Inside Insights
Inside the Box’s blog posts.
Inspector Soapbox
-
Why Michigan Basements Are Basically Science Experiments
Why Michigan Basements Are Basically Science Experiments (Created by Owner & Inspector John. If you don’t believe me, ask your motha) Michigan basements are not passive spaces. They are active systems. Moisture moves. Air moves. Heat moves. Soil swells. Concrete breathes. If that sounds like a lab setup, good. Because that is exactly what is
-
A Home Inspector that Real Estate Agents Trust in Mid-Michigan
A Home Inspector that Real Estate Agents Trust in Mid-Michigan Serving Genesee, Lapeer, Saginaw, Shiawassee, Oakland & Livingston Counties If you’re a real estate agent in Mid-Michigan, you already know this truth: Not all home inspectors help deals move forward. Some create confusion.Some scare buyers.Some write reports that cause more phone calls than solutions. Agents
-
Electrical System Explained Like You’re Not an Electrician
Your Home’s Electrical System, Explained Like You’re Not an Electrician Most homeowners know just enough about electricity to be uncomfortable. Lights turn on. Breakers trip. Outlets work. And somewhere in the basement is a gray metal box everyone avoids like it might bite. This guide explains how your home electrical system works in plain English.
-
7 Things Your Snow-Covered Roof Is Trying to Tell You This Winter
7 Things Your Snow-Covered Roof Is Trying to Tell You This Winter Not written by an outside marketing company. This is written by Owner & Inspector John, want some proof?? Ai would never type this “hu433^%sofh98ewsyhtrfiuo4ewhfg&89snelkjs“. There ya’ go. (A brutally honest guide from a Michigan home inspector who actually crawls into attics for fun…
-
NHIE: The Hardest Test I’ve Ever Taken
My Experience Taking(and surviving) the NHIE: The Hardest Test I’ve Ever Taken Proof that I passed <——– Handwritten by Inspector John Most people have no idea what it actually takes to pass the National Home Inspector Examination.They think it’s some cute little quiz where you circle a couple answers about GFCIs and call it a
-
How Realtors Can Use Home Inspections Strategically Instead of Fearfully
How Realtors Can Use Home Inspections Strategically Instead of Fearfully From the mind who brought you other fun Home Inspection blog posts not written by robots or aliens… Most real estate agents treat the home inspection like a necessary evil.The stressful middle child of the transaction.The “oh God, please don’t let this deal explode” moment.
-
Roof And Attic Ventilation: The Ultimate Guide For Michigan Homeowners
Roof And Attic Ventilation: The Ultimate Guide For Michigan Homeowners This is written by Inspector John and is definitely not written by a Robot. Most homeowners only think about their attic when something up there drips, smells, or starts growing a new ecosystem. That’s normal. But attic and roof ventilation is one of the most
-
10 Powerful Reasons a Home Inspection Protects Your Investment
10 Powerful Reasons a Home Inspection Protects Your Investment Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions anyone makes, and a home inspection is one of the smartest steps in that journey. It gives buyers a clear snapshot of a property’s condition and helps uncover issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. By spotting
-
The 4 Hidden Health Risks in Michigan Homes
The 4 Hidden Health Risks in Homes – Michigan (And How Buyers Can Avoid Them) By Inside the Box Home Inspections Buying a house in Michigan is already stressful enough. You’re fighting other buyers, praying the roof isn’t older than your grandma, and hoping the seller didn’t hide problems behind five gallons of agreeable gray
-
Crawl Spaces: To Vent, or, Not to Vent; that is the Question.
Crawl Spaces: To Vent, or, Not to Vent; that is the Question. (by Inside the Box Home Inspections) There’s a strange world under your house. It smells like wet socks, looks like a horror movie, and occasionally hosts the bones of someone’s long-lost lawnmower. Welcome to the crawlspace; the most misunderstood part of your home,
-
? 10 Red Flags Home Inspectors Look For (and What They Really Mean)
? 10 Red Flags Home Inspectors Look For (and What They Really Mean) Buying a home can feel like gambling with six figures. That’s why home inspections exist. The goal isn’t to kill your deal but to make sure you know what you’re walking into. Some things are minor fixes. Others are full-blown red flags
-
Why are my utility bills increasing???
Part 1. What can I do to get costs down at home??? Part 2. What can I do about one of the current biggest Michigan political scandals in modern history that no one is talking about??? Here are some ways you can lower your energy bill, (some call this a light bill, weirdly). Part 1. Here
-
Home Inspections = Just a “Side Hustle”???
Does your Michigan Home Inspector inspect as a side hustle? It is no surprise that everyday Americans are doing anything they can to get extra money. It seems that the word “hobby” is being replaced by the term “side hustle”. The problem with side hustles is they require the bare minimum amount of knowledge or
-
Michigan, the Wild West of Home Inspections
Michigan does not require Inspectors to be licensed, certified, or insured. Michigan is gorgeous, gritty, and weirdly laissez-faire about who’s allowed to poke around your future house. If you’re buying, selling, or repping a client here, you need to know this: the state doesn’t license home inspectors, doesn’t require inspector insurance, and has no statewide