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Common on a 30-year-old home. Completely unacceptable on a brand-new build. 😳⚡️
Popped the cover off this electrical panel during a new construction inspection here in Northwest Arkansas, and look at that breaker schedule... completely BLANK. While an unlabeled electrical panel is a frequent find on older homes after decades of DIY updates, seeing it on a move-in ready new build is a red flag. An unmapped breaker panel isn't just an annoyance when you're trying to figure out which switch controls the kitchen—it’s a safety hazard during an emergency. Bu
Cid Herlein
5 days ago1 min read
Tell me your last home inspector skipped the crawl space without telling me... 😮💨
If I sound completely out of breath in this video, it’s because crawling 100 feet through a tight crawl space takes work. But this is exactly why we crawl every square inch at Healthy Home and Mold Inspections. The sellers had no idea this water heater even existed! Someone literally cut out the floor joists, lowered a water heater into the dirt crawl space, and then drywalled completely over it from inside the home—making it 100% inaccessible for maintenance, safety venting
Cid Herlein
Sep 91 min read
Water test fail..
⚠️ FAILED Well Test: Bacteria + High LEAD. Unsafe water found. Protect your health. 💧🤢 Healthy Home and Mold Inspections on Google https://posts.gle/YFTZ8Vz9AnCx1AiQ6?g_st=ac
Cid Herlein
Sep 71 min read
Spot the missing $500/month on your energy bill. 📉👇
"Move-in ready" is a bold claim when the builder forgets the literal blanket over your house. 🥶🔥 Walked into this brand-new construction inspection in Northwest Arkansas expecting the usual finish work checks. Instead? Open up the attic access and find zero blown-in insulation. None. Zip. Just bare ceiling joists waiting to cook the house in July and freeze it in January. If this home had closed without an independent inspection, the new homeowner’s first clue would’ve b
Cid Herlein
Sep 21 min read
City code checks get you a certificate of occupancy. Following manufacturer installation specs gets you a roof that actually lasts.
20+ exposed nails. One severe NWA storm. Countless potential leaks. ⛈️ When roofing crews rush to hit tight completion deadlines, precision drops. Low-nailing is one of the most frequent defects I catch, and it's a prime example of what happens when speed takes priority over craftsmanship. Here’s what’s actually happening in this clip: Low-Nail Shingles: Over 20 fasteners were shot below the nail line. Instead of being tucked safely beneath the overlapping shingle above, t
Cid Herlein
Aug 281 min read
Is this pure laziness… or did they honestly think this was how it works? 🤷♂️🤦♂️
During a recent new construction inspection here in Northwest Arkansas, I came across a garage door emergency release rope tied directly to the bottom of the opener unit itself. Spoiler alert: pulling that red handle isn't going to disconnect anything except maybe your patience. While it makes for a funny video, it’s a great reminder of why a thorough, professional home inspection matters on brand-new builds. Even the simplest details get missed when builders rush to the fin
Cid Herlein
Aug 191 min read
Caught red-handed by the thermal camera! 🕵️♂️🔥
During a recent new construction home inspection in Northwest Arkansas, my thermal imaging equipment revealed a major hidden defect: completely missing wall insulation. This is a critical building envelope failure that a standard visual walkthrough completely misses—leaving homeowners with cold spots, drafts, and higher energy bills. This find highlights why choosing a home inspector shouldn’t just come down to who gives you the lowest price. When you're investing in new con
Cid Herlein
Aug 111 min read
New Insulation!
New insulation doesn't automatically mean a job well done. 🔍 Caught major gaps with my thermal camera on a brand-new install in an existing Northwest Arkansas home. Don't let hidden shortcuts cost you comfort and energy bills. Know what's really behind your walls! Call Healthy Home and Mold Inspections today. Healthy Home and Mold Inspections on Google https://posts.gle/iyhf64tFGGtuErS6A?g_st=ac #NWA #HomeInspection #ThermalImaging #HealthyHome #MoldInspection NorthwestArk
Cid Herlein
Aug 91 min read
The Shrinking New Construction Checklist: What Builders Are Leaving Out Today
If you are buying new construction in Northwest Arkansas, you might want to look closer at your contract. As a home inspector, I am seeing a concerning trend: the price tags on new homes are climbing, but the actual scope of what builders include is quietly shrinking. Years ago, builders stopped fully finishing garages. Then came homes without garage door openers. But on a recent new construction inspection I performed, the list of missing essentials went even further: no do
Cid Herlein
Aug 31 min read
When a 90s bathroom takes "staying connected" a bit too seriously. 📞🧻
Found this telecommunication setup right next to the toilet paper holder during today’s home inspection! Because sometimes you really need to phone a friend when nature calls. Looking for a certified home inspector and mold specialist who actually checks all the quirks? Contact Healthy Home and Mold Inspections today! Healthy Home and Mold Inspections on Google https://posts.gle/qE7eZiqqxYYJbV8Q9?g_st=ac
Cid Herlein
Jul 301 min read
New construction off-gassing alert! 🚨
