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Ultimately, any gardener starts pondering purchasing garden tools UK or alternatively marveling at those Bulldog garden forks — but bear in mind, only over centuries have we reached this level. Settlements were gardening thousands of years before the creation of the hoe or the rake. This leisure occupation got started within the cradle of civilization itself.

Gardens in that era were created for practical reasons, for pleasure, and for spirituality. The vital grapes and other food-bearing plants would mingle with pools of fish, being confined by walls of stone. Certainly the bulk was for food but some plants were tended to honor some of their deities. And other plants, prized highly by the temples for ritual purposes, flourished on nearby land. Assyrians, Persians and Babylonians mingled together vegetables, water features, stunning architecture, and flowers with fruits and nuts to craft wonderful places. As you’d imagine, another example of a nation who practiced this would be the Romans — while the Greeks concentrated on the potential for sustenance of their plantations and nothing else.

While we’ll admit they may not have used a rake or a fork, these tribes had devised quite the selection of simple tools and utensils which were prototypical of the spades and hoes gardeners rely on today. They made them out of copper, iron, stone, bronze… the famous ages obviously named after the raw materials seeing use. The mayhem of Europe’s Middle Ages caused later nations to set down the primitive spade and the rest of the garden tools — except for the priests, who cultivated some herbs for religious and medicinal requirements.

Slowly we returned to the hobby of cultivating flower gardens to enjoy. Standards began to emerge, a formalized structure determining the way the garden would ultimately appear. Many great examples still stand — knot gardens, created from intricate textures. Rules like these are no longer compulsory, meaning there’s really nothing to fret about — enjoy yourself, and stay confident about musing on how to remediate some irritating garden spades deformity or reading some well written lawn rake review. Humphry Repton and others examined the traditions — so set by that point as to be effectively stagnant — and threw away those that obstructed their intent, mixing a realistic outlook with carefully selected statuary and similar decorative touches.

Granted, things have expectably changed over the centuries, but gardens are still tended for the same reasons as our forefathers’. You won’t discover a more peaceful space than a garden paradise.

When you begin looking to buy garden tools or checking out your neighbor’s Barbeskew marinated sausages, don’t forget that gardening hasn’t always been filled with garden tools and streamlined machines. Sausages and barbeques are relatively recent developments, but don’t forget, the concept of gardens is as old as humanity. The activity we look at as an old familiar hobby started to take shape prior to the dawn of history.

In Egypt outdoor chefs were guided by a blend of spirituality, practical reasons, and pleasure. Customarily circumscribed by walls of stone, green spaces were tended to produce fruit and nut bearing trees, flowers, grapes, flowers, and perhaps even fish ponds. While admittedly the bulk was for food some plants were grown to honor certain deities. Priests, too, tended to certain plants in places far from the gardens.

They weren’t the only civilization to landscape primitive plantations. The list also includes the Assyrians, the Babylonians, to say nothing of the Babylonians, who all also incorporated buildings of some scope into places. As you might predict, one other example of a culture like this would be the Romans - though the Greeks focused on the food potential of their farmsteads alone.

While they had no access to braai or barbeques, these civilizations did employ quite the selection of elementary aids which were the prototypes of modern hoes and spades. Tools were initially hewn out of stone, but were made out of copper, masonry, and copper later on.

The confusion after Rome fell led several nations to put down the simple outdoor barbeque and the rest of the garden tools - except for the priests, who grew some flowers .

The public once again designed exquisite gardens grown from flowers, flowers, and herbs for enjoyment. This habit advanced up to the 16th and 17th century, at which time gardens became far more conventional and precise . You just need to appreciate the work that goes into a knot garden or hedge maze to see this.

So if you’re checking out ways to remediate that annoying garden spades handle or perusing some in-depth garden spades review, don’t forget that in the 1700s great talents like Humphry Repton, Humphry Repton, as well as Humphry Repton relied on contrivances like your own to construct astonishing designs. “Capability” Brown and those like him glanced at the rules - so fixed now that they were practically stagnant - and discarded any that detracted from their intent, combining a naturalistic outlook with appropriate statues and other such accessories.

Obviously, things have changed as time moves on, but gardens are still loved for the same reasons as our forebears’. Regardless, they remain some of the most beautiful spaces on earth.

Click here and go to our excellent webpage for outdoor barbeque masonry clues…

When it comes to shopping for medical marijuana seeds, worth and security is important. Assuming you slip by the hustles, what happens next? Choose a seedbank cultivating excellent hybrids with safe delivery. Quite a few issues should be investigated before picking out the man you want to order from, and if you’re savvy enough to be wary of the problems, we’ll provide you with what you should still hear. With medical marijuana seeds as with all else, the upper hand lies with the online outlets when it comes to the capability to provide a large variety of breeds. Consequently, you may purchase the type with the effect you prefer, instead of the restricted range that may be on sale locally. Obviously there’s the matter of risk. It’s difficult, we’ve found, to completely trust the sellers in our area — not that this is their fault. While the domestics will take precautions, they might be being tailed — or apprehended before your order gets to you, neither of which is good news. Of course, both of you recognize one another — and we’re sure you see how that could be problematic for you.

