What Makes My
Inspection & Radon Services Different?
OxBow
is Locally Owned and Operated. This is not a
Franchise
Most inspectors still
use a clipboard and a
pencil.
I don’t even have these things.
Most
inspectors have
complicated pricing charts
that “a la carte” clients to death. In
other words:
Extra $ per sq ft, Extra $ per age of home, Extra $ for etc.
I do not. My pricing chart
is very simple.
Most
inspectors charge extra
for mileage
or for working on weekends & holidays. I do not.
Most
inspectors charge extra
for outbuildings and garages.
I do not.
Most
inspectors will get the
report to you in a few days.
Mine is provided to you at the inspection.
Technology.
I use the
most advanced electronic
Radon detection device available.
I am the
only
inspector in all of Idaho
who is certified by the National Radon Safety Board.
Technology.
I use the
latest in Infrared Thermography
which helps me find hidden
problems
that other inspectors will not, and can not see.
I post my prices for all to see.
I have nothing to hide
and
I will not force you to
"call for a quote" so I can slicker you in to a
contract with me.
A salesman I am not.
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DIFFERENCES
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Most inspectors take between 1-3 hours to conduct
an inspection. My average is about 7 hours. Why is that? Most
inspectors are in a hurry to get to their next house, and they try to
squeeze in 2 or 3 inspections per day in order to maximize their
income. I focus on only one house per day. Your house will
get
the most thorough, best possible inspection from OxBow.
Most inspectors do not conduct inspections
for Mold, Termites, Lead Paint, or Radon
Gas. The few inspectors who do
conduct these extra inspections normally charge extra (a lot extra) for
these “special” (mold, termites, lead paint, or
radon gas)
inspections. I believe that every home should be tested for these
things. So does the Environmental Protection Agency. Therefore, I will
test for these things on every inspection as
part of my basic inspection service, without additional fees to you.
Here is how:
Take Lead Paint for example. Lead Paint
is a
hazard to all humans and to our pets, yet it exists in millions of
homes. I will run a test of the paint, both inside and outside the
home, at several varying strategic places. These tests will immediately
identify the presence of lead-based paint. I do this for every home
built prior to 1980, since most lead-based paints were banned by the
EPA in 1978.
Now, let’s talk about Radon
Gas. Radon is
the second leading cause of lung cancer in these United States, and
amazingly, very, very few inspectors even test for it! Even
fewer Inspectors are even qualified to do it! Radon
Gas
kills
about 22,000 people annually (killing
almost
5,000 Americans per year more than drunk drivers kill!).
Every home has some level of radon. The few
inspectors who do conduct radon tests use charcoal canisters that are not
terribly accurate, but they are
terribly inexpensive. I have purchased the
very latest device in home Radon
Gas detection. It is
extremely
high-end electronic technology costing several thousand dollars.
It is much like the radiation detection devices used by the
US
military, and it can very, very accurately detect the presence
of Radon
Gas (and also of
thoron gas) in as little as 20 minutes. I run a minimum of 6 separate
gas detection tests and then compare the results against one another.
Idaho has moderate levels of Radon
Gas throughout the state, but Boise and
Valley counties are amongst the highest in the nation. High levels of Radon
Gas in a home can be easily controlled and is generally not
expensive. The key is: knowing what your Radon
Gas levels really
are.
Finally, let’s discuss the Mold
and Termite
problems. Virtually all termites, and most molds are not visible to the
naked eye. This is because, for the most part, they occur behind walls, in ceilings, or under the
flooring. For these reasons, they are often missed by most
inspectors. Sure… all inspectors would naturally report such
a
thing (should they see
it)… the problem is: most inspectors
can’t see it, because most of the time the damage is hidden
by
sheet rock or ceiling tiles. To solve this problem I
have purchased the very latest high-tech device. It
is called
“High Definition Infrared Thermography”. There are
only a
few inspectors in all of Idaho that use this technology (due to the high cost).
Not only
can this amazing device find hidden termites and mold… it
can
also find trouble in breaker boxes, wiring circuits, missing insulation
in walls or ceilings, heat (energy) loss, blockages in vents and
ducting, water damage, and many other things. Here are 6 pictures of
common problems that are not normally identified by merely a visual
inspection, but can be identified through the use of Infrared
Thermography:
Circuit Breaker Box Notice the
hot breaker shown in red.This breaker is generating excess heat due to
high resistance and will likely fail soon.
Outside Wall of Apartment Notice
the purple stain just to the right of the bottom round window. This is
mold and water damage inside
the wall, caused by a leaking washing machine drain.
Termite
Nest When
termites invade buildings, the normal heat patterns of the walls,
floors and roof are changed due to the presence of termites. The
thermal imaging camera records this change in heat pattern and
indicates the exact location of any termite infestation. A color image
shows hot spots as red or yellow and cold spots as blue or purple.
These heat patterns indicate termite infestation.
Water Damage under
Flooring A
small leak
around this door that had remained unseen for quite some time has
caused progressive water damage and mold underneath the linoleum and
floor tiles.
Water Damage under
Bathroom Window, Inside
the Walls A
bathroom window that is improperly sealed leaks moisture into the inside
of the wall. Over time, this moisture damages the structural beams of
the wall itself, and creates molds which multiply within the walls.
Missing Insulation in a
16" Section of a Wall, Between Two 2 x 4's The
contractor and sub-contractors who built this home either got into too
much of a hurry, or they just made an honest mistake. Either way, the
heat (energy) loss through this portion of the wall is quite severe,
and causes the room to be too hot in the summer and unnaturally cold in
the winter.
Differences: Even
More Importantly...
I am one
of only 3 inspectors in the entire State of Idaho that
have signed a
