Inspector Dan Speaks
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Home Buyers: Good News… The market is cycling … Don’t Lose Hope!
Thankfully, all markets ebb and flow; real estate is especially prone to seasons of price increases and declines; if you’re patient, you can synchronize your
What To Watch Out For in New Home Construction Projects
What to Watch Out for in a New Home Construction Project Once the excitement and cozy feelings wear off, a new home construction project
City of Alexandria, VA Announces Housing 2040 Master Plan Kick-off (Fall 2024)
Reposting of recent announcement (8/26/2024) for first time home buyers in Alexandria, VA The City of Alexandria is pleased to announce the two-part kick off
Buyers: Your special weapons are a contingent offer and a thorough inspection
Caveat Emptor. What do we mean by this? Ask any Realtor or real estate attorney and they will tell you, Virginia is a “buyer beware”
Tips for Hiring Home Contractors (Part 2)
Fresh from the county of Fairfax, Land and Development Services (LDS) class entitled “Permits 101”. I was glad to sit in on this because the
How energy efficient is your home or the home you’re considering?
Wouldn’t it be helpful to know if the home you are considering is an energy black hole (EBH)? Or perhaps, is it a hermetically sealed
Which Homes To Avoid
Are there homes that you need to avoid? Well… let’s put it this way… there are homes that you need to take extra care with,
Fairfax County, VA Demographics Report through 2023
Fairfax County, VA is a growing, affluent and vibrant community. For the data geeks in the crowd, here are the latest statistics on many important
Aging In Place? Hire North Star Home Inspections to Prepare
Elder care and helping your loved ones age in place… An Inspector’s Perspective Context is Everything One of the primary points of guidance for
What To Look For When Hiring a Contractor (Part 1)
North Star Home Inspections loves well-run home projects. The key is often hiring a competent professional! This is a re-publishing of an excerpt from Aug.
How Can I Lower My Home Insurance Premiums? And Does Northern Virginia Have an Elevated Natural Disaster Risk?
Is Northern Virginia considered a natural disaster risk area? Will you need to pay an elevated homeowner’s insurance premium in order to live in the
No-Brainer Maintenance Items for the Systems of Your Home
For purposes of home inspection there are about a dozen systems. There also exists a short list of items that every homeowner should be on
Upkeep Priorities for a Home Owner – Begin With Safety!
As with a high-performance automobile, not every defect is the same. Brakes… yeah… they need to be correct and ready to work properly. The arm
First-Time Homeowners – Here’s How To Think About Your New Home
First time homeowners usually need a quick lesson—or at least a reminder on how to approach their home upkeep. Bottom line up front: it is
Why Home Inspections Matter Now–More Than Ever
The world is changing! Both home sellers and buyers need to stay current as the real estate market morphs. For example, what should the role