Just finished an inspection on a brand-new build in Northwest Arkansas, and the numbers on the air quality monitor told a wild story. Because of tight building envelopes, modern materials, and a lack of proper initial ventilation or heat baking, this home was trapping extremely high levels of formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs). Off-gassing from new cabinetry, paints, flooring, and adhesives is a hidden reality in new construction. Without continuous fr
Cid Herlein
Jul 221 min read
Found a “smokin’ deal” inside this panel today! 🕵️♂️🔥
You really never know what you’re going to find when you take the cover off. This is why I always tell my clients: hire a pro who checks the details, not just the basics. From electrical safety to mold detection, I’ve got your back in Fayetteville and across the NWA corridor. Don’t settle for a “surface-level” inspection. Contact Healthy Home and Mold Inspections for a comprehensive evaluation of your next home. 🏡 https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTS74RMex/ https://youtube.com/shor
Cid Herlein
Jul 141 min read
🚩 Stop using spray foam for plumbing! 🚩
Found this during an inspection in Fayetteville today. The homeowner thought they were "securing" the loose hose bib with a little spray foam. Here’s the truth: 1️⃣ It doesn't hold the pipe steady. 2️⃣ It rots in the sun (UV rays destroy it). 3️⃣ It masks the fact that your pipes are shifting, leading to major leaks inside your walls. Don't ignore the wobbly spigot! Do it right the first time or call a plumber. Thinking of buying in NWA? Make sure you have an inspector who
Cid Herlein
Jul 71 min read
When you find more than just defects! 🕵️♂️
Sometimes being a home inspector feels less like checking for defects and more like an adult Easter egg hunt! 🦖 Hidden surprises (or "baby dinosaurs") make the job a little more interesting. Don't worry—I didn't let these little guys distract me from the real work. If you’re looking for someone who catches the things that should be there, and the things that shouldn’t, let’s connect! https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTSDtJGNh/ https://youtube.com/shorts/mIXIa1Ccb4s?si=KUZu3rTQUpQZjw
Cid Herlein
Jul 21 min read
Is your new home truly safe? 🏠🔍
I just wrapped up an inspection on a new build in Lowell, AR, and caught a significant safety oversight that could easily be missed. These oversized windows are located very close to the ground, creating a potential hazard if someone were to trip or fall against them. In high-traffic areas or spots where family members—especially kids—are playing, safety glass (tempered glass) is essential. While one of the three windows was correctly equipped with tempered glass, the other
Cid Herlein
Jun 291 min read
Why a "cheap" home inspection can end up costing you thousands. 🛑🏠
I just wrapped up an inspection on a beautiful property in Bella Vista, Arkansas, and it was a stark reminder that not all home inspections are created equal. My client originally had to use a different inspector before closing. Feeling uneasy, they brought me in for a secondary inspection post-closing. What did a rushed, standard walk-through miss? Major structural issues with damaged roof trusses that now require a structural engineer to fix. The homeowner was understand
Cid Herlein
Jun 232 min read
📌 Look Closely: The "Leaning" Downspout 🕵️♂️
What you’re looking at isn’t a repair—it’s an illusion. During a recent home inspection in Bentonville, I caught this classic example of cosmetic staging over actual home maintenance. At first glance, this downspout looks perfectly attached and functional. But when you get up close? It’s literally just leaning against the siding, completely disconnected from the gutter system. Proper water diversion is critical for building science and moisture management. When a downspout f
Cid Herlein
Jun 221 min read
🚀 NEW BENEFIT: Free Air Quality Checks with Every Home Inspection!
When buying a home in Northwest Arkansas, what you can’t see matters. Moving forward, every full residential inspection now includes complimentary indoor air quality (IAQ) screening! As a certified mold and radon specialist, I know how critical indoor health is. This free ambient air check uses advanced diagnostic tools to screen for: Chemical Pollutants (Total VOCs) Airborne Allergens (Particulate Matter) Toxic Binders (Formaldehyde/HCHO) Humidity Spikes (Mold triggers)
Cid Herlein
Jun 181 min read
🏠 Home Inspector Tip: The Hidden Danger of Gutter Dumping
Take a look at this photo from an inspection yesterday in Fayetteville, AR. See that upper gutter discharging water directly onto the lower roof shingles? I see this specific installation oversight all the time, and it’s a major contributor to premature roof wear. When an upper gutter system dumps water straight onto a lower roof section instead of being properly routed down to the next gutter track, it creates a high-velocity, highly concentrated stream of water. Over time
Cid Herlein
Jun 161 min read
🛑 The Costly Danger of Bad Grading! 🛑
Take a look at this older home I inspected recently in Rogers. What started as a simple landscaping oversight has turned into a major structural issue. When your yard has a negative or neutral grade, rainwater doesn't flow away from your house—it ponds right up against the foundation. Over time, that constant water intrusion saturates the siding and migrates straight into the framing. The result? The sill plate is completely rotting away. The sill plate is the foundational
Cid Herlein
Jun 151 min read
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