Michael's View: May 2009

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Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector

Complete Home Inspections, Inc.

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618 Split Rail Drive, Brentwood, TN, 37027

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(615) 661-0297

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(615) 473-8803
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Saturday's Thoughts - Gutter Gardens...

Thoughts for Saturday...

michael thornton, complete home inspections

Although not as famous or will they get the notoriety as the hanging one's in Babylon, this is the time of year when I often see gutters sprouting nice patches of vegetation as the gutters are full of leaf litter. Couple that with enough rainfall, and plants will flourish in these overhead planter boxes. What is even better, you did not have to purchase these - they came with the house when you purchased it - how quaint...

Although nice to look at and some can be aesthetically pleasing, complete home inspections brentwood tn

the added weight can be detrimental to your gutter systems. But then, if you are selling your house, you can always book these as a feature, and as a bonus - how about a built in water feature! That is bound to add a few extra thousand in this tough real estate market...

Have a happy Great day, Y'all... ;-)

If you or someone you know is purchasing or listing a home in Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill or Thompson's Station in the Davidson or Williamson county area of Middle Tennessee and would like more information about getting a CERTIFIED pre-listingor home inspection, give us a call at 615.661.0297. You can visit us online at www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com - Check out our monthly newletter

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17 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • May 30 2009 06:36AM

Leipers Fork, TN - Y'all Come an' Set a Spell...

One of many old home in the village shopping district

Located just a short drive from Franklin, TN and nestled in the south west corner of Williamson County, lies the village of Liepers Fork. The area was originally settled in the late 1700's by folks from North Carolina and Virginia who had received land grants as payment for their service in the Revolutionary War. Originally, the village was called Bentontown named after the Benton's who purchased the land from the original owner. After a brawl and gunfight in a Nashville Hotel with General Andrew Jackson in which Jackson was seriously injured, Thomas Hart Benton and his family moved to Missouri. Benton later became a Senator from that state and was largely influential for the development of the west. After the Benton's left, the village was renamed to Hillsboro as many of the original settlers were from Hillsboro, North Carolina. Hence for all the locals, the name of the highway, Old Hillsboro Pike.

Located just a stones throw from the Natchez Trace, this early trade route helped stimulate the economy of this region. Leipers Fork is listed on the National Register of Historic places as an Historic District many of the buildings can be traced back to the late 1800's.

Leipers Fork is far from being just a wide spot in the road. There is something happening almost every weekend. Oh, did I mention arts and crafts? Yup! They've got 'em and antiques too! And they'res some of the finest eatin' places you can imagine. The many eateries feature great Southern cookin'; like good 'ol cornbread and pot roast or if your tastes are a little more

refined, try the grilled Atlantic Salmon. And with so many folks from the music industry living in the area, the entertainment is par excell-ont, like we say down south. You never now who may pop in at one of the local events.

So if you're wanting a nice quite ride through the country far from the hustle and bustle of city life, take a stroll back in time, or just want to git out and "Git the stink outta your britches" like Granny used to say, C'mon down and set a spell here in Liepers Fork. Y'all be glad you did...

Have a great weekend, Y'all... 8-)

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9 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • May 24 2009 07:36AM

Fire Ants...

Having grown up in the deep south, it was not unusual to see fire nashville real estate

ants. Regrettably these pests were accidentally introduced into the United States in 1929, when a cargo ship that had used soil as ballast arrived in Mobile, Alabama from South America. Ever since then, they have been slowly migrating northward and today their habitat now includes over 300 million acres in the USA.

They have been spotted as far west as CA and as far north as Kansas and MD. I had not seen a fire ant mound in the area of Middle Tennessee until I first noticed them last year in the Spring Hill, TN area. Most of these are being brought into this area from vegetation brought in from nurseries further south in Georgia and Alabama when landscaping was needed for new construction properties. I have recently begun noticing mound in the Brentwood, TN area as of late. As they continue to spread northward, they can no longer be considered a souther pest anymore.

How to Identify...

Fire ant nests can be easily distinguished by their elliptical dome shaped with the entry holes located on the bottom sides of the mound. Much different than the typical conical shaped mound with the entry hole at the top.

Why all the concern...

Fire ants by nature are very aggressive should their nest get disturbed and their sting burns like fire - hence the name fire ant. The ants are so small that most of the time they are not notices until they start stinging. When one starts, a pheromone is released, and the rest start stinging en-masse. Stinging fire ants have been known to kill small animals, pets and send susceptible folks into shock. Fire ant venom is much more potent than other insects' venom in that it contains a high concentration of piperidine, an alkaloid compound with a high pH that is 95% insoluble in water. Piperidine is related to piperine, the main active ingredient in black pepper. Can you imagine putting black pepper on a wound?

