Home Buyers

A home inspector’s guide to identifying flat roof alligator cracking in commercial buildings, with repair costs, warning signs, and replacement timelines. Friday morning during the roof inspection of a 121-year-old mixed-use 2-story commercial building in historic downtown Adrian, I found large open seams where the rolled roofing membrane had pulled away from the parapet walls. … Read more

A home inspector’s guide to identifying zinc oxide on furnace vents in Kansas City homes, with costs, carbon monoxide risks, and repair timelines. Thursday afternoon during the HVAC inspection of a vacant 58-year-old ranch in Kansas City, KS’s Cedarholm subdivision, I found white powder leaking from the seams of the furnace exhaust vent. The powder … Read more

A home inspector’s guide to common foundation repairs in Kansas City homes, with real costs, warning signs, and what makes repairs reliable long-term. Thursday morning during the foundation inspection of a vacant 58-year-old raised ranch in Kansas City’s Norfleet Acres subdivision, I found tieback braces on one of the garage walls. There was also an … Read more

A home inspector‘s guide to identifying and understanding rusted water heaters in Polo homes, with costs, warning signs, and replacement timelines. Tuesday afternoon during the plumbing inspection of a vacant 25-year-old reverse 1.5-story home just off SW State Rte T and SW Longhorn Dr in Polo, MO, I found an 8-year-old water heater that looked … Read more

Yesterday morning during the electrical inspection of a vacant 52-year-old ranch-style home in Spring Hill, KS, I discovered a 5-foot service mast sticking up above the roof with no guy wire attached. The mast was bent from the sheer weight of the service lines, ice, snow, and tree branches, but it wasn’t causing any immediate … Read more

A home inspector’s guide to identifying, understanding, and addressing vertical foundation cracks in 29-year-old split-level homes across the Lee’s Summit area. Wednesday afternoon during the foundation inspection of a 29-year-old front-to-back split in Lee’s Summit’s Ashton at Charleston Park subdivision, I found an average, everyday vertical foundation crack tucked away in the crawlspace behind the … Read more

A home inspector’s guide to finding hidden plumbing leaks in Overland Park homes, with warning signs, repair costs, and why running water during inspection matters. Plumbing leak discovered in guest bathroom during comprehensive inspection in Overland Park’s Windsor Hills subdivision – November 29, 2025Yesterday morning during the plumbing inspection of a vacant 21-year-old 1.5-story home … Read more

Standing water on garage floor indicating chronic shower drain leak from master bathroom above

A home inspector’s guide to understanding the practical implications of GFCI-protected garage door openers in Kansas City area new construction, with code requirements and real-world consequences. Tuesday morning during the electrical inspection of a brand-new ranch-style home in Raymore’s Alexander Creek subdivision, I tested a wall-mounted GFCI outlet in the garage and watched the garage … Read more