Guides & Reviews
All 7997 plain-language home-inspection guides, reviews, and explainers. Filter by topic below.
What Kills Black Mold? What Actually Works and What Does Not
Bleach, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, commercial fungicides - what actually kills black mold on home surfaces…
11 Month Warranty Inspection: What to Check Before Year One
An 11 month warranty inspection catches settling cracks, drainage, roof, HVAC and plumbing defects while the builder sti…
Asbestos Pipe Insulation: Identify, Test, Remove Safely
Chalky white or corrugated pipe wrap in a pre-1980 home is likely friable asbestos, the most hazardous kind. Test before…
Radon Health Risks: What the Evidence Actually Says About Lung Cancer
How radon causes lung cancer, the dose-response relationship that drives the EPA action level, and what the evidence sup…
Home Inspection vs. Appraisal: Two Reports, Two Jobs
An inspection tells the buyer the home's condition; an appraisal tells the lender its value. Who hires each, what they m…
Asbestos Floor Tiles: Remove, Cover, or Leave Them?
Intact 9x9 vinyl-asbestos floor tile is low-risk and non-friable, so covering or sealing it often beats removal. Full re…
Mold in the Basement: The Most Common Pattern and How to Address It
Why basements are the most common location for residential mold, the moisture sources that drive it, and the specific re…
What Is a Radon Test? A Plain-Language Explainer
What a radon test actually measures, the technologies used, when each type is appropriate, and how to interpret your res…
Mold After Water Damage: The 48-Hour Prevention Window
Mold begins on wet materials within 24 to 48 hours. Dry everything inside that window and you have a repair, not remedia…
Best Thermal Imaging Cameras for Home Inspection in 2026
Independent buyer's guide to thermal imaging cameras in 2026: phone-attached units, pocket cameras, and professional han…
Asbestos Siding: How to Identify, What to Do, and What It Costs to Remove
Asbestos cement siding (Transite) was used widely in mid-century housing. Here's how to identify it, when it's safe to l…
What Does a Home Inspector Look For? A System-by-System Walkthrough
What home inspectors actually evaluate during a standard residential inspection, system by system. The ASHI/InterNACHI s…