The body's reaction?

The body's reaction to the venom is to release histamine, which nashville tn home inspections; nashville tn home inspectors

actually causes the pain, swelling and redness. Discomfort from the stings are felt within seconds, and a small red welt will appears. The welts often will enlarge rapidly, leave a burning and itching sensation, and are usually, but not always, followed by the formation of a white pustule after anywhere from 6 to 24 hours. Some people who fall victim to fireant stings can be hypersensitive to the venom and can react quite strongly, often suffering from chest pains, nausea, dizziness, hives, swelling, shock or, in rare cases, lapsing into a coma and in rare cases death.

If you see these mounds in your yard, DO NOT disturb them! Instead go to your local home improvement, CO-OP or landscaping store and get ant bait and killer designed to rid the colony. </ div>

If you or someone you know is purchasing or listing a home in Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill or Thompson's Station in the Davidson or Williamson county area of Middle Tennessee and would like more information about getting a CERTIFIED pre-listing or home inspection, give us a call at 615.661.0297. You can visit us online at www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com - Check out our monthly newletter

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26 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • May 17 2009 11:37AM

Totally Shocking - Ad-infinitum...

What is worse getting shocked once or getting shocked again and again and again? Sometimes when folks do things wrong, the nashville home inspection, nashville home inspectors

nashville home inspection, nashville home inspectors

mirroring effect can get quite overwhelming.

While inspecting an experienced property in the west Nashville, TN area yesterday, I came across this shocking scene that had me wondering if I was getting into a time warp, and what whas live and what was just a fig newton of my imigination?

Who said that a picture wasn't worth a thousand words? I don't really know, but then, I just had to add my 2¢ worth to the pot today... ;-)

Y'all have a G-r-r-r-reat weekend... ;-)

If you or someone you know is purchasing or listing a home in Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill or Thompson's Station in the Davidson or Williamson county area of Middle Tennessee and would like more information about getting a CERTIFIED pre-listing or home inspection, give us a call at 615.661.0297. You can visit us online at www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com - Check out our monthly newletter

Your building consultants for life...

Follow me on Twitter...

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14 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • May 16 2009 07:11AM

Water Heaters - What's the Difference? A Lot...

Tank type water heaters are the most common water heaters to be found in homes here in the US. While the energy sources may vary, such as oil-fired, electric or gas, the most common types found here in the Nashville, TN area are gas and electric. Of the two gas-fired types, the natural vent water heaters are most common. As with any appliance, there are pros and cons for each. Here are the basic differences...

Natural vent water heater; nashville home inspector

Natural vent water heaters take in combustion air from around the bottom of the combustion chamber and expel spent gasses up a vent in the top of the heater through the roof where they are vented to the atmosphere. One of the major problems with this type of system is that if the roof venting is not installed properly, these can be prone to back drafting. If these units are located in a living space, spent gasses and CO can be blown down the flue into the living space. Also, because these are more common and cheaper to manufacture, replacement costs will be easier on the wallet.

Direct vent water heater; nashville home inspector

Direct vent water heaters are typically installed when folks want to upgrade from electric units or where installing natural vent heaters may be more challenging because of vent requirements. The built-in vent systems allows combustion air and spent gasses to be brought in through the same flue system through an adjacent wall. Because these are air-tight systems, direct vent systems are not prone to back drafting like their natural vent counter parts. The downside of these units will be the replacement costs. Depending upon the size and your area, the cost of replacement can easily exceed $1,200.00. Definitely a factor to consider if you showing a new home buyer an older property with one of these puppies as the hot water source.

Because of the price differences, occasionally I do see where a natural vent water heater has been installed in lieu of a direct vent - most likely by the home owner trying to same some $$$'s. Not a good idea as these installations can be down right dangerous and unhealthy if you catch my drafty drift...

Y'all have a G-r-r-r-reat day... ;-)

If you or someone you know is purchasing or listing a home in Brentwood, Franklin, Nashville, Spring Hill or Thompson's Station in the Davidson or Williamson county area of Middle Tennessee and would like more information about getting a CERTIFIED pre-listing or home inspection, give us a call at 615.661.0297. You can visit us online at www.completehomeinspectionsonline.com - Check out our monthly newletter

Your building consultants for life...

Follow me on Twitter...

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10 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • May 14 2009 08:22AM

Photo of the Day - DIY Plumbing

D I Y Plumbing...

While inspecting an older experienced property in the Nashville, TN area the other day, one sure way that I can tell that the current home owner has been to the handy-dandy fix-it shop is to take a quick look under the kitchen sink. It is not uncommon to see those insidious flexible connectors that one can purchase at most corner hardware stores plumbed into the system somewhere.

