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Nodds Review "Beam me up Scotty" are the immortalized words of Star Trek's Captain Kirk but not of Beaverton's own ‘Captain' Kirk Hansen, "Take me down and under, Scotty" are words more likely to come out of this home inspector's mouth. There are similarities though:
- Like the original, our ‘Captain Kirk' sits comfortably in the captain's chair of a tightly run ship called Cornerstone Home Inspection Services, every Beaverton home's best friend;
- Although a large man that commands respect, he has a very customer oriented side. With us, the home owner in mind, he organizes his inspection analysis into a detailed report that highlights issues with photos and easy to understand explanations;
- An expert at what he does, this Captain Kirk has over 25 years of experience as a licensed contractor skilled in roofing, sheetrock, concrete and residential construction;
- Although not alien to this world, Kirk Hansen is not afraid to come face to face with the many legged, many eyed creatures that hide not in outer space but in the dark under spaces of our homes. These dangerous creatures normally go undetected and can damage even the most formidable of homes... that is until Captain Kirk arrives.
As a little kid, Kirk grew up around the many different homes his parents had built and these construction yards became his play area. "There were lots of piles of wood everywhere," he told me and this unusual playground fostered an appreciation of the home building process as well as a love of woodworking, a hobby he continues today.
Now a grown man, Kirk has been in and around all facets of home construction, from a water and fire damage specialist to a general contractor and then later in the 90's working for a large home construction company. Kirk has been there and seen it all and it is this hands-on experience throughout the years that more than qualifies him to inspect homes, both old and new. "I wanted to be part of the solution" he said and that meant raising the bar for quality home inspections. "Everyone deserves a cornerstone home inspection," his tagline goes and this I truly believe. My new home will be built in a couple months and you can be sure that Captain Kirk will be the first person in. Here's what you can expect from a Cornerstone home inspection:
- Captain Kirk will spend as much time as it takes to thoroughly go through, above and under your house to inspect all areas (and this means all the dirty little places that never see the light of day).
- You will receive a detailed report with photo's and explanations.
- He will spend up to 45 minutes walking you through your house and the report to make sure all is understood.
- In the list of issues, some will be problems and some will not but all will come with an explanation as to why they come up in the report and the ramifications if left un-addressed.
- Captain Kirk will point out unsightly issues that may or may not be damaging but will always highlight and point out safety concerns.
Captain Kirk is certainly not the only home inspector in the Beaverton area but he could possibly be the most qualified. I had him come over to inspect my newly built house just recently and found him to be most thorough. With his digital camera and collapsible ladder in hand, he when up, down, inside, outside and under my house documenting even the smallest of details that I'll need to bring up with the builders. Some things were purely cosmetic but others were items that could have cost me thousands if left unattended. By the end of the 3 hours he spent with me, I had a printed report in my hand complete with color pictures of problem areas and important items highlighted in red and clearly explained. Thank you Captain!
This home inspector may not be going "where no man has gone before", but you can be sure that this Captain Kirk will go where neither you nor I would want to... and that's why every home deserves a Cornerstone home inspection. About Cornerstone Home Inspection Home Inspectors Mandate: observe and describe, then report ramifications.
According to The Oregon Property Buyer Advisory:
OBTAINING A PROFESSIONAL HOME INSPECTION IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING A BUYER CAN DO FOR THEIR PROTECTION.
- A professional home inspection report will provide the buyer with detailed information about the home's physical condition, its systems and fixtures and usually note any potential future problems.
- The buyer should carefully review an inspector's proposal to determine the scope of the inspection. Some home inspectors may not inspect heating and cooling systems, the roof or other systems or components.
- A home inspection should be done by a home inspector or contractor licensed by the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB). To inspect two or more components (i.e., roof, siding, structural), the home inspector must be certified and either be a licensed construction contractor or work for a licensed construction company. Also, a home inspector is not allowed to perform the repairs within a twelve-month period following the inspection.
- Buyers can review state home inspector requirements and standards of practice for inspectors on-line at:
http://ccbed.ccb.state.or.us/WebPDF/CCB/Publications/hi-s-sop.pdf
Kirk A. Hansen Construction Inc. is a licensed contractor with the state of Oregon (OCHI #226, CCB 129609) and fully qualified to inspect all components of a home. Please click the gold seal to view my InterNACHI certification:
A Little Bit About Mold
- Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins).
- Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis).
- Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people.
- Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing. This brochure provides a brief overview; it does not describe all potential health effects related to mold exposure.
If surface mold exists in your home, Cornerstone Home Inspection will find it and inform you of the extent and potential problems (if any) that could affect the value and health of your home. |
Cornerstone Home Inspection Services
