The house inspection was reportedly needed to determine whether the elected official has renovated her basement without securing necessary permits. According to sources, the assessor's office got a complaint that the Hoveys did not secure permits before having work done on their basement and as a result avoided additional property tax charges.

The congresswoman, elected to her fifth term last year, has denied the accusations. However, although Hovey has every right not to allow the inspection of her property, the tax assessor reportedly also has the right to increase the assessment on her home. The increase, according to local officials, can be based on estimated improvements.

Hovey has asserted that the basement upgrades were conducted with the correct permits secured by herself and her husband and by their contractors. Officials from the assessor's office stated that a notice was sent to Hovey to let her know that her property is included in the town's home inspection list. Officials further added that the request note was based on a complaint alleging that Hovey had converted her home's garage into a room, renovated the basement, put in a woodstove and added a bathroom, all without the necessary permits.

The congresswoman revealed that she did not respond to the letter containing the inspection request and has added that it is her right not to. The notice of increased assessment is usually sent to the homeowner 10 days after a grand list is signed. Local officials also stated that a homeowner cannot appeal assessment changes unless they allow town inspectors to conduct a physical examination of the property.

Documents showed that Hovey's house has an assessed worth of over $204,000 as of October 2009, representing 70% of the home's estimated market worth of $291,800. The last time assessors inspected the property was in 1998 when the Hoveys purchased the property. Meanwhile, Hovey's camp reportedly stated that the inclusion of the property in the town's home inspection list is merely a political ploy.

Congresswoman’s Property in Home Inspection List of Monroe is a post from HomeInspectorCenter.com - Your home inspector headquarters.

The program, called Healthy Home Mortgage, will be financed by a private equity through ESP. According to the firm, the aim of the initiative is to make sure that structural, energy efficiency, air quality and mold-related problems are addressed early on in residential structures. Inspections under the project will be conducted over a 10-year period in an effort to minimize the cost of repairs and to also maintain equity for various industries involved in residential real estate, such as property management, home building, mortgage banking and home insurance.

Officials from ESP have stated that the company is planning to become the first ever national residential property inspection firm in the U.S. The company has been described as a consolidator that will try to bring together the scattered segments of the housing inspection industry. ESP is also known for its innovative and environmental-focused housing inspections.

A survey conducted by ESP showed that residential inspection services are in short supply in the U.S., with only around 38,000 professional inspectors providing services to residential properties. This means that only between four and five million houses receive inspection services every year, which only account for 3.5% of the nation's residential property stock.

Part of ESP's plan is to attract around 120 million residential households in the U.S. to its services which will include moisture and energy inspections, mold testing and allergen screening. The company also stated that these services will be offered at a rate that is affordable to most average households.

ESP, a publicly traded business, has been acquiring environmentally-focused businesses since 2006. It has also created a subsidiary that provides certification and training to environmental housing inspectors called Environmental Safeguard Professionals Inc. The company offers property inspection services to residential and commercial real estate with emphasis on environmental issues and construction defects. ESP is also focusing on hiring veterans as inspectors and customer service representatives.

Property Inspection Program to Aid Veterans Launched in Palm Springs is a post from HomeInspectorCenter.com - Your home inspector headquarters.

The financial services firm is also known for offering REO management, valuation and inspections, hazard recovery and other related services. Its recent service will be available through Default's Mark to Market division.

According to company officials, their research has revealed that there are real estate brokers who are not properly equipped with managing and marketing REOs. The aim of ASR is to provide asset managers of REO with assurance that their listed properties are being taken care of and are being marketed properly to the right buyers for a faster sale.

The service involves sending out independent house inspectors to REO houses to look in on the condition of the properties and determine whether it is listed properly, has yard signage and with its lockbox in place. Any potential hazards within the residence are included in the report which will be filed by inspectors at the company's secure portal.

ASR is like a typical home inspection company service, but with more details and with more sophisticated tools used. Default has a network of over 20,000 licensed agents and home inspectors who will be tasked to conduct the property inspections and come up with the detailed reports.

According to Default executives, the security, marketing and maintenance of REO real properties is central to the success of getting these homes sold. They stated that if such properties are not properly maintained and their assets are not correctly assigned, they might stay in the market for longer periods of time and might fail to sell. Careful monitoring of properties, Default officials have stated, is key to reducing the inventories of foreclosed houses in the country.

Officials from the firm have also added that the longer a property stays in the market, the higher the cost of maintaining them. They added that with maintenance costs, home inspection company fees and other expenses associated with REO, banks tend to lose $150 every single day that a property remains in the market.

Service Similar to a Home Inspection Company Offering Launched is a post from HomeInspectorCenter.com - Your home inspector headquarters.

The latest services aimed at senior dwellers are part of SHSN's several offerings. The firm has regional units in 42 U.S. cities, which makes it easier for clients to get in touch with them and seek their help, particularly if these clients are worried about the safety of their elderly parents or grandparents living on their own.

As part of the senior services, the company will provide assistance in identifying safety hazards at the home where the grandparents or parents are living. They will also inspect other security concerns at the premises that can affect the value of the property and make sure that the dwelling is in good order and in a suitable condition for seniors to get home to, particularly if they had been away from the house for a certain period of time.

