All Forum Posts by: Andy Hudgins

H___ yes! I can't count on FOUR hands the number of new homeowners I've met in the past two years who used the inspector recommended by the seller's people who were KICKING themselves after the fact --- one in tears, many close to tears! Put EVERYTHING on hold until you've gotten the best guy/gal in town on the job. 

"Third party"....right.

"Ms. Tenant, when you renew the lease I'll upgrade the vanity."

I am glad I read this. Thank you sir.

This is frikkin' awesome!  Couch surfin', yeah!!! Hey man, I live on the far east side of the ATL now but recently moved from Jax, FL. I am seriously suggesting you swing through Jacksonville and go to any European Street Café (four locations) and get a Reuben. Huh, say what? Yes, that's what I said.  It's worth the trip plus there's a very robust RE market and the old homes, are a real treat.  I've tried every Reuben in that town --- I know what I'm talking about!  Plus, here at home we've got a spare bed an hour from Hartsfield/Jackson Intl Airport.  I don't want your couch money, I only want advice on all these pesky jokers asking for my money! 

Bon voyage mon frere!

@Matthew Paul is one of the responses heading you in the best direction.  Do look up positive-side waterproofing and negative-side waterproofing.  Drylock is Granddad's go-to choice while the science has left that way behind. The basement systems approach will only leave your investment (cinder block walls) fully exposed to water over time.  Gutters, grading, and get outside and watch the rain water so you can communicate to waterproofer what's happening.

@Chiquita Mcgill Please hurry over to the "Marketplace" tab above and click "Hard Money Lenders" and notice their rates.

@ said above "... a market that I am building infill in."

Does this translate to :

putting together a new local team in a new market, or:

building inventory? 

Or both?

What does that mean and thanks for your time.

Andy

"It was also causing water to seep into crawl space." Hey Ms. Mona, get a pin-style moisture meter ($30), a white "Tyvek" suit ($11), and a good, strong flash light from one of the big box stores.  Send someone under the house with these to take lots of pictures of the floor system to include the plywood or planking deck, joists, and beams with the meter stuck in the wood in the photo.  If you get readings of 14% or greater then there is cause for concern.  Ask the inspector to take pix of discolored wood then post those pictures here.

All the above tips are fantastic but you need a stutus of the bones of your investment as it relates to biological growth.

@Dax Desai is leading you in the best direction.  I would emphasize stopping source of humidity plus the use of a good dehu, not one from the big-box stores.  This dehu should be placed as near to the center of the structure as possible and left on until all construction mtrls moisture content reaches 14% or much less.

Hey Stephen, no HVAC use will often result in a high Aspergillus content on your test results from the assessor (not remediator). You will get numerous different flavors of mold but this one will be right up there. I have been involved in residential mold extraction for nothing other than pure lack of HVAC use. Building envelope checked out all good.

Slab-on-grade? Go to one of the big-box hardware stores and get a $20 pin style moisture meter (two very sharp pins). They're in the tool section.  Keep it on the wood setting for all mtrls.  Test all over including baseboards, just above baseboards, but get it in contact with the cement.  You are hoping for consistent 14% or MUCH less throughout. Make sure to carefully check shower floor (long after most recent shower).  Take note of readings at perimeter compared to readings as you move toward the center of rooms. High values at perimeter strongly suggest the need for gutters and grading landscape away from slab.  Is the slab thing a long shot? Maybe, but I would check it for sure.

Also, a fine addition to our REI investment teams is an HVAC testing/cleaning/balancing specialist in addition to the regular repair guy. IMHO these are two different people.

I hope this helps.  Keep me posted because I love these "puzzles".