Re/Max Performance

A pre-drywall inspection gives your home inspector the equivalent of "x-ray vision", as demonstrated here by licensed inspector Jeremy Simpson. It also is a great opportunity for the buyer to take a lot of pictures so that when the day comes to hang something heavy (like a TV), you know where the studs are, and what to avoid (like plumbing and wiring).

Q. Our microwave went out. What area electrician(s) will work with our warranty company?

A. If the unit is completely dead--i.e., the clock and surface lights don't work, check for a tripped circuit breaker by plugging a lamp into the 110V outlet.

If there is power, but the cooking function does not work, the magnetron tube may have blown. In that case, you need an appliance repair person, rather than an electrician.

Call the warranty company to get a claim number assigned. Remember, the warranty will not cover the claim without telephone approval. (The steps are on the first page of the warranty brochure.)

The warranty you purchased allows you to choose your own vendor. (Most warranty companies have their own list of preferred service persons.) Your warranty company might have a recommendation of someone whom it has worked with, in the past. If not. when calling a repair company, mention the warranty up front.

Most repair companies advertise which brands they service, and are likely to have parts on hand. If not, they know that parts, even for older units, may be available from local suppliers like Cashwell in south Raleigh. Occasionally, parts may need to be ordered. Fortunately, parts are interchangeable over many model years.

Q. A seller gave me this Disclosure Statement. What is “No Representation”?

North Carolina is a voluntary disclosure state. A seller must give you the form, but the seller has the option of making no disclosure on any or all items. Usually, the Non Representation column is used by sellers who reasonably could NOT know the answer because the Seller has not occupied the home--like an estate sale, a bank which got the property via foreclosure, or a home which has been rented.

In this case, the Seller is saying that he does not know what kind of pipes are used in the plumbing system. This is common; many homeowners don't know the answer to that question.

Of course, a property disclosure statement is not a substitute for a home inspection. Owners sometimes miss items on this complicated form, or they check the wrong box.

One item of note is that the septic tank is rated for four bedrooms. In viewing the home, you may have seen more bedrooms than this. The system might be able to handle additional bedrooms which are occupied on an occasional basis, especially by pumping more frequently than usual. The legal implication is that the home can be advertised as having ONLY four bedrooms. Marketing materials can refer to the others as a den, office, rec room, etc.

Q. Can a bedroom be added in a basement?

A. Two means of egress from a bedroom (generally a door and a window) are absolutely necessary for safety reasons. A bedroom is possible in a "daylight" or walk-out basement, provided the proposed bedroom is not tucked back into the hillside.
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