Part of the home inspection checklist of the company is making sure electric wirings and plumbing systems are in good order and that areas that are in need of renovation or repainting are taken care of. Problems that can cause safety hazards are the primary focus though, as most senior home dwellers might not be aware that a simple change within the house can cause accidents and unwanted consequences.

According to the founders of the company, their inspectors are all certified and have proper training in terms of identifying and solving home-related safety concerns. These inspectors also have certified clear criminal records and are instructed to follow practice standards that cover privacy and network reporting requirements.

SHSN has revealed that its primary mission is to assist senior citizens and their families in their quest to provide quality of life to elderly people aging in place. They further added that the home inspection checklist was developed by people who have had experience of taking care of senior family members and they know what is needed in situations such as this.

Home Inspection Checklist for Seniors Launched by Firm is a post from HomeInspectorCenter.com - Your home inspector headquarters.

According to the city council, they intend to get the opinion of residents first before authoring an official draft that will be voted on. The initial draft for the planned Health and Safety Occupancy Code is to be released in a few days at the city's Web site and at the City Clerk's office. The Code is actually a legislation that has two main provisions.

The first is a guideline that will require tenants and owners of commercial, rental and residential properties to first get a Health and Safety Permit prior to moving in to their premises. They will also be required to get a home inspection certification by passing an ocular examination that will decide whether the property is in violation of any maintenance code that is in place in the city.

Local authorities have clarified though, that new renters and homeowners will not be required to satisfy every single provision of the maintenance code. The focus, authorities explain, will be on aspects that pose imminent danger to the safety and health of occupants, including gas leaks, faulty wiring, mold and smoke detectors that do not work.

Owners that have properties with these problems will have to address them within a month or they would have to pay fines. For more serious cases, city authorities can refuse to provide a permit or revoke it if one has already been issued. This would then make it illegal for the property to be occupied or rented by anyone.

Local officials have stated that the proposed guidelines will help improve safety conditions among homes and buildings and will also aid the city in its effort to increase the values of properties. They also reveal that almost 40% of homes and commercial structures in the city are over 50 years old and most of them are not up to code and are in need of home inspection certification.

Home Inspection Certification Program Planned in Collinsville is a post from HomeInspectorCenter.com - Your home inspector headquarters.

Don, along with associate Richard Seay, takes care of the house inspection tasks while Allison works as the company's business and office manager. Prior to launching Accurate, Don worked as an insurance adjuster and was also active in the motorcycle family business. He revealed that after six years of dealing with long periods of time away from home, he just decided to use his adjuster talents to launch the property inspection company.

Crook stated that he had always been interested in this type of business. The company conducted its first inspection six years ago in June 2004. The firm is Texas Real Estate Commission-licensed and Crook has revealed that for every house that will be inspected, a seven-page report or form should be filled up.

He talked about trying to remain sensitive to what homebuyers have on their home inspection list. In short, there is a need to be aware of what the homebuyer is searching for. He states that, as opposed to the buyer, they try to look at every house in an objective and professional manner. When Crook is on the field inspecting a residential property, he claims that he starts with the curb.

He details the process he uses during the inspection. According to him, he checks the land where the house is built and examines possible drainage concerns. He then moves on to foundation exploration to find out if there are structural concerns. He advises other inspectors that sidings should be the first stop when checking for structural or foundation problems.

Crook then moves to electrical and plumbing systems, roofing and other areas of the property. He states that most buyers do not have aesthetics on top of their home inspection list, but are more into home problems that can take them by surprise and cost thousands of dollars to fix. He adds that in the area, around 85% of homes sold involved inspections.

Home Inspection List Should Include Local Firm is a post from HomeInspectorCenter.com - Your home inspector headquarters.

According to local inspection firms, only one percent of homeowners in the state are expected to retain their discounts. They revealed that one of the changes is the absence of discount for tile roofs, even those that have been built in compliance with the 2010 code. They added that a longer form will be required for a residential inspection which has been approved by the state Cabinet.

Inspectors also revealed that the changed guidelines resulted from two developments. First is the Office of Insurance Regulation's plan to tie discounts strictly with findings from a 2002 scientific study on hurricane costs and common building materials. They stated that if building materials, like roof tiles, were not tested in 2002 then they will get no discount.

Another factor behind the changes is the Legislature's attempt to prevent fraud by requiring detailed home inspections documentation, including digital photos, which should appear on the inspection form. Most of the standards have been retained, particularly those related to roofing requirements.

As before, hip-shaped roofing qualifies for discounts, but only if a carport or porch roof is part of the exterior wall and is not part of the main roofing system. Under the newly designed form, an attic vent attached to a gable roof should have its own shutter for hurricane.

Furthermore, if a house inspector was unable to document the front door's wind rating, discounts for exterior openings that are storm resistant will not be provided. Some inspectors have stated that this will likely cause much discount loss in the area since most homeowners do not keep rating documents on their doors and they usually paint over rating stickers.

Changes in the home inspections guidelines of Florida are expected to minimize the amount of property insurance discounts that most homeowners will receive during the year. The changes, according to local officials, are meant to eliminate residential inspection fraud.