Between minimizing the paper trail and making sure there’s nothing out of the ordinary concerning the parcel, online outlets offer an unbelievable degree of secrecy. Typically, this necessitates transactions using trackable cash instead of making payments by credit cards. Sites willing to use credit cards will take care to shred their records. Now you can see why you need a seedbank you can depend upon. Of course, having identified your contact, you’ll know shipments of sensi seeds will be steady. Renown should be the big decision maker. This reputation will take the form of columns and kind reviews which are easily found.

Decide between the types and strains you want to try. Ahead of your choice, obviously, you’ll want to consider the yield, your favorite THC levels, harvest months, weeks flowering, and the individual plant heights of the assorted varieties. Consider how you’ll cultivate the crops before settling on a particular hybrid. Will you use hydroponics, or cultivate them in the soil? Depending on the answer, you might need to adjust your decision.

So here we are; and above you’ve seen the majority of what you require when shopping for marijuana seeds. So relax and enjoy the ride — because the lion’s share of the time you’ve had to invest was attended to when you started out.

Horticulture must rank as one of the biggest summertime pursuits, in first world countries. Along side gardening, comes a large amount of garden tools and equipment, especially for those with a huge interest in Gardening. Once Summertime and Autumn has stopped, wintertime advances. All the garden accessories you have need to be packed away in the shed. It might not be a great job but it pays to be coordinated!

Of all of the household items that can be positioned in the shed, Garden tools have to be the most problematical. Minor hand tools such as the secateurs are rather easy to hide away in the shed. The key problem is that they can be mislaid over the wintertime period, this is due to their small nature. The biggest issue comes with putting away the problematic sized bulky tools.

Can you envisage anything more awkward than a springbok rake for finding somewhere reasonable to put for any length of time? Thrust in the stainless fork with its lethal forked spikes, the pic hoe, garden rake, push and pull hoe, garden spade and you have a formula for tragedy lying in wait for you. These problems increase 100 fold if you have youngsters.

Apart from anything else, though, it is a better idea all round to have your tools cleaned and stored safely, precisely where you can discover them when you require them. That is why garden equipment stands, particularly designed for the function of stashing away garden tools, are such an fundamental feature of any garden shed, or garage if that is where you have to hive away your gardening things.

Good equipment stands make equipment easier to find, as well as keeping your instruments in good order. The issue is, which rack do you prefer? There are a number of options, and some of these are very well designed for the role specified. While detached stands, if firm and hard, might be satisfactory, it is surely neater to have a wall stand that is all of the time secured to the shed or garage wall. That way, it is less likely to come tumbling down in a mass on the ground. If you have kids, a wall holder that can be raised out of the reach of the youngsters is life-sustaining, as is opting one that will grasp the hoe and other severe horticulture tools securely in place.

Contrasting to standard beliefs, Solar Fountains are one of the cheapest manners to beautify your patio or garden, if you construct them on your own! You don’t need a lot - infact there are only four things you require - a solar board, wall part for ornamentation (or a bamboo spout), dc pump of low voltage, and a terracota bowl.

Easy to execute steps on Solar fountain DIY are:

Don’t you see how easy it is to designing your own solar fountain Now? Solar fountains are very low-cost and they facilitate us spare a lot of electrical energy, so make sure you put in a solar fountain nowadays!

The outlook for foreseeable future is a bit grim if you’re a property owner - decreasing house prices are making many people fret. Some property owners will actually experience negative equity shortly, if not already. Still, there are means to avert this problem. The Answer : to add value to your property. How to go about that? By making home improvements. Do It Yourself / home improvements can add far greater value to your property than the effective cost of those improvements.

So where to start? A good place to begin is to think about the rooms in your house that you use the least. Perhaps it is an adjoining garage, or spare bedroom. Knocking down a wall can transform such a rarely used area into extra space for a living room or kitchen. Also take into account plumbing and electrics. A dimmer switch can change a bright, garish room into a warm, inviting living space - it’s just a dimmer switch, but showing such a pleasant ambience in your home makes the prospective home buyer feel more relaxed! Maybe your home doesn’t have a downstairs lavatory? Then get one installed where your utility room is - once more this can add a great deal of value to your house.

Perhaps your 4 bedroomed house could be converted to 3 bedroom by ripping a wall down, and producing a much larger room. This may sound a little strange, but actually larger rooms will make you a higher sale value, and quite often people use a 4th bedroom purely as a spare room (meaning it’s not really used or important) .

Next take a look at your garden. Is there a shed there? If not, consider installing one in the garden. Why? Well, here is one place where you can stash away all your gear that’s overloading up your spare bedroom / garage / utility room. Having a shed helps also with the gardening, and enthusiastic gardeners (read: your future home buyer) like a garden with a shed. Also do some gardening yourself! If your garden’s been overlooked, then cut the lawn, plant some flowers, cut the garden edges. Install some decking if you have some room. Just offering a beverage to a prospective buyer out in your pretty garden can really make the place sell itself - they feel comfortable in such surroundings - so your garden is very important to help raise the price of your property and help sell your home.

