Jim is likeable and thorough, but makes too many mistakes IMO. He inspected my 1950's house (pre-listing inspection) and flagged the following:
1. In basement, cracks in concrete floor slab around columns "could indicate house settlement." Actually, no, floor slab cracks can indicate other things, but not settlement. If the house had settled there'd be cracks in the upper floor walls, doors wouldn't open/close easily, floors would be sloped, etc.
2. Under kitchen sink, air admittance valve "should be easily twisted off and on." Actually, no. I called in my (very experienced and reliable) plumber, who said "It should be tight, so it doesn't leak! If I needed to take it off, I'd just cut it out."
3. In circuit breaker box, frayed breaker-to-wire connection of old cloth type circuit wiring might spark and "burn the cloth." I called in my (very experienced and reliable) electrician, who trimmed the frayed ends for aesthetics, but assured me it wasn't hazardous, and if it were, the County electrical inspector (who approved recent renovations) would've caught it.
4. In basement, Jim recommended baseboard electric heat or a mini split system. Actually, the existing (new) HVAC, with gas furnace, is zoned, with the basement on its own zone. When I explained, he said it's expensive to run it that way. Actually, no. Before the zoned HVAC was installed, I did have electric baseboard heaters, and they were expensive to run, plus they were a fire hazard. I took them all out when a blanket that fell against one of them got scorched. I presume newer electric heaters are safer, but I'd guess they're still expensive to operate. Jim didn't appear to really understand the concept of zoned heating.
He also pointed out that the cinderblock walls weren't insulated. This is true, but the basement is almost entirely below grade and therefore not exposed to wind. Most of it's below frost line. So lack of insulation there hasn't been an issue.
5. Speaking of insulation, Jim objected to the spray foam insulation in a renovated upper room, for two reasons. One, it's flammable. This is true. However, industry recommendations are for it to be covered with a fire-rated material (such as 1/2" gyp board), which had been done, so it wasn't an issue. Two, at the raised ceiling, it would prevent detection of roof leaks; presumably water would just rot out the roof deck and not leak through to the ceiling below where it would alert the occupants to a problem in the early stages. Actually, open cell spray foam is permeable, and that's what was used between ceiling and roof, in order to detect leaks early. Closed cell is not permeable, and that's what was used in the walls, for the higher R value.
6. In hall bathroom, he stated bathtub was fiberglass. It's the original cast iron tub, which can be easily verified by observing that a magnet sticks to it, or by removing the plumbing access panel and observing the back of the tub. He also stated walls and ceiling were gypsum wallboard. They're plaster.
7. In attic, he observed that the bathroom ceiling fan venting runs under the insulation. This is true, but the venting's operation can be easily verified by observing the flaps on the vent caps (on side of house) open and close as fans are turned on and off.
Luckily, he had a moisture meter, and was able to determine that areas of the basement (behind paneling) that I couldn't see, and was concerned about, were OK.
And of course, there were a few items he found that did need fixing (which of course I fixed), which is why I asked him to inspect in the first place, so I'm glad I hired him. But I felt that his hunt for defects turned up enough items that weren't actually defects that his conclusions could be needlessly alarming for a potential buyer. read more