Recommendation for inspectors?

[weberlin]

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[DataAgent]

I’ve used Philip for several inspections: http://www.apinspection.com/

[DataAgent]

I’ve used Philip for several inspections: http://www.apinspection.com/

[DataAgent]

I’ve used Philip for several inspections: http://www.apinspection.com/

[DataAgent]

I’ve used Philip for several inspections: http://www.apinspection.com/

[DataAgent]

I’ve used Philip for several inspections: http://www.apinspection.com/

[urbanrealtor]

[quote=ybitz]Have you guys heard of the use of thermal imaging during inspection to find water leaks?
http://sdinspections.com/thermal_imaging
Useful or just a gimmick?[/quote]

While I do always prefer to err on the side of using a 10,000 dollar device, I would not consider it to a be an important feature.

A: IR scanners are good for finding new or invisible wetness (like if you had a sink over flow while you were on vacation and wanted to know if the drywall needs replacing) but don’t give much info beyond that.

B: Wetness left unchecked with mold after a few days. If there is enough mold to have an effect, then it will be detectable in other ways (like smell).

My two bits.

[urbanrealtor]

[quote=ybitz]Have you guys heard of the use of thermal imaging during inspection to find water leaks?
http://sdinspections.com/thermal_imaging
Useful or just a gimmick?[/quote]

While I do always prefer to err on the side of using a 10,000 dollar device, I would not consider it to a be an important feature.

A: IR scanners are good for finding new or invisible wetness (like if you had a sink over flow while you were on vacation and wanted to know if the drywall needs replacing) but don’t give much info beyond that.

B: Wetness left unchecked with mold after a few days. If there is enough mold to have an effect, then it will be detectable in other ways (like smell).

My two bits.

[urbanrealtor]

[quote=ybitz]Have you guys heard of the use of thermal imaging during inspection to find water leaks?
http://sdinspections.com/thermal_imaging
Useful or just a gimmick?[/quote]

While I do always prefer to err on the side of using a 10,000 dollar device, I would not consider it to a be an important feature.

A: IR scanners are good for finding new or invisible wetness (like if you had a sink over flow while you were on vacation and wanted to know if the drywall needs replacing) but don’t give much info beyond that.

B: Wetness left unchecked with mold after a few days. If there is enough mold to have an effect, then it will be detectable in other ways (like smell).

My two bits.

[urbanrealtor]

[quote=ybitz]Have you guys heard of the use of thermal imaging during inspection to find water leaks?
http://sdinspections.com/thermal_imaging
Useful or just a gimmick?[/quote]

While I do always prefer to err on the side of using a 10,000 dollar device, I would not consider it to a be an important feature.

A: IR scanners are good for finding new or invisible wetness (like if you had a sink over flow while you were on vacation and wanted to know if the drywall needs replacing) but don’t give much info beyond that.

B: Wetness left unchecked with mold after a few days. If there is enough mold to have an effect, then it will be detectable in other ways (like smell).

My two bits.

[urbanrealtor]

[quote=ybitz]Have you guys heard of the use of thermal imaging during inspection to find water leaks?
http://sdinspections.com/thermal_imaging
Useful or just a gimmick?[/quote]

While I do always prefer to err on the side of using a 10,000 dollar device, I would not consider it to a be an important feature.

A: IR scanners are good for finding new or invisible wetness (like if you had a sink over flow while you were on vacation and wanted to know if the drywall needs replacing) but don’t give much info beyond that.

B: Wetness left unchecked with mold after a few days. If there is enough mold to have an effect, then it will be detectable in other ways (like smell).

My two bits.

[XBoxBoy]

[quote=ybitz]Have you guys heard of the use of thermal imaging during inspection to find water leaks?
http://sdinspections.com/thermal_imaging
Useful or just a gimmick?[/quote]

I think it kinda depends on what you think you might find and how important that is to you. My wife has bad allergies to mold and we were looking at an older house, so we felt doing everything possible to find mold was critical.

The imaging found moisture under both sinks in the kitchen. Under one the mold was obvious, but the other was not. Also found moisture around the baseboards in the master bath. A visual inspection would have only found the mold under the main kitchen sink.

Due to the discovery of the mold/moisture, we were able to knock the price down about 7 or 8 grand to cover repair costs. So, from our perspective I would say the money for the inspection was well spent.

Worth noting, if you have concerns about energy savings, these cameras are very helpful at finding how well your walls and attic are insulated. So, that’s another possible bonus.

We used a different company, but I can’t remember their name off the top of my head. I’ll try to remember to post their name when I get home tonight.