Where can you get help? Look online. A home and garden directory like homeandgardenlistings.co.uk has all kinds of home and garden websites listed there : including a directory of bathroom fitters, directory of builders, directory of plumbers, electricians, directory of general furniture suppliers, directory of bedroom furniture and beds suppliers etc.

These are just some introductory points on increasing the value of your property in these trying times, but we hope this will spur you into some action!

How to Grow Bananas

If your grocer says, “Yes, we have no bananas. We have no bananas today,” it isn’t surprising since the banana is the world’s second favorite fruit, surpassed in popularity only by the apple. Once only grown in tropical climates, the good news is that several varieties can be grown in northern areas as well as in the south.

Because it takes nine months or more to reach maturity, some northern gardeners grow the banana plant only for its spectacular ornamental foliage. However, in the hobby greenhouse, even northern growers can achieve a fruit harvest and reap the added benefit of seeing the amazing way in which fruit is produced.

Probably because of its height, the banana plant is often incorrectly called a banana tree. Actually, though, the banana is the largest herbaceous perennial and belongs to the monocotyledons of the Musaceae family, which also includes palms, grasses, and orchids.

Bananas grow from rhizomes, which are stems that take root and send shoots (suckers) up through the soil. Banana plants may also be propagated through suckers (also called pups or ratoons) that grow from the main stem of the banana plant. If you have difficulty in finding banana rhizomes at your local nursery, you can find them in most garden catalogs as well as Internet garden outlets.
Site and soil

The banana plant grows best in full sun in soil that provides excellent drainage. Good drainage is crucial since saturated roots may die in less than an hour. It is also important to shelter the banana plant from heavy winds that can tatter the banana plant foliage.

The banana plant is a very heavy feeder. Soil should be nutrient rich, slightly acidic, and loamy enough to retain moisture and keep nutrients from leaching below the shallow roots of the plant. Amendments of good organic compost and green sand or kelp meal will help maintain the banana plant’s high mineral requirements.

Planting Banana Rhizomes

Dig a hole about a foot wide and ten to twelve inches deep. Set the rhizome in the hole so that the union between it and the sucker stem are about six inches deep. If your site isn’t level, the eye of your banana rhizome should be on the uphill side of your hole. Fill the hole with soil and tamp down firmly to remove any air pockets. If planting more than one rhizome, plants need to be spaced at least ten feet apart so that each gets the benefit of full sun. Water your planting sparingly to keep the rhizome healthy until the plant is established.

Banana Plant Growth

Because of its rapid growth, the banana plant is one that you almost can sit back and watch grow.
When the banana plant is about three-quarters grown, it produces several suckers at its base. Remove all of these, save one, by trimming them at ground level with a sharp knife. The saved shoot is called a follower. It will become your banana plant’s main stem after the mother plant fruits.

The “trunk” of the banana plant is actually a densely packed group of concentric leaves, a pseudostem. After the banana plant has grown about thirty leaves, the fruit stem shoots through them from the rhizome and emerges as a terminal inflorescence (a group of flowers at the tip of the stem). The fruit stem matures three to four months after its emergence. Flower bracts soon cover the stem and then roll back almost daily, each exposing a “hand” of bananas. At the beginning of their development, the little hands grow downward, but as they grow, they turn their fingers towards the sun and appear to be growing upside down. This phenomenon is called “negative geotropism”.

Banana Harvest

A banana bunch is ready to cut when the fruit is round and plump with no obvious ribs. At this point, the flower bracts will be very dry and easily break off from the fruit tip. To harvest bananas, the stalk of the bunch should be cut well above the top hand of bananas.

Bananas ripen by self-producing heat and ethylene gas. To maximize your banana harvest, pick individual green hands to ripen them for use. Seal the hand in a plastic bag with another ripening banana or a fruit like a red apple. The hand makes use of the gas produced by the ripening fruit and speeds up the process. Place the bag in a cool dark place, like a cupboard (a refrigerator is too cold!). After 24 to 48 hours, remove the ripening fruit. The hand of bananas should be able to finish the ripening process on its own.

After harvest, cut the mother plant down to ground level. The “follower” will take her place for next year’s banana growing!

About the Author

Linda is an author of
Gardening Tips Tricks and Howto’s of Gardening Guides and the
Lawn Care section of the Lawnmower Guide.

Rosmarinus officinalis, commonly called rosemary is an aromatic herb indigenous to the Mediterranean area. Rosemary is traditionally known as the herb of remembrance and friendship. Also known as Mary’s mantle and compass weed, rosemary is a lovely, sweet scented, shrubby perennial in Mediterranean countries that can be grown as an annual in Northern climates or as an indoor potted plant. Rosemary has needlelike leaves and delicate light blue flowers. Mature plants can live for over 30 years.

Rosemary grows best in full sun but will tolerate semi-shade. This plant grows best in light, well-drained soil. Let rosemary become moderately dry between waterings, as root rot can be a problem in soggy soils. Mist the leaves every second week. Rosemary grows 3 - 6 feet (1 - 2 m) tall outdoors. Indoors, rosemary benefits by harvesting tip cuttings that will keep the plant fuller and bushier. Rosemary’s leaves are dark green on top with silvery undersides.