Changes in Florida Home Inspections Rules Can Minimize Discounts is a post from HomeInspectorCenter.com - Your home inspector headquarters.

According to the lawsuit filed at the Kanawha Circuit Court, McLeod had assured the Rhodes that the house is free from any safety problem. However, the couple revealed that right after they purchased the property, they experienced defects which forced them to hire a professional engineer for further inspection.

The lawsuit revealed that the engineer had told the new owners that the home has several construction problems, including defective water control that causes basement leakage and mold growth. The costs of repairs that would make the house habitable and safe would reach thousands of dollars, according to the couple. They further added that the water control problem should have been seen and reported by McLeod right after his first inspection.

The owners then reportedly tried to contact the house inspector to resolve the issues but the defendant allegedly failed to respond. The Rhodes family accused the house inspection specialist of violating the Consumer Credit and Protection Act of West Virginia.

The plaintiffs have requested that the court declare that the inspector has violated the Consumer Credit and Protection Act and have sought punitive and compensatory damages. The couple is being represented by David L. Grubb and Cameron S. McKinney. The case was put under the responsibility of Circuit Judge Louis Bloom. McLeod is conducting business under the Assurance Home Inspection.

The Rhodes family is currently awaiting the court’s decision on their negligent house inspection claims. The court is set to decide whether there is merit behind the complaint and whether McLeod violated the state’s Consumer Credit and Protection Act.

House Inspection Gone Wrong Resulted in Lawsuit is a post from HomeInspectorCenter.com - Your home inspector headquarters.

The service involves having a county inspector visit the home of a family with an asthmatic child to check for mites and mold that can make breathing difficult for someone who has asthma. Inspectors conduct the home examination after a doctor’s referral.

Local health experts stated that this service can help mitigate asthma attacks among children since it could help identify contributing factors present in the child’s immediate environment. Inspectors usually take an hour to conduct the complete house examination.

According to local statistics, around ten percent of children in the county, plus an estimated seven percent of adults, suffer from asthma. Statistics also showed that asthma attacks have been responsible for the hospitalization of hundreds of residents every year.

Hospitalization costs related to asthma have reached an average of $7 million in the past three years, officials have said. So far, county inspectors have conducted 35 homes inspections since the program’s inception in November 2008.

Environmental health experts in the county have explained that the inspection can identify structural problems that contribute to the occurrence of asthma attacks. They stated that leaks creating damp environments, which lead to mold growth, and cockroach problems are some of the factors that can cause asthma attacks.

The program, local officials have explained, will be getting its funds from the county budget until 2011 and will be sustained by a grant for two more years beyond after this period. Officials also revealed that it was patterned after Boston’s Breathe Easy at Home program which was launched in 2007 and had resulted in over 450 homes in Boston getting inspected.

The efficacy of the Boston program is still being evaluated, Multnomah officials stated; but a survey has revealed that out of 12 families surveyed, eight have confirmed that there had been improvements in their children’s symptoms following inspection.

The homes inspections aimed to control asthmatic attacks among children of low-income families in Multnomah are part of a bigger effort called Healthy Homes Programs. According to local environmental health officials, the effort has resulted in lowering emergency room visits from families with asthmatic children.

Free Homes Inspections Service Offered to Multnomah County Residents is a post from HomeInspectorCenter.com - Your home inspector headquarters.

The first one is that currently in Florida, there are no standards covering house inspection. There is no law defining residential inspection and there are no regulations about what should be included in a regular inspection.

A law requiring house inspectors to get licensed by the state starting July 1 has already been enacted, but standards and requirements for licensing have not yet been passed.

This means that you have to make a thorough research when choosing your house inspector. The common advice is to select your inspector from members of the American Society of Home Inspectors and the International Association of Certified Homes Inspectors.

This advice, however, does not ensure you are getting the inspector you need. You still should ask referrals from real estate agents that you know and investigate backgrounds through the websites of Best Business Bureau and home inspection associations.

The second thing you should know is the preponderance of mold in the state. Florida is mostly humid and when air conditioning systems are not working well, mold can easily grow in various parts of the house.

This means that you should consider getting a home inspection that includes infrared mold inspection. An infrared camera detects mold which is not yet visible to the naked eye.

The third important thing is the actual inspection of the roof and attic. As Florida lies across the paths of most hurricanes that hit the southeastern U.S., your roof and attic must be strong enough to weather strong winds and storms.

Your inspector should actually go up into the attic and should actually use stairs to look at the whole roof to check damages. There have been complaints that inspectors do not do these parts of the inspection process due to various reasons, such as lack of access or restrictions resulting from non-invasive inspection rules.

Septic inspection is the fourth important thing. There are places in Florida where houses are not on municipal water supply. Since water from private suppliers is more costly, septic maintenance could be lacking, so ensure that your chosen inspector includes septic inspection.

On the whole, home inspection in Florida, despite inadequate state regulations, can still help ensure you are purchasing a home worth your money if you exert effort to wisely choose your inspector.

Four Things You Should Know About Home Inspection in Florida is a post from HomeInspectorCenter.com - Your home inspector headquarters.