At the time I saw this when inspection an older home in Dayton I thought nothing of it, other than this is an old furnace with a name that has disappeared and no longer builds furnaces. For sentimental value I took a photo of the manufacturers tag and thought I would be able to find […]Read More about Forgotten Greats….. Dayton Company Long Gone
20 Year, Member of the Dayton Board of Realtors
It’s hard to believe that we have been in business since 1999 and members of the Dayton Area Board of Realtors for all that time. For years we taught classes at the DABR to help new Realtors understand what a home inspection is all about and how to deal with needed repairs. There have been […]Read More about 20 Year, Member of the Dayton Board of Realtors
Door Bell Transformer Identified
This funky and worrying thing with wires hanging out of it is often found in the oddest of places. They can be found on the wall in a closet, in the basement or in the ceiling joists, beside the breaker panel, just about anywhere in a home.Nervous buyers often stare at those wires with anxious […]Read More about Door Bell Transformer Identified
Telephone Interface (a piece of history)
The telephone has just about disappeared from homes. Back when they were connected by wire to the telephone exchange there needed to be a connector inside the house that connected the home wiring to the phone company wiring.The connector is called a telephone interface which is the modern version of the connector in the photo. […]Read More about Telephone Interface (a piece of history)
Who Will Keep the Dog In….. A Sears Fence?
It never ceases to amaze me how many homes have chain link fences around the back garden proudly displaying the iconic “Sears Armadillo” plaque on the gate. In fact, it’s hard to believe that Sears has filed bankruptcy all closed down all their stores. The products they sold were in so many homes, still are […]Read More about Who Will Keep the Dog In….. A Sears Fence?
Fuse Box From “Times Less Safe & Long Gone”
These old fuse boxes in a beautifully built asbestos lined oak cabinet were a big step up from the single exposed wall mounted fuse. These boxes were the forerunner to the breaker panels of today. The asbestos lining was used to contain any sparks or fire in the fuse box. Those were the days before […]Read More about Fuse Box From “Times Less Safe & Long Gone”
How Times and Drains Have Changed
This month has been the month for old drain cleaning signs from the 50’s still attached to basement ceiling rafters. Drains have had issues for years, older cast iron pipes were easily damaged by tree roots, while newer PVC pipes are rarely damaged by tree roots but often blocked by disposable diapers, feminine sanitary products […]Read More about How Times and Drains Have Changed
Cast Iron Drains Had a Lot of Problems
Modern PVC drain pipes have reduced the number of blocked drains substantially. This old house in downtown Dayton was built in the early ‘50’s had a sixty foot run to where the blockage was in 58, again in ‘66, ‘03 and ‘06. These were all bad years for this houses main drain according to the […]Read More about Cast Iron Drains Had a Lot of Problems
Buying a Pre-Inspected Home? Beware
We arrived to inspect a pre-inspected home. This home had a “Pre-Inspected, Seller-Certified” sign right in the front yard. This would suggest to any reasonable buyer that there is nothing significant for another inspector to find wrong with the home. It suggests that the sellers wanted to be aware of every issue so they could […]Read More about Buying a Pre-Inspected Home? Beware
Contamination Could Cost Millions $$
Is there a hidden or undisclosed problem with hazardous contamination on the property you are buying? If you are buying a property and there is one of these monitoring wells, you may have a serious and invisible problem with the property. They are most often found in commercial properties that have had a business that […]Read More about Contamination Could Cost Millions $$
Old & Simple Hose Bib
It’s nice to remember the days when everything was reparable. This outside hose bib was not only repairable, they even made it so easy, with the instructions printed on an attached metal tag. Even today, faucets are one of the few items in a home that a home owner can repair in a few minutes […]Read More about Old & Simple Hose Bib
Deadly Poison in a Home Basement!
Inspecting the basement of a vacant house, we came across this container marked poison! First of all its poison, which is dangerous to leave around in any house and especially a house that you are selling.A curious child or a adult wondering what is in the jar could be poisoned, possibly by just touching the […]Read More about Deadly Poison in a Home Basement!
Telephone Technology in a Historic “1916” Home
Inspected this amazing home in Springfield built in1916, and located a few blocks from the Frank Lloyd house (see note below). The house originally had automated gates on the driveway. The original wood paneling and floor to ceiling trim in all the rooms was in perfect condition and beautiful to admire and be amazed at […]Read More about Telephone Technology in a Historic “1916” Home
Dayton Main Street, 100 Years Ago
Inspecting a home this week, I saw this picture of a very busy, prosperous downtown Dayton being revitalized probably one hundred years ago and thought about how wonderful it is to see downtown Dayton coming back to life again. New homes are being built, lofts converted, bars, brewery’s and restaurants opening in areas other than […]Read More about Dayton Main Street, 100 Years Ago