[quote=urbanrealtor]
If there is enough mold to have an effect, then it will be detectable in other ways (like smell).
[/quote]

I’d have to disagree. In our case there was virtually no smell from the mold, as it was well contained under the cabinets. While bad mold can often be detected by smell, I wouldn’t count on that. (And btw, the house that made my wife very sick when we first found out about her allergies did not smell noticeably of mold or show any obvious signs. I doubt seriously that a regular home inspector would have found any problems)

XBoxBoy

[XBoxBoy]

[quote=ybitz]Have you guys heard of the use of thermal imaging during inspection to find water leaks?
http://sdinspections.com/thermal_imaging
Useful or just a gimmick?[/quote]

I think it kinda depends on what you think you might find and how important that is to you. My wife has bad allergies to mold and we were looking at an older house, so we felt doing everything possible to find mold was critical.

The imaging found moisture under both sinks in the kitchen. Under one the mold was obvious, but the other was not. Also found moisture around the baseboards in the master bath. A visual inspection would have only found the mold under the main kitchen sink.

Due to the discovery of the mold/moisture, we were able to knock the price down about 7 or 8 grand to cover repair costs. So, from our perspective I would say the money for the inspection was well spent.

Worth noting, if you have concerns about energy savings, these cameras are very helpful at finding how well your walls and attic are insulated. So, that’s another possible bonus.

We used a different company, but I can’t remember their name off the top of my head. I’ll try to remember to post their name when I get home tonight.

[quote=urbanrealtor]
If there is enough mold to have an effect, then it will be detectable in other ways (like smell).
[/quote]

I’d have to disagree. In our case there was virtually no smell from the mold, as it was well contained under the cabinets. While bad mold can often be detected by smell, I wouldn’t count on that. (And btw, the house that made my wife very sick when we first found out about her allergies did not smell noticeably of mold or show any obvious signs. I doubt seriously that a regular home inspector would have found any problems)

XBoxBoy

[XBoxBoy]

[quote=ybitz]Have you guys heard of the use of thermal imaging during inspection to find water leaks?
http://sdinspections.com/thermal_imaging
Useful or just a gimmick?[/quote]

I think it kinda depends on what you think you might find and how important that is to you. My wife has bad allergies to mold and we were looking at an older house, so we felt doing everything possible to find mold was critical.

The imaging found moisture under both sinks in the kitchen. Under one the mold was obvious, but the other was not. Also found moisture around the baseboards in the master bath. A visual inspection would have only found the mold under the main kitchen sink.

Due to the discovery of the mold/moisture, we were able to knock the price down about 7 or 8 grand to cover repair costs. So, from our perspective I would say the money for the inspection was well spent.

Worth noting, if you have concerns about energy savings, these cameras are very helpful at finding how well your walls and attic are insulated. So, that’s another possible bonus.

We used a different company, but I can’t remember their name off the top of my head. I’ll try to remember to post their name when I get home tonight.

[quote=urbanrealtor]
If there is enough mold to have an effect, then it will be detectable in other ways (like smell).
[/quote]

I’d have to disagree. In our case there was virtually no smell from the mold, as it was well contained under the cabinets. While bad mold can often be detected by smell, I wouldn’t count on that. (And btw, the house that made my wife very sick when we first found out about her allergies did not smell noticeably of mold or show any obvious signs. I doubt seriously that a regular home inspector would have found any problems)

XBoxBoy

[XBoxBoy]

[quote=ybitz]Have you guys heard of the use of thermal imaging during inspection to find water leaks?
http://sdinspections.com/thermal_imaging
Useful or just a gimmick?[/quote]

I think it kinda depends on what you think you might find and how important that is to you. My wife has bad allergies to mold and we were looking at an older house, so we felt doing everything possible to find mold was critical.

The imaging found moisture under both sinks in the kitchen. Under one the mold was obvious, but the other was not. Also found moisture around the baseboards in the master bath. A visual inspection would have only found the mold under the main kitchen sink.

Due to the discovery of the mold/moisture, we were able to knock the price down about 7 or 8 grand to cover repair costs. So, from our perspective I would say the money for the inspection was well spent.

Worth noting, if you have concerns about energy savings, these cameras are very helpful at finding how well your walls and attic are insulated. So, that’s another possible bonus.

We used a different company, but I can’t remember their name off the top of my head. I’ll try to remember to post their name when I get home tonight.

[quote=urbanrealtor]
If there is enough mold to have an effect, then it will be detectable in other ways (like smell).
[/quote]

I’d have to disagree. In our case there was virtually no smell from the mold, as it was well contained under the cabinets. While bad mold can often be detected by smell, I wouldn’t count on that. (And btw, the house that made my wife very sick when we first found out about her allergies did not smell noticeably of mold or show any obvious signs. I doubt seriously that a regular home inspector would have found any problems)

XBoxBoy

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