in the foundation, according to a statement of claim filed May 1 in Court of King's Bench at Winnipeg. The buyers claim the prior owners "had deliberately and strategically placed storage containers and a recycling container to hide three severe cracks at the foundation adjacent to the garage," the lawsuit says. The homebuyers claim the intent was "to hide the latent defects from view," the court document says. It alleges the prior owners had issued a property disclosure statement falsely stating they were unaware of the cracks in the foundation of the Linden Woods home, which has an assessed value of more than $500,000. Once the buyers had possession of the home, they got a structural engineer to inspect the three cracks in the foundation. Based on the engineer's report, the lawsuit claims a foundation repair contractor estimated the cost to fix the foundation would be between $40,000 and $50,000. The buyers had made a conditional offer to purchase the house and before finalizing the offer, they had a home inspection done by an inspector registered and certified by the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors, a self-regulated professional body of home inspectors. The plaintiffs are seeking damages from the home inspector for professional negligence, alleging he failed to exercise the diligence expected of a registered home inspector. After discovering the alleged defects with the house, the lawsuit says the plaintiffs contacted their real estate company and the home inspector. The home inspector later told the plaintiffs "that he was blameless," as the cracks "were hidden from view by the storage containers and recycling bin strategically placed in front of the defects," the lawsuit says. The court document claims the storage and recycling containers in the basement could easily have been moved by the home inspector, but he did not. As a result, the inspector failed to note the cracks in the foundation and warn the plaintiffs about them, the claim says. It says that if the plaintiffs had been advised of the cracks, they wouldn't have finalized their offer to purchase the house. No mandatory licensing for inspectors in Manitoba A business associate of the home inspector is also named as a defendant, along with two companies the inspector worked with. Contacted by CBC News, the home inspector declined to comment on the case, as did the plaintiff's lawyer. The buyers are seeking an unspecified amount of damages from the two people who previously owned the house. The house sellers named as defendants could not be reached for comment. The allegations have not been tested in court and the defendants have not filed statements of defence. The Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors is a voluntary licensing program for home inspectors across Canada, with 16 members in Manitoba as of May 2025. Manitoba does not have a mandatory provincial licensing program, but British Columbia and Alberta do. Anne Stacey, CAHPI's executive director, said the association would support licensing and regulation of the profession by all provinces. There have been no complaints against Manitoba members since 2022, Stacey said. B.C. became the first province in Canada to start regulating home inspectors in 2009. Complaints by consumers about inspectors in B.C. are rare, according to numbers from Consumer Protection BC, which operates the home inspector regulation program. With 458 licensed home inspectors in B.C., there have been two consumer complaint files opened so far in 2025, says Consumer Protection BC public relations director Louise Hartland. The regulator itself sometimes opens complaint files for infractions such as an inspector failing to carry insurance, or not including proper clauses in their contracts. B.C. had 20 files opened by the regulator in 2023, and seven files in 2024.