Rosemary is slow to germinate and grow from seed so it is best to buy plants or propagate rosemary from stem cuttings. If you are growing this herb indoors, rosemary thrives when moved outdoors for the summer. Leave rosemary in pots in the garden as it seems to be able to adjust to moving back in-doors more successfully. Move back indoors before the first frost, check for insects, and if there is an infestation, spray with a soap and water spray.

Rosemary requires at least 4 hours of direct sunlight a day. If you are growing rosemary on a windowsill, turn regularly to ensure every side receives light. If you are growing rosemary under lights, hang fluorescent lights 6 inches (15 cm) above the plants and leave on for 12 hours.

In the garden, rosemary deters cabbage moth, bean beetles, and carrot fly when planted near cabbage, beans, carrots, and sage. In Italy, rosemary is the preferred herb with lamb, veal, and poultry particularly when simmered with olive oil, garlic, and wine. Rosemary should always be used with lamb as it enhances the meat with incomparable flavour. Other uses in the kitchen include tomato dishes, stews, soups, vegetable dishes, pork, rabbit, sausages, fish, shellfish, finely chopped in custards, egg dishes, pickles, jellies, jams, cakes, cookies, salads, and is an essential ingredient in herb breads and biscuits, including focaccia, the classic Italian bread. Rosemary can be added to the cooking water to enliven cauliflower, potatoes, green beans, and peas. Marinades for fish and meats as well as minestrone, chicken, and pea soups benefit from the addition of rosemary. Rosemary has a strong flavour so use sparingly. Leaves, stems, and flowers are all edible. To release the flavour of dried leaves, crush them just before using. Rosemary stems can be used for herb skewers by stripping the leaves and threading vegetables or tender cuts of meat on the stems for broiling.

Rosemary can be kept in the fridge for a few days either in plastic bags or with the stems immersed in water. The leaves can be dried by hanging fresh sprigs in a warm, dry place. Strip off leaves before storing.

Gwen Nyhus Stewart, B.S.W., M.G., H.T., is an educator, freelance writer, garden consultant, and author of the book The Healing Garden: A Place Of Peace - Gardening For The Soil, Gardening For The Soul and the booklet Non-toxic Alternatives For Everyday Cleaning And Gardening Products. She owns the website Gwen’s Healing Garden where you will find lots of free information about gardening for the soil and gardening for the soul. To find out more about the books and subscribe to her free Newsletter visit www.gwenshealinggarden.ca

Gwen Nyhus Stewart © 2004 - 2006. All rights reserved.

Sloped and hillside lawns and landscapes tend to develop dry dead spots during the hot part of the season. This is primarily due to water run off before it has a chance to saturate into the soil. Deep saturation is a key to a healthy lawns and plants. Deep watering helps establish deeper roots that can handle Summer heat stress.

Water that runs off or just barely breaks the surface, obviously does the lawn or landscape very little good. So how do you give landscaping and lawn on a slope better saturation?

Split your water cycle duration into two or three short cycles. If your water cycle is 30 minutes, you might split the cycle into three 10 minute cycles. So on watering days, you’ll run the system for the specified amount of time, let it soak for a few hours, then repeat this for the number of times needed.

To determine the exact amount of time needed, turn on the lawn sprinkler and watch for how long it takes for runoff to begin. This is the maximum of how long each cycle should be.

Don’t just split your cycles into different days. You need deep saturation for healthier plants. Plants and lawns like infrequent deep waterings much more than frequent shallow waterings.

Landscaping and specimen plants on a hillside will also benefit from better saturation. Plants should be planted in larger holes filled with good soil that absorbs water easily. Also, dams and water wells should be built on the downhill side of the plant. This will help give the water time to soak straight down to the root zone before it runs off.

Written by Steve Boulden. Steve is the owner and chief designer for S&S Designed Landscaping in Carlsbad, NM. He is also the creator of The Landscape Design Site which offers free professional landscaping advice, tips, plans, and ideas to do it yourselfers and homeowners. For more free information on hillside landscaping, visit his site at http://www.the-landscape-design-site.com/gardenstyles/slopedterracedhillside.html

How To Avoid Making The Mistake That More Than 70% Of Home Buyers Make


Submitted by: Michael Del Greco

You are considering (or in the process of) buying a new house! Congratulations! Purchasing a new home is a very exciting thing for anyone … and I’m sure that you are no exception!

Perhaps you are moving because you have been promoted and can afford something bigger and nicer, or you are planning to have kids and need more space, or you are retiring and want to a new place to call home that reflects your new lifestyle.

Or maybe you just want to be closer to a relative or friend or the city.

Whatever it is … you must be filled with hopes and dreams of a very happy future in the new home to-be! And you don’t want anything to get in the way of purchasing that perfect home that will be the center of your life for at least the next few years!

To this end, you have to hire the right people to guide you through the purchasing process so that you aren’t surprised later by things that you did not know about or did not know enough to ask about!

All Of Your Hopes And Dreams For Your New House Can Be

Quickly And FOREVER Squashed If You Don’t Have The Right Consultants And Advisors On Your Side During The Purchasing Process!

Now, while advisors and consultants may take many forms, I urge you to hire at least two people to help you through the purchase of your new home.

