Home Inspections Plus

Well, I found the Eagle River bear. 😂🐻

Apparently getting into the donut guy's garage wasn't working out for him, so he's making a career change.

He's coming along on inspections with me now.

We're gonna see if we can find him a nice crawl space somewhere in Eagle River to settle down in. 😂

He's already got the headlamp.

Attic training starts next week.

Home Inspections Plus
Experience Matters.

One of the best compliments in this business is when someone chooses to use you again.

Earlier this summer, I inspected a house for a buyer who ultimately decided to walk away from the purchase. Tomorrow, I get to inspect the next house he's considering.

Funny part is, during that first inspection we both kept thinking the other looked familiar. 😂 Turns out he'd worked at Home Depot for years, and I'd probably seen him a hundred times while I was running in and out of there as a contractor.

When he originally hired me, he had another inspector recommended to him, but he chose Home Inspections Plus. Now he's working with a different Realtor, has found another house, and chose me again.

That means a lot to me.

And since this poor guy already paid me to inspect one house he didn't end up buying, I'm giving him 50% off this one.

Not because it's a promotion. Not because it's something I'll always do.

Just because I can, and it felt like the right thing to do.

Hopefully this is the one. 🏠

Also, I have a feeling rooftop selfie season is about over in Alaska. 😂❄️

Home Inspections Plus
Experience Matters!

A contractor friend at Alter & Fix sent me this photo from a home that closed only a couple of months ago.

Once the siding was removed, significant deterioration was visible in the wall sheathing near a roof-to-wall intersection. The damage pattern is consistent with long-term moisture intrusion, and one of the important details to evaluate at an area like this is kickout flashing.

Kickout flashing is a small piece of flashing with a big job: directing roof runoff away from the wall.

When that detail is missing or ineffective, water can repeatedly find its way behind the siding—and much of the resulting damage can remain concealed until materials are removed.

Of course, home inspectors don't have X-ray vision. If deterioration is completely concealed behind finished siding, there's no way to know exactly what's happening inside the wall during a visual inspection.

What we can do is pay close attention to the details and conditions that can lead to those hidden problems.

This is a good reminder of why roof-to-wall intersections, flashing details, siding transitions, and drainage patterns deserve a close look during a home inspection.

Sometimes the smallest details can prevent the biggest problems.

Home Inspections Plus
Experience Matters!

Apparently I'm not very good at saying no when someone asks:

“Will you come out here for a home inspection?” 😂

Sometimes that means driving.

Sometimes apparently it means getting on an airplane. ✈️

Last year home inspections took me all the way out to Cold Bay and King Cove for inspections on numerous Corporation owned buildings.

This summer I've been out to Willow, and just this weekend my son and I headed out to Sutton for another one.

Then there are all the inspections in between around Eagle River, Chugiak and Anchorage.

One of the things I enjoy about being an independent home inspector is having the flexibility to go where I'm needed.

So if you've got a property somewhere in Alaska and you're wondering whether I'll travel to inspect it, don't automatically assume it's too far.

Ask me.

Apparently there's a pretty good chance I'll say yes. 😂

Home Inspections Plus
Experience Matters!

🏠 LET'S TALK “GRANDFATHERED.”

It's a word that comes up all the time with older homes:

“But isn't that grandfathered?”

Sometimes, yes.

Sometimes, it's a little more complicated.

👇 Here are three real examples from home inspections.

These homes were built under different requirements than we have today.

So here's the question:

Which of these would you consider grandfathered — and which would you still recommend upgrading?

An older stairway with riser heights that don't meet today's standards?

Missing GFCI protection in a location where it would be required today?

Older plumbing that doesn't meet today's standards?

And here's the bigger question:

Are there certain safety improvements that should be recommended regardless of how old the house is?

Realtors, homeowners, contractors, electricians — I'm curious to hear everyone's take before I give mine. 👇

There aren't necessarily three identical answers here.

Let's see what everyone thinks.

Home Inspections Plus
Experience Matters!

Not because I have to. Because I want to.
When conditions allow, I make every effort to actually enter and inspect the attic.
Attics can be dark, cramped, dirty and difficult to navigate. But they can also contain some pretty important information about a home — moisture, roof leaks, ventilation problems, insulation concerns, electrical issues and more.
Sometimes those things simply aren't visible from the hatch.
That's also why I take my official “hatchback photo.” 😂 If you see one in your report, you know I wasn't standing at the opening with a flashlight.
I make the effort to get in there for one simple reason:
Buyers deserve to know what's in there.
Home Inspections Plus
Experience Matters!

Realtors — I have a question for you. 🏠
What's one thing you wish home inspectors did better?
Communication? Report wording? Explaining findings? Scheduling? Showing up on time? Knowing what really matters in a transaction?
I'm genuinely curious.
I'm always looking for ways to improve the experience for my clients and the Realtors I work with, so don't be afraid to give me an honest answer.
What would make your job easier?

A few little wins lately.

Got some new Home Inspections Plus gear, got to spend some time skating with my daughter at a real estate event the other night, and today I got to bring her along with me on an inspection.

I didn't manage to get a picture of us at the inspection today, but it was pretty cool having her there and getting to show her a little more of what I do.

Both of my kids have shown some interest in the trades, and one of the things I'd love is to build Home Inspections Plus into something they could be a part of someday if they choose to.

For now, I'm just enjoying getting to grow the business, meet more people in the real estate community, and occasionally bring one of my favorite people along for the ride.

The little wins add up.

Ever trip on a staircase and swear there was nothing there? There might actually be a reason.

Uneven stair riser heights are one of the most common stair issues I find during home inspections.

It doesn't take a huge difference, either. Your body gets into a rhythm going up or down stairs, and one step that's noticeably taller or shorter than the others can create a trip or fall hazard.

🏠 Interior stairs: Sometimes there isn't a simple fix. The stairs may have originally been built incorrectly, or a later renovation may have changed things. A common example is adding tile or another flooring material to a landing and unintentionally changing the height of the first or last step.

🔨 Exterior deck stairs: These are usually a different story. If the deck is older and the stairs are otherwise serviceable, rebuilding them immediately may not always make practical sense. I often tell clients that the ideal time to correct the stair geometry is when the deck or stairs are eventually rebuilt.

If it's a newer deck with newly constructed stairs, though, that's different. It may be worth having the original contractor correct the issue while the work is still new.

A good home inspection isn't just about finding something that's wrong. It's about understanding what it means, how significant it is, and what realistically makes sense to do about it.

Home Inspections Plus
Experience Matters!

I've learned from your favorite Home Inspector!

One of the cool things about being in this industry as long as I have is that I’ve had the opportunity to see a LOT of inspection reports from other inspectors.
And I pay attention.
I’ve also had opportunities to learn alongside some great inspectors in the field. I went on an inspection with Richard Renk, and I’ve been on inspections with Troy Bloxom. There’s something different about actually being there and seeing how another experienced inspector approaches a house.
Discovery Dave taught me to pay attention to the 15-amp furnace breaker. Quality Kevin taught me to look closely at heat shields in the attic. Other inspectors have had their own little things they were especially good at catching — and when I see something good, I learn from it.
I don’t think being a good inspector means pretending you’re the only guy who knows anything.
I’ve been fortunate enough to learn from some of Alaska’s OG inspectors (including a few who are retired now), while bringing my own background as a licensed electrician and years of hands-on construction experience to the table.
Every good inspector I’ve learned from has made me a better inspector.
And I’m still learning.

Home Inspections Plus
Experience Matters!