Tri Value Consultants

Lately, we have been performing more Apartment Pre-Lease Inspections - almost twice as many as we have in previous years. What is a pre-lease inspection? We check the apartment, it's plumbing, electrical, kitchens, baths and related exterior and common areas - as well as storage spaces -- for any issues or hazards which could impact the tenant. Most often - (about 70% of the time) we discover potential shock, fire, or tripping/falling hazards -- even in "fully remodelled" and

Over the decades, I've seen many finished basements - and many problems resulting from those finishes. Many basements are finished with...

While inspecting a home, the basement is one of the most important areas to inspect. While there are many issues that can occur in basements - moisture, water entry, or flooding are one of the biggest (and potentially costly) issues I find. An unfinished basement is ideal for an inspection. With the foundation walls, framing, and wires/pipes/ducts all exposed - you can see everything that is going on -- and maintain or repair any issues easily in the exposed areas. Finish

By Michael J. Scaduto After all of the anxiety of looking for the home of your dreams, finding it and finally moving into it - there are still some important things that need to be done by you or a licensed professional. First Things First - Safety And Security! Do these things first for you and your families safety and security Find a locksmith and change all door locks. Reset key codes for garages, gates, etc. Hide a spare key in a lockbox. (In a location only you know) Te

According to the title of this blog, as well as according to many home inspection companies - Time Is Money! So now the question is how...

It never ceases to amaze me that what I see at and during a home inspection is so far removed from what a prospective home buyer sees. Case in point - an inspection that I conducted two days ago in the town of Ipswich, left me wondering if public schools should start teaching a course of study called "common sense!" This is in reference to the following obvious and blatant visible defects and deficiencies that I found during the course of my inspection of this partially renov

This blog is a follow-up to my recent article on GFCI installation dates and locations. In this report I'll discuss what I personally...

A GFCI receptacle (outlet) is designed to shut of electric power within 1/40 of a second in order to prevent electric shock. Ground fault circuit interrupter receptacles (outlets) have been required in houses since 1971. Originally they were only required on the exterior of the house and by swimming pool equipment. Over the years GFCI outlets have been required in more locations, such as in garages, bathrooms, kitchens, etc. GFCI outlets are commonly found in areas that are

Lately there has been an influx of no-nothing speculators preying on unsuspecting home buyers. These unscrupulous charlatans buy run down properties with the intent on making a killing at the expense of unwary home buyers. The term used for these quick and unprofessionally remodeled properties is "flip houses". Now I'm not saying that every so-called flip house is a money pit disaster, but from what I have seen during my home inspections of many of these properties I can s