Get A Lawyer!

The first person is a lawyer. There is really no way of getting around this.

A good lawyer will review your purchase contract and to advise you as to what your rights and obligations are before and after the closing. In particular, he will explain to you how you can get out of the contract if necessary, and try to negotiate better exit terms if he believes that they are unfair.

And, you will want to be able to get out of your contract if too many problems are found with the home you are looking at, right? So, you don’t want to mess around with this!

The lawyer will also point out any unusual things in the contract or any other points that may be weighted to heavily in the seller’s favor and therefore should be the subject of further discussions.

Believe me … the few hundred dollars you spend will be worth the peace of mind that you signed a contract with terms that you truly understand and agree with!

And Who Else? A Home Inspector!

A home inspector is the other person that I URGE you to hire. And, as a homebuyer, there really is no way to get around this either! (You actually may be required to hire an inspector by your bank, insurance company or appraiser! Check your purchase documents if you’re not sure.)

After all, this is likely to be the largest investment that you have ever made and perhaps will ever make … and you (and your bank, etc) can’t afford for you to approach it blindly.

And it’s the home inspector who will physically go through the home and give you feedback that will help you negotiate a better purchase price! No one else will or can do this for you!

A thorough inspection is the ONLY way that you can uncover the less-than-obvious problems that your new home may have … and which may eventually haunt you (either financially or personally) down the road.

Only a properly executed inspection will provide you with the most peace of mind and confidence in your purchase decision.

But I think that you know all this already. You know that a home inspection is a necessary part of the home buying process … otherwise you would never have requested this report. Right?

So I am not going to try and convince you that you should have one done. I think that we are beyond that!

What I am going to talk about here is …

How To Retain A Home Inspector Who Is

Independent And Qualified!

You absolutely MUST hire a home inspector who’s INDEPENDENT … or you are opening the doors to being ripped off!

But what’s an “independent” home inspector?

Well, consider this.

Would you ever go to the seller of the house that you are interested in and ask for him to recommend a home inspector to represent you and help you find lots of problems with his house?

I don’t think so … unless you want to get a recommendation for the worst inspector in town.

Why would the seller want to help you find reasons for him to lower the price of his house?

No way! You would never go the seller for help!

You must hire an inspector who will look out for YOU … 100% … without any biases or conflicts with the seller!

Seems pretty obvious, right?

Well, maybe not!

Did You Know That Over 70% Of The Buying Public Get

Their Home Inspections Done By A Person Referred

By A Real Estate Agent!

That’s right!

And whom does the Real Estate agent represent?

And there is the problem.

You see, you want to get the house at the lowest (if not fairest) price possible … and therefore need to hire a good home inspector to find as many things wrong as possible with the house … to help you negotiate a better and fairer purchase price or otherwise convince you to walk away.

But Real Estate agents and brokers are in the sales business … closing deals determines their level of success.

Their commissions will only be paid if the deal goes through and will be reduced if your home inspector turns up anything that may lower the sale price of the home or sale commission amount.

So, agents really don’t want you to hire a good home inspector who may get in their way!

No! They would be very happy to know that you have a lousy inspector!

And the big problem here is that some may go so far as to help you retain that lousy inspector … without you even knowing it!

Now I am not saying that all realtors are incompetent or dishonest … no this is just not the case. But there are some who tend to gravitate toward home inspectors who are less likely to threaten their sale.

And those are the realtors that you really have to watch out for.

Some of the unscrupulous practices that agents have undertaken to manipulate the inspector-retaining process include the following:

Telling buyers that, “We’re not supposed to refer home inspector to potential buyers, but here are 3 names .. you decide.” (That is, of course, three inspectors that they wouldn’t mind you hiring!) And the list will likely be long enough to protect the agent from any referral liability. Should you later have a problem with the property, the agent can simply say, “Well, you chose the home inspector” or simply deny ever having given you the home inspector’s name.

Making a bunch of brochures or cards from their select group of 3 inspectors available at the reception area in their office … in full view. And brochures and cards of the inspectors that the agent is less sympathetic to (and who probably would represent you better) are located in a less obvious place.

Telling buyers to look up some names of inspectors in the Yellow Pages and then saying, “But a lot of my clients have used ’so and so’ and were very satisfied,” or “But don’t use that guy because he’s too picky, too slow, too expensive, or he’s a ‘deal killer’ etc..” (Of course trying to steer you to one of their approved inspectors!)

Telling buyers that they should expect a home inspector to charge around $150 or $200. By advising homebuyers to expect such low and unrealistic fees, agents may steer homebuyers to search only for inspectors that will charge that low, which will likely be those inspectors approved by the agent.

In the case of particularly aggressive agents, saying that, “I’ll look after the inspection for you. Don’t worry, I know just the inspector to call..” (Stay clear of any inspector chosen by this guy!)

Pretending to call a well-qualified inspector chosen by the buyer, and telling the buyer that they were unable to reach the inspector or say that the inspector is unavailable.

Pretty scary stuff, huh! If you see any of this type of behavior, you should without hesitation contact your attorney … and obviously not take any of their referrals.

And The Culpability Does Not End With The Agents!

