John Martino's (looksmart) Blog

While doing a home inspection in New Jersey the other day. I came across a 10 year old driveway that looked like it was 30 years old. The driveway was cracked and broken and in very poor condition for a custom home that is ten years old. Asphalt driveways when installed correctly can last up to 2...

Proper ventilation is a vital aspect of the roofing system in any home. We often see poor or non existent roof ventilation as we perform home inspections in New Jersey. One of the most important pieces of attic ventilation is the ridge vent. A ridge vent provides a maintenance free way to help ve...

As home inspectors New Jersey and NJ realtors we come across high efficiently heating equipment all the time particularly in newer homes. Heating our homes is a significant energy expense. Usually home heating takes up about 40 percent of the energy costs in the average home. These high efficienc...

Home inspectors in New Jersey should check for good functional water pressure at the fixtures in the home they are inspecting. Multiple fixture tests should be performed to determine if good water flow or pressure exists when multiple fixtures in the home are operating simultaneously. For this d...

While performing home inspections in New Jersey I come across factory built fireplaces almost on a daily basis. The factory built fire place has become a cost effective fireplace option for many new constructions and retro fit applications. The fireplace still remains a very important part of the...

Anti-tip brackets are safety devices required by range/stove manufactures to help prevent free-standing ranges from toppling over. They are normally screwed into the wall behind the range, and are now included with all new ranges sold. If a range does not have one of these devices installed it ma...

In this very challenging real estate environment a home inspection is more important than ever. Having a home inspection in New Jersey before purchase will provide a wealth of helpful information about the home as well as point out material defects which are issues that can impact the long term p...

Molds are fungi that can produce allergic reactions in some people. Some molds can produce toxins called mycotoxins. Mold exposure can cause heath problems such as allergy and asthma symptoms. Exposure to mold can also cause much more significant health issues such as acute lung infections, nause...

Unlike your clothes washer, your clothes dryer does require some ongoing regular maintenance to keep it in good working order. A clothes dryer operates by spinning clothes around with hot air and havibg the dryer exhaust send the moist air to the exterior of the home The hot moist air must be dis...

While performing Morris County New Jersey home inspections. I often receive questions about rodents in the home.  Mice are seek out places to stay warm, find a food source and live comfortably. The typical home is a good place for common mice to live as they tend to prosper living close to humans...