Although these work, they tend to harbor areas where contaminants can build up and eventually cause clogs and slow-downs in the plumbing system. Not only that, but as these are thinner material, they can be eaten away by harsh chemicals should the drains become clogged.

As a courtesy to the new home buyer, we point these out as potential problem areas in the FYI section of our inspection report. Flexible couplings are items that, although not extremely critical for the functionality of the system, are areas where a professional in the appropriate trade should further evaluate and bring up to better standards.

If you or someone you know is buying or selling a home in the Brentwood, Franklin, Spring Hill, Thompsons Station or Nashville or surrounding counties in Middle Tennessee, and would like more information about a Certified Pre-Listing or home inspection, call Complete Home Inspections, Inc. at 615.661.0297. You can visit our main website at Complete Home Inspections Online.com.

Helping You live YOUR American Dream...

15 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • May 13 2009 05:46PM

Loose Hose Bibbs...

As a professional home inspector in the Nashville, TN area, one of the things that I see very frequently, are loose hose bibbs. This is often an easy fix that most homeowners neglect to address. As part of deferred or ongoing maintenance, we point these out to prospective buyers as the barrel of frost proof devices can be damaged should the attached hose be pulled or jerked on. Once damaged, the hose bibb will need to be replaced.

Another issue is that this is also a portal for unwanted pests to enter the under sides of the property.

In winter months, should a hose remain attached to the bibb, the barrel can freeze at the brick line causing the barrel to burst.

So if your hose bibbs are loose, take a few minutes to properly secure them to the house. A few zip screws or sealant is far easier and less expensive than a service call from a plumbing company.

Helping You live YOUR American Dream...

7 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • May 12 2009 03:56PM

Inspection Reports I'd Like To Write...

I am sure that we have all had them, buyers with delusions of grandeur thinking that they can purchase a 'fixer-upper' for a song and a dance, put a few bucks in it and walk away with loads of dough - Right?

Well how about the home inspector that needs to inspect that silly thing in order to satisfy the inspection contingency? Can we all say, "What a piece of crap?" And, to inspect these challenged properties takes a long, long time. So to make life simpler for all parties involved, I have come up with Michael's Inspection report for challenged properties. Quick, Simple, and to the point...

This is the property you want to buy. What a mess! Are you sure you really want to sink all your dough into this money pit?

This is a shinny new bulldozer...

House -> bulldozer... Bulldozer -> House...

Now that we have been formally introduced, can we figure out how much the lot is worth???

Y'all have a G-r-r-r-reat day... ;-)

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122 Days Remaining

in our

123 Days of

Summer Fun...

Vacation Give-Away...

27 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • May 02 2009 05:17AM

123 Days of Summer Fun...

Starts Today!!!

Enter to win this Fabulous Cruise...

All during the month of May, every client that books a home inspection with Complete Home Inspections, Inc., whether it be a pre-listing or pre-sale inspection gets their name entered to win...

But Wait!!!

There's More...

You as the agent, get an opportunity to win a

Trip for 4 to Spain

(Valued at about $2500)

at the end of the 123 days! Every time we do an inspection for one of your clients, you get enterered too...

How cool is that?

Check website for more details...

certain restrictions apply

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Large enough for excellent service... Small enough to care...

9 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • May 01 2009 09:34AM

M-I-C-K-E-Why...

Why? Because it works - well Kinda-Sorta. As I digress back to nashville home inspection, nashville home inspectors

the days of my youth and the old B&W days of TV, I recall being glued to the set watching the Micky Mouse Club. As was their custom, they always signed off with the Mousecateers singing the Mickey Mouse Club theme. Many of you that are as old as dirt like me, will remember this catchy tune which include acronyms for some of the letters. One was 'Y'...

Anyway, to get back on track, as I can get easily confused, the buyer of this REO in Spring Hill, TN was concerned about the dryer venting and rightfully so. When I saw this creative attempt at dryer venting, it was all I could do but to keep from busting out laughing. I kept looking around for the burger that complete home inspections brentwood tn

fell out of the happy meal box. The connection hanging out of the wall like a limp noodle, was attached to the hard pipe connection with paper tape designed for painting. While this may work for awhile, the heat from the dryer exhaust will deteriorate the adhesive allowing the tape to come off the connection.

In the crawl space, things went from bad to worse. I found the burger. The creative soul increased the size of the venting which will slow down the air movement and then reduced it back down again with... You guessed it... Good 'ol 90 Mile-an-Hour tape... Needless to say, this made my short list.

Y'all have a G-r-r-r-reat day... ;-)

123 Days of

Summer Fun...

Starts TODAY...

Click here for more details...

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Helping You Live YOUR American Dream...

14 comments • Michael Thornton - Nashville, TN area Home Inspector • May 01 2009 06:56AM

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