There are many home inspectors that rely on real estate agents and brokers for business. These inspectors want to get on (or are on) the agent’s short list of preferred inspectors, which are referred to homebuyers.

But, to get on (and stay on) this list, inspectors have to “play ball.” And they will not bite the hand that feeds them!

Now, you might be thinking … “No self-respecting inspector would purposefully make a delinquent report just to get in good with a real estate agent or otherwise to help get the sale through. After all, I hired him! He is supposed to represent me.”

Well, you’re right. No self-respecting inspector would do this. But … what I am trying to emphasize here is that not all home inspectors are self-respecting!

There are inspectors out there who will do whatever is necessary to ensure future referrals from agents … including doing an inferior inspection that uncovers little to affect the agent’s commission.

Now, Is This A Risk That You Really Want To Take?

Given this artificial marketplace of inept inspectors created by Real Estate agents, do you really want to rely on them for advice on good inspectors?

If a real problem is discovered with the house after the sale … a problem that the inspector should or could have caught, but missed due to his conflicts or because he really is a lousy inspector … you will be left high and dry!

And only one state thus far has enacted a law prohibiting this kind of behavior.

Others have used to the courts to crack down on it. (I have attached a recent New Jersey case that ruled against such unscrupulous tactics by a home inspector … so that you can see for yourself what I’m talking about. It’s pretty interesting!)

But You Don’t Need To End Up In Court!

You Can Easily Avoid This Risk By Just Seeking

Out Your Own Independent Home Inspector!

The obvious thing to do to avoid becoming a victim is just not to retain a home inspector through a Real Estate agent. That’s the easiest way to avoid hiring a less than independent inspector.

To be clear … if you do hire an inspector through an agent, it does not mean that you are necessarily going to have a problem. But you really do open yourself up to the risk!

I market my inspection services to homebuyers directly … and not through any of my real estate agents, brokers, etc. so as to avoid this conflict of interest problem.

It is really the only ethical way for me to perform my job. And any home inspector that you hire should do the same!

But you may be asking, “If I have to go out on my own and find a home inspector, how can I be sure that he is independent … or even qualified?”

Well, after telling you some of the horrible things that go on with home inspectors and Real Estate agents, I’m not going to leave you stranded now!

The rest of this report outlines the steps necessary for hiring a qualified, independent home inspector. It also identifies things that you should do on the date of the inspection and afterwards.

I hope you find this helpful! Should you have any questions about this or anything, please do not hesitate to call me. I feel very passionate about this problem and am happy to talk to you about it and your new home purchase.

How To Get Your Home Inspected The

Right Way In 10 Easy Steps!



Hiring An Independent & Qualified Inspector

1) Find names of home inspectors with sources that do NOT have a vested interest in the sale!

You can find a bunch of home inspectors on your own by asking your attorney, going through the Yellow Pages or based on referrals from your friends or family … basically any source that does not have a vested interest in the sale!

Now, just because you get the name from an “independent” source does not necessarily mean that the inspector is truly independent!

One way to protect yourself is to ask the Real Estate agent for a list of home inspectors and see if the name referred to you is on it. Then you’ll know that he plays on both teams!

2) Once you have gathered some names and checked them for independence, you should then get on the phone and “interview” them!

The following questions are those that I think are good gauges for determining whether the inspector is qualified and should be someone worth considering.

These questions could be asked over the phone.

Now, if an inspector refuses to be “interviewed,” drop him like an old shoe!

And I mean this! Good home inspectors like to help new homebuyers through this process and are very open to discussions about themselves, their abilities, their certifications, their services, etc.

Refusal to want to be interviewed is likely indicative of you having found an inspector who really does not have much backing up his ads!

CAUTION: Because many inspectors are “one-man” operations, don’t mistake a comment like “I don’t have time now” with a refusal to answer your questions over the phone. Just ask him when would be a good time to call and schedule an appointment for the “interview.”

Now, following each question, I have provided answers that reflect the home inspection services that I provide which you can use as a basis for comparing services offered by other home inspectors. You can ask the questions in any order.

a) What kind of formal INSPECTION training have you had?

You should never assume that a background in construction trades, engineering or other building fields is a substitute for training as a home inspector.

But you shouldn’t completely rule out an inspector who doesn\’t belong to a professional association, if you know that the inspector has a good reputation and has been in business for a number of years.

I have been a full time home inspector since 1993. I have been certified by and a Member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). In order to become a Member of ASHI, I had to pass the National Home Inspector Examination and ASHI\’s Standards of Practice and Ethics Examination. I also had my inspection reports successfully verified for compliance with ASHI\’s Standards of Practice and submitted valid proof of performance to demonstrate my home inspections and reports meet or exceed the ASHI Standards of Practice.

My ASHI Membership number is 102273. You can call ASHI and verify this or go to their website. Their phone number is (800) 743-ASHI and their website address is www.ashi.org.

