Apr 01 2020
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Home Inspection Procedures

By Jon Vacha

As we adapt and respond to calls by local and national governing bodies to curtail the spread of COVID -19 we are now adopting the following procedures for home and commercial inspections: – If inspectors have any symptoms such as a high temperature or coughing, the inspector will not report to the     inspection. –…

Jul 19 2019
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A/C Maintenance Tips

By Jon Vacha

Air Conditioners last longer and run more efficiently if they are properly maintained and cared for. We recommend having a professional HVAC company service the A/C once a year. Most people don’t follow that recommendation. Here are a few A/C maintenance tips for do-it-your-selfers and everyone else who does not know their HVAC tech on…

Apr 14 2019
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Information Only Inspection

By Jon Vacha

Light vs darkness – it is a theme repeated often.  If sales are about building relationships, guiding a client to make informed decisions is key. We all instinctively can tell when someone is open and honest and trying to supply us with the information we need.   If we ever sense manipulation, trust is typically lost.…

Feb 08 2019
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Flat Tires and Foundation Repair

By Jon Vacha

If you have a leaky tire, you might go to an auto-mechanic to get a repair. If that mechanic’s recommendation for repair is a new steel rim, a new axle and 4 new tires at a total cost of $4,000.00, would you think of getting a second opinion? I have inspected too many homes with…

Dec 05 2018
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Attic Insulation

By Jon Vacha

Many homeowners are increasingly conscious of the benefits of improving the thermal rating of their homes. Recently at the GO-ASHI meeting, Todd from USA Insulation spoke to our group of ASHI inspectors about some of the ins and outs of an existing residential home’s attic insulation. Todd prides himself on doing extensive research about trends…

Oct 01 2018
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Do You See What I See?

By Jon Vacha

I recently went an entire half of a work day not realizing my phone was still on airplane mode. I finished my inspection 20 minutes early and I had an overwhelming sense of clarity and focus with regard to that home inspection. I had not been distracted by emails about my schedule, texts from agents…

Aug 15 2017
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Why I Love My Job

By Jon Vacha

I have worked with Home Standards Inspection Services as the inspection coordinator for 6 months now. At first, I didn’t know quite what to expect.  I came from a large, bustling corporate environment which I thrived in due to my competitive nature and attention to customer service. I liked the idea of working from home,…

Jul 20 2017
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Stair and Window Safety

By Jon Vacha

Any of us who have fallen down a flight of stairs understand how exciting it can be. Most of us have not experienced falling down a flight of stairs which is amazing considering how many steps a person braves during a lifetime. The reason for this, is there are building codes and safety regulations and…

Jun 23 2017
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Air Conditioners and Cool Smart

By Jon Vacha

  It’s that time of year again, summer is here and along with it comes the heat!!  As the days grow longer and hotter, air conditioners run longer and use more power. This additional usage puts a strain on our electrical power grid throughout the city.  Air conditioners/heat pumps use a tremendous amount of electricity,…