National Home Safety Month: 5 Overlooked Home Safety Hazards Common in Northern Michigan
When people think about home safety, they usually picture smoke detectors or locked doors. But during home inspections across Northern Michigan, I routinely find more hazards that are at least as serious hidden behind walls, inside attics, beneath decks, and in crawl...
What Does a Deck Inspection Include? A Michigan Master Inspector Explains
If there's one thing I've learned inspecting properties across Northern Michigan, it's this: decks are neglected. Not occasionally — consistently, and across all price points. Some of the most expensive lakefront homes I've walked into have decks in serious disrepair,...
Why Attic Inspection Matters: What Does a Home Inspector Look for in the Attic?
A Certified Master Inspector's Guide to Attic Inspection in Northern Michigan The attic is one of the most revealing spaces in any home. In my experience performing more than 2,000 inspections across Northern Michigan, I've found that the attic tells the story...
Log Home Inspection in Northern Michigan: Don’t Buy Without Reading This
Log homes are one of Northern Michigan's most distinctive property types — and one of the most misunderstood when it comes to home inspection. A log home inspection covers everything a standard inspection does, but it also requires knowledge of issues that simply...
“Do I Need a Home Inspection?” How to Protect the Biggest Purchase of Your Life
Do I Need a Home Inspection When Buying a Home? It's not required by law in Michigan, and most lenders won't mandate it either. But "not required" isn't the same as "not necessary." The short answer to “Do I need a home inspection?” Yes. And I'd go further than that....
Meth House Signs Northern Michigan Home Buyers Should Know Before Making an Offer
Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you'll ever make. The last thing you want to discover after closing is that you're living in a former meth lab. Knowing the meth house signs to look for — before you make an offer — can protect your family's health and...
Ice Dam Damage: Costly Warning Signs Many Northern Michigan Homeowners Miss
Ice dam damage is one of the most expensive — and most overlooked — problems I find in Northern Michigan homes. A single winter of untreated ice dams can lead to roof leaks, structural rot, mold growth, and insulation failure. Worse, the damage often goes unnoticed...
Northern Michigan Home Emergency Preparedness: A Master Inspector’s Guide to Extreme Weather Events
When Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville, North Carolina in September 2024, more than 100 people lost their lives and damages exceeded $59 billion. A city once considered a “climate haven” experienced catastrophic flooding few believed possible. Northern Michigan...
Multigenerational Home Inspection Guide: What Northern Michigan Buyers Need to Know
Summary: Will Your Dream Home Support Three Generations—Or Become a Costly Mistake? Most families don't discover their 'perfect' multigenerational property can't handle the load until after closing—when the septic system fails or the furnace can't keep up. A...
Aging in Place Home Assessment: Why Should Retirees Hire a CMI® to Inspect Their Northern Michigan “Forever Home”?
You've found it—the Northern Michigan home where you can finally watch every season unfold over Little Traverse Bay, walk to your favorite Petoskey coffee shop, and never worry about another move. But here's the question most retirees don't ask until it's too late:...