Here we answer questions about getting a home or commercial property inspection, give tips on home maintenance, and share our knowledge about common home and commercial property issues. We are here to help you. If you can’t find an answer to your questions here, you can always contact us via our contact page.
A gutter overflows on one side of the house. You notice a draft near the back door, then see a narrow crack in the basement wall. None of these findings automatically means the home has a major defect, but each one raises the same practical question: what needs attention before
The first warm afternoon after a hard Missouri freeze is when many homeowners notice the change. A stair-step line has appeared along the mortar near a window, a brick face looks rougher than it did in the fall, or a thin crack runs diagonally above a door. In Cape Girardeau,
You notice a new crack above a basement window after a long, dry Missouri summer. A door that worked in spring now sticks, the floor seems slightly uneven, and a thin line has appeared in the brick mortar. The natural question is whether you're looking at ordinary seasonal movement or
A spring storm rolls through Columbia, and the next morning you notice a damp mark near a basement window. The gutters are full of leaves, the sump pump hasn't been tested since last year, and the furnace filter is overdue for replacement. None of those observations proves a major defect,
The median Jefferson City home is about 50 years old, and homes sell in an average of 11 days, so a thorough inspection plus targeted add-on testing is your best protection against costly surprises. The market moves quickly, but rushing past due diligence can leave you evaluating roof wear, foundation
More than 1 inch of inward deflection over an 8-foot wall span is the practical benchmark for professional inspection. Movement beyond 2 inches generally narrows the repair choices and calls for prompt structural evaluation, not casual monitoring. You may notice the problem while hanging a shelf, planning to finish a
You notice a horizontal crack halfway up the basement wall while moving storage boxes, or you see a slight curve when sunlight hits the concrete. The first question is usually, “Is this just an old crack, or is the wall bowing?” The practical way to answer how to tell if
You notice it while moving a box, checking a furnace, or preparing a home for sale. There's a chalky white film on the basement wall, and the immediate questions are usually the same: Is it mold? Is it salt? Is the foundation failing? In most basement inspections, white powder on
You walk downstairs after a stretch of rain and notice a chalky white bloom along the concrete wall. At first, it looks like dust, dried paint, or something left behind by an old leak. Across Missouri, from Cape Girardeau and Jackson to Columbia and Jefferson City, that residue often has
After a March thaw or a July downpour, a Missouri basement can tell you something is wrong before you know what the problem is. Cardboard boxes soften at the bottom, a finished wall develops a dark patch, or the dehumidifier runs constantly while the room still feels clammy. A home
You're touring an older Columbia home, and the charm is doing a lot of work. The original woodwork looks great, the basement has been finished, and the seller points out a newer kitchen. Then you notice a downspout emptying beside the foundation, a door that sticks, and a patched area
You notice it when you open the basement door. The room looks clean, the walls are painted, and there isn't an obvious mold spot anywhere, but the air has that damp, earthy smell that clings to clothing and cardboard. You may be wondering whether you're dealing with mold, a plumbing