I hold State of New Jersey Home Inspectors License # GI0121. It is very important that you ask whether the inspector is licensed in New Jersey, many inspectors do not meet the minimum qualifications necessary to have a license. Ask to see the inspectors License and State Issued Home Inspectors Identification Card at the inspection. If you want to know if an inspector is licensed go to:
www.state.nj.us/cgi-bin/consumeraffairs/search/searchentry.pl?searchprofession=1241

My outstanding qualifications allow me to serve as an instructor for the State of New Jersey Home Inspectors Licensing class … where I train students, to prepare for the National Home Inspector Licensing Examination, in all areas of home inspection, including roofing, air conditioning, heating, plumbing, structure, electric, interior, exterior, reporting, professional ethics, standards of practice and New Jersey State Regulations.

I also am licensed to perform wood-destroying insect inspections and radon measurement. I am bonded and insured for your protection. For more information about my inspection training and background, please visit www.AccurateInspections.com to see my resume.

b) How long have you performed inspections and how many inspections have you completed?

The more inspections that the inspector has performed, the better. Inspections in excess of 1,000 are a pretty good indication that he has been around the block bit.

I started Accurate Inspections Inc. over 10 years ago (1993), and have completed over 5,500 inspections during that time. Before 1993, I was a construction project manager for 7 years.

c) What geographic areas do you cover? What types of homes do you generally look at?

I cover all of Bergen and Passaic counties and portions of Essex and Morris counties in New Jersey. I limit my coverage to these areas so that I can provide my clients with better services. I also typically limit my inspection services to residential properties representing homebuyers in home purchases, but also have experience with commercial buildings.

Watch out for inspectors that cover too large of an area, like an entire state. There is no way that these inspectors could have a feel for the community that you are trying to move into and the local codes or ordinances that the property may be subject to.

d) What do you charge? Do you offer any other services besides home inspection services?

The costs are an obvious question that you have to ask. But remember … the cheapest is not necessarily the best deal. Consider costs along with the other factors identified in this report.

If you want a cheap inspection, we do not offer one! We used to when we were trying to gain experience, now we offer the best value for your money! Short term we cost more, amortized over the time you are in your home, the extra cost will be perceived as a great value.

Some homebuyers will also need a PWTA well test, which costs about $500, and an open pit septic inspection, which costs about $ 425.

In addition to the traditional home inspection services, I also can perform radon measurement, carbon monoxide measurement, well-water testing in conformance with PWTA requirements, wood destroying insect inspections and schedule asbestos, septic and lead testing.

e) Can you make repairs if they are needed?

If the inspector says \”yes\” — LOOK OUT! This raises the same conflict of interest problems that I talked about before. If he can make money on you after the sale transaction is closed, he will have a vested interest in the outcome of his report and may overestimate the problems with the house.

I don\’t do any repairs and I refuse to make estimates. In fact, I am bound by ASHI’s Code of Ethics, which forbids any actions by me that could be viewed as a conflict of interest.

f) How long does your inspection take?

You should be careful if the inspector sets any fixed time limit on the inspection. An inspection can only be considered complete when you are fully informed as to what the inspector has found.

I will take whatever time is necessary to tell you all there is to know about the home … and only at that point will my inspection be done.

But, to provide you with a general estimate, my inspections usually take about 2 hours to complete, depending on the size, age and components of the home. This is consistent with the standards required by State of New Jersey law as well as ASHI and ensures that you will receive a thorough and high-quality inspection from me.

g) Can I walk with you through and ask questions during the inspection?

Some inspectors may not permit this. It is really a question of style.

It’s no problem with me! I want you to see what I see and discuss it as we go! I am proud of the service I provide and I insist you tag along and ask me anything that’s on your mind!
I am there only to serve YOU!

h) Will you go over the report in person with me?

Be skeptical of any inspector who will not the time and discuss his report with you!

I always go over the entire inspection process and report with homebuyers. I have found that the best way to do this is to discuss issues as we walk you through the home together so that you can see firsthand anything that I discovered during the inspection and will report on.

I will fax, email or mail the report to you (at your option) … and mail a copy to your attorney. If you wish I will also send a copy to the Real Estate agent, all at no additional charge.

i) What kind of report do you use?

Much of what the inspector will tell you at the inspection may be forgotten afterward.

That is why I will issue a comprehensive narrative report to describe the issues uncovered, how they may harm the house if not corrected and provides recommendations for a course of action. I will also provide check sheets indexed to the Home Inspection Book that you will be provided with at the end of the inspection, the book provides back up information as well as useful diagrams. Many of our clients find the Home Inspection Book alone to be worth the price of the inspection.



I use a software program that takes the information that I discover at the house and it helps me generate a nice, easy-to-read report customized report for you. Illustrated, narrative pages in the Home Inspection Book back up the report describing any referenced problems and potential repairs. In addition energy saving recommendations are provided in the report. Four copies of the report are generated to facilitate timely and complete information dissemination to sellers, agents, attorneys, etc.

j) When do I get the report?

Depending on how technologically proficient the inspector is, he should be able to get his report to you very quickly.

The program I use to generate my reports enable me to either e-mail, fax or mail the report to you (at your option) the evening of the inspection! Fast enough for you?

k) Does the inspection company have an efficient office staff or just an answering machine?

How does the company handle initial inquires? If the person who answers the phone cannot answer simple questions or worse yet the phone is answered by a machine what will you do if you need an urgent answer to a question later?

