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A thorough  Home Inspection  has become an important and integral part of the home buying and selling process.  Much like a Dr's physical exam on your body, a Home Inspector documents the homes health at the time of inspection.  Deficiencies range from very minor to major repairs.  Here are the top ten deficiencies  home inspectors are finding in clients homes.

1. Roof deficiencies- Missing or damaged roof shingles, flashing problems, improperly sealed vents, worn out roofing and improper repairs.
2. Electrical problems- Missing GFCI protection, double tapped circuit breakers, improper wiring and open grounds, open junction boxes and outdated electrical elements.
3. Plumbing leaks-  Leaking supply/drain pipes, corroded piping, poor drainage, and improperly installed fixtures.
4. Water intrusion and poor drainage-  Foundation seepage, improper grading towards the home, clogged gutters, inadequate downspouts and basement moisture.
5. Structural concerns-  Foundation cracks, sagging floors, deteriorated framing and improperly altered structural members.
6. HVAC-  Aging equipment, poor maintenence, improper venting, inadequate combustion air supply, and inefficient heating/cooling performance.
7. Attic and Insulation- Insufficient insulation, improper venting, moisture damage and mold, bathroom exhaust improperly vented into attic. 
8. Bathroom Deficiencies-  Missing GFCI's, failed caulking, loose toilets, poor or missing ventilation and leaky sinks/faucets.
9. Safety hazards-  Missing or improperly installed handrails, trip hazards, missing fire/CO detectors and missing garage metal fire doors.
10. Exterior maintenance-  Deteriorated siding, damaged decks/steps, poor grading and inadequate clearance from soil to siding.



Exposure to Radon Causes Lung Cancer In Non-smokers and Smokers Alike

The Facts...

• Lung cancer kills thousands of Americans every year. Smoking, radon, and secondhand smoke are the leading causes of lung cancer. Although lung cancer can be treated, the survival rate is one of the lowest for those with cancer. From the time of diagnosis, between 11 and 15 percent of those afflicted will live beyond five years, depending upon demographic factors. In many cases lung cancer can be prevented.
• Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. Smoking causes an estimated 160,000* cancer deaths in the U.S. every year (American Cancer Society, 2004). And the rate among women is rising. On January 11, 1964, Dr. Luther L. Terry, then U.S. Surgeon General, issued the first warning on the link between smoking and lung cancer. Lung cancer now surpasses breast cancer as the number one cause of death among women. A smoker who is also exposed to radon has a much higher risk of lung cancer.
• Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. On January 13, 2005, Dr. Richard H. Carmona, the U.S. Surgeon General, issued a national health advisory on radon.
• World Health Organization's international radon project
• Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of lung cancer and responsible for an estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths every year. Smoking affects non-smokers by exposing them to secondhand smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke can have serious consequences for children’s health, including asthma attacks, affecting the respiratory tract (bronchitis, pneumonia), and may cause ear infections.
• For smokers the risk of lung cancer is significant due to the synergistic effects of radon and smoking. For this population about 62 people in a 1,000 will die of lung-cancer, compared to 7.3 people in a 1,000 for never smokers. Put another way, a person who never smoked (never smoker) who is exposed to 1.3 pCi/L (50 Bq/m3)has a 2 in 1,000 chance of lung cancer; while a smoker has a 20 in 1,000 chance of dying from lung cancer.