Links and Resources
Below you will find links related to home inspections, house issues, and of course associations of personal interest. These links may help you understand the nuances of a home inspection. There are also links that you can use to do some of your own information gathering with respect to the condition of your home or future home.
Finally, whenever possible, I enjoy linking to sites that help "de-mystify", or at least extinguish some of the "hype" about the home inspection process and conditions present within a home. There is no such thing as a perfect home, and many conditions should not scare you once you have a little knowledge.
Radon
Do you understand the health risks of radon? Is radon an un-cureable
problem that should make you run away screaming from every house that
has it? This EPA website has many answers for you. The "Radon Myths"
section is very interesting, and rather comforting.
http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html
Asbestos
Questions about asbestos? The Asbestos and
Mesothelioma
Treatment Center is committed to providing the latest, up-to-date
information to our visitors in hopes of spreading awareness
about the dangers of asbestos and the diseases that result from
exposure to this toxic mineral.
http://www.asbestos.com/
Wells
Are you considering moving in to a house that has a well?. Curoius
about wells, how to maintain them, and water quality? This website
should help you.
http://www.wellowner.org
Water Testing
County by county, this link will help you with your water testing questions.
Click Here
Heating
This website is a "vat of knowledge" when it comes to heating
your home. If you're looking at a home that has a heating system different
from what your familiar with, follow this link, click on the "systems"
tab, choose the system in quesiton, and read on.
http://www.heatinghelp.com/
Associations
As a member of the North Metro Realtors Association, I would be doing them
a disservice by not linking to their website. My favorite real estate agent
who helped me build our home is a member. Your future favorite real estate
agent might be a member as well.
http://www.northmetro.com
Inspection Tips
It may not always be in my best interest to highlight articles such as these,
but there is a lot of valuable information in this article. At the bottom of
the article are more valuable links, including "100+ questions befor buying
your new home." Unfortunately, you can Google "Home Inspection 100
Questions" and get dozens of lists, but I found this one valuable. Also,
note the references to state licensing. Minnesota currently does not require
licensing to perform home inspections.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20074307/
Legislation
On the subject of licensing, this link to Kaplan Professional Schools, my
Alma Matre, provides information on the home inspection licensing requirements
for each state. I'm not a big fan of big government, but if it makes sense for
barbers to need a license, and your real estate agent needs a license, wouldn't
you feel more comfortable if your home inspector had a license too? For me, it's
a matter of a static level of standards that should be reached, and exceeded
whenever possible. For my customers, it should be a matter of "who do you
call if your home inspector doesn't do his/her job?"
http://www.home-inspect.com/legislation.asp