People who are trained to assist you answer my office phones. My office staff does not just take messages they assist clients or arrange for me to call clients back when necessary. If your call requires a call back I will call you back as soon as I finish my next inspection! Fast enough for you?

l) Other questions?

Feel free to call my office we have qualified people who answer the phones. We do not ever hide behind voice mail.

3) Once you have finished your interviews, boil down your selections to a short list and then contact your local Better Business Bureau (BBB).

You should check to see if any consumer complaints have ever been filed against one or more of your candidates. The Council of the BBB can be reached:

U.S. Council of Better Business Bureaus

4200 Wilson Blvd.

Suite 800,

Arlington, VA

22203-1838

(703) 276-0100 (phone) (703) 525-8277 (fax)

It’s website is: www.betterbusinessbureau.com.

You can use that website to contact your local BBB or go to http://lookup.bbb.org.

4) As soon as you choose the house you want and all documents are signed by all parties, you should contact the inspectors left on your list and determine which will be available to do the inspection within the anticipated time frame.

Scheduling an appointment before all parties sign all documents is a waste of time, you would not want to pay for an inspection on a house that you do not buy, would you?

If available, ask the inspection company to reserve the necessary time. Then, ask the inspection company to fax you and your Realtor written confirmation as to the date, day, time and address of the inspection so you can be sure the information is correct.

What To Do On Day Of Inspection

5) Make sure that the inspector has access to the entire home.



This is very important so as not hinder the inspector from being able to his job completely. You should always confirm the inspector’s total access to the property before arriving on site.



6) Be there when the inspection is performed, and accompany the inspector during the inspection as much as possible.



The importance of this also cannot be understated. There is nothing like being present and seeing for yourself any deficiency that the inspector finds.



He can also walk you through all of the systems and controls of the house so you will know where everything is when you move in. It’s always good to know where the fuses are, electric switches, water valves, etc.



I encourage my clients to walk through the house with me so that I can show them everything that I found and will discuss in my report.



7) Ask questions during the inspection.



This will depend on the inspector’s style. I am happy to answer any questions that you may have about the home during our inspection appointment and for the period of time that you own the home without any additional charge.



Don’t let the real estate agent push you around!



Sometimes Real Estate agents will want to interrupt me if I start telling you too many negative things about the home.



One tactic often used is where the agent will try and distract you away from me by saying, \”Oh, excuse me for interrupting. I just remembered, we have to sign some papers before we\’re done here today. Do you think we could do that right now? I\’m sure the inspector won\’t mind if you catch up with him later.\”



You have to ignore him … you are paying the inspector for his time to be there with you on that day … and probably by the hour. It’s foolish to let this self-serving agent get you to squander your money like that.



Just remember to keep your wits about you on inspection day!



What To Do After Receiving The Report



9) Make sure that you understand what is written in the report, and determine whether any problems listed are material defects or cosmetic issues.



If there is anything that you do not understand, contact the home inspector. He should be happy to go over anything that does not make sense to you.

You should also discuss with the inspector whether the problems he listed are big or merely cosmetic. As the material defects are the ones that concern you, you should try to get as best an understanding about these before entering into the negotiation process with your lawyer!



10) Compare the inspection report to the seller’s and the real estate agent’s disclosure statements.



To the extent that there are any items not described or listed in the seller’s and the real estate agent’s disclosure statements, you may be able to show that the purchase price requested is not realistic given the negative items that your inspector found.



You may have a bon-fide argument to have the purchase price reduced or walk away from the contract. Or you may be able to get the seller to fix the problem.

It really depends on how your purchase contract was written and what rights you may have in the event that the inspection process reveals problems. (This is why having a lawyer review your contract is so important!)



So This Is It!



If you follow these steps, you should reduce the risk tremendously of getting a bad home inspector! A little bit of diligence can make a HUGE difference in this area.

And given the magnitude of your investment, you have to make sure that you have people around you that are truly looking out for you.

If you are ready to hire a home inspector now, I think that you will find that my prices are very competitive!

And, as your inspector, I will give you:

An inspection that reflects anything that I could find to help you argue for a lower a price of the house or otherwise walk away! No real estate agent will spoil the results of my inspection!

Complete dedication to you and ONLY you! Your needs will have my undivided attention during the inspection! Feel free to ask me anything during the inspection or about my written report.

A comprehensive report describing in detail my findings and recommendations, written in a manner that is easy to understand and use for subsequent negotiations!

And most important of all … PEACE OF MIND!!!

When I\’m done inspecting your house, I believe that you will be very satisfied with my inspection and you will know that you got your money’s worth!

And isn’t this what it’s all about?

I hope that this report has provided you with useful guidance and that you will contact me if you need any further information! I would be glad to talk to you about anything addressed in this report or answer any other questions that you may have!

Sincerely,

Michael Del Greco, President of Accurate Inspections, Inc a New Jersey home inspection NJ firm.


Buying a home in New Jersey? www.NewJerseyHomeInspection.com has a listing of home inspectors in all counties of new Jersey. New Jersey Home Inspections are performed by the author of this artical Michael Del Greco in Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic Counties.