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Libertyinspectiongroup.com 610.717.3082 OCTOBER 2018
SPOOKY HOME INSPECTIONS PLAYING ‘THE BAD GUY’ AND MANAGING BAD NEWS
If you want to learn more about your neighborhood, ask your mail carrier.
It wasn’t exactly the picture of an ideal, affordable family home this couple was looking for, and they were horrified (rightfully so!). Despite the home being fairly safe and getting relatively good marks from us, that couple high-tailed it out of there. I’m not sure what happened to the son or even that couple, but the house was eventually razed so new owners could start over. Inspectors are used to angry sellers who disagree with our findings about a home, and we can face animal danger, too, as you read about in September’s newsletter. We go into every inspection prepared for the worst and hoping for the best for our clients, but we certainly can never fully prepare for the unusual instances of horror we could find.
Throughout my years as an inspector, I’ve learned that no one knows your neighborhood quite like the person who passes through it every day. If you happen to see a mail carrier when you’re looking at a home, stop and ask them for some information on the neighborhood. A few years ago, a mail carrier played a crucial role in one of my most memorable inspection horror stories. This story goes beyond the sellers disputing our findings and getting angry with us, and it’s not something you can really prepare for as an inspector. Liberty Inspections was hired by a couple interested in purchasing a home in Drexel Hill a few years back. The listing was cheap, but upon an initial look at the house, it wasn’t clear why. The house had not been foreclosed on. The roof was not damaged. It wasn’t under an overpass and didn’t have an unsightly view. It was a regular family home that this young couple was hoping to steal off the market, pending my inspection. By some twist of either cruel or blessed fate, at the inspection, a mailman passed by the home. Per my advice above, I asked him if he knew anything about the home and its cheap listing. That’s when he explained the gruesome story of a double homicide that had happened inside the home. And the circumstances of this tragedy were especially shocking: A son had killed his parents.
Being told about a double homicide by the mail carrier in front of clients — now that’s a scary (and rare) inspection story I’ll never forget.
This serves as a reminder to others to take time to investigate properties to ensure you’re getting the home you deserve and want. This couple didn’t deserve to live in a place where they would be constantly reminded of terror, and they would never have found the happy home I have no doubt they live in today had we not inquired about that particular house’s price.
I guess mail carriers don’t just deliver mail — they can save the day, too.
Happy Halloween!
–-Chris Earley
Libertyinspectiongroup.com | 610.717.3082 | Page 1
The Beginnings of Nike: ‘SHOE DOG’ CHRIS EARLEY’S BOOK OF THE MONTH
As a runner, I value the work and dedication sporting goods companies put into their products, ensuring athletes can get the most out of their bodies. When I discovered Nike founder and CEO Phil Knight’s memoir, “Shoe Dog,” I knew I had to pick it up. Knight details the little-known story of his company, starting from the $50 his dad gave him to begin Nike in 1962. The premise was to sell affordable, quality athletic shoes, and, needless to say, it caught on. In the book, the reader is taken back to Knight’s lime-green Plymouth Valiant, out of which he sold about $8,000 worth of shoes during his first year, to explain how an eclectic group of people became dedicated to the business’s affordable athletics mission. Before this book, Knight was nearly mum on his background story, but now business novices and interested athletes alike can learn how the famous swoosh became one of the most recognizable brands in the world, now averaging $30 billion annually.
This book played to both the business owner and athlete in me. While my business focuses on home strength rather than human strength, I could still relate to Knight’s drive and the struggle of building up a business. And as a runner, those same values fuel me.
From Michael Jordan to “Just Do It,” readers of all age levels, jobs, and abilities will relate to this story, while gleaning expertise from a CEO who started with just a few dollars, his car, and a mission.
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OUR CUSTOMERS SAY IT BEST
"I highly recommend Tom Kucera when using Liberty. He has an extensive background in construction, he is knowledgeable, and he takes his time with his clients. He explains things in detail and is always available, even after the inspection, to answer any questions my clients or I may have." -Liz F. "Liberty Home Inspections’ inspectors are great! Whenever I tag along for clients’ home inspections, I like to shadow the inspectors to ask questions to learn firsthand (from the experts). Every inspector I’ve came in contact with from Liberty has been genuine and professional. They are always willing to explain what’s being looked into and are always speedy in producing the Home Inspection Report. Thanks, Liberty!" –Danielle L.
Page 2 | Libertyinspectiongroup.com | 610.717.3082
THE UNNOTICEABLE DANGER IN YOUR HOME GET EDUCATED ABOUT THE PERILS OF RADON
You know inspectors as the people that nitpick about each corner of a home or corporate building, but inspections can be vital to your health.
The average measurement of radon in Delaware County — which houses
Mold growth and shoddy building practices are among the dangers that inspections uncover, but the silent danger that inspectors monitor for can be the deadliest.
Liberty Inspections — is about 4 picocuries per liter, just on the cusp of acceptable according to the U.S.
Among nonsmoking lung cancer patients, the No. 1 cause of their cancer has been identified as radon exposure. The problem in defending against radon is that it’s a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and utterly invisible gas. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing if you have been overexposed to radon — unless you test your air for it or get diagnosed with lung cancer. There are no safe levels of radon for a home, but since radon comes from gases trapped in all kinds of soils, exposure to it is unavoidable. The federal government has specified 4 picocuries per liter of air as an acceptable and livable level of radon exposure. Basically, anything under four units of radon in a liter of air won’t be enough to kill you, but you won’t know how much is in your home or office until you test for it. At Liberty Inspections, we’ve seen the problems radon has caused on the East Coast and even had readings of 100 picocuries per liter!
government. Homeowners in our East Coast area should be wary of this fact when buying or selling homes, but with a thorough inspection, monitoring this gas becomes easier. Once owners and buyers have their radon level readings, they can figure out what steps to take next. Reliable contractors can help set up filtration systems in buildings, and unacceptable (or nearly unacceptable) levels will signal to a homeowner the need for continued monitoring of their home’s levels. It’s easy to ignore radon; it passes through our homes without so much as a whiff of evidence. But the medical consequences of not monitoring and protecting yourself against it are a good reason to give the experts at Liberty Inspections a call when considering a new home. Schedule your inspection today by calling 610.717.3082.
HOMEMADE MARSHMALLOWS
INGREDIENTS
• • •
3 packages unflavored gelatin 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• • •
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup light corn syrup
Powdered sugar, to coat
DIRECTIONS
Ingredients:
gelatin mixture. Switch speed to high and whip for 15 minutes, until very thick. Fold in vanilla after whipping.
1. In a mixing bowl, combine
gelatin and 1/2 cup cold water. Let sit while you make the syrup.
2. In a small saucepan over
5. Dust a nonmetal baking dish with powdered sugar and spoon mixture into dish.
medium heat, combine sugar, syrup, salt, and 1/2 cup water until the sugar dissolves. 3. Raise heat to high and bring syrup up to 240 F, using a candy thermometer to check for temperature. 4. With an electric whisk on low speed, slowly whisk syrup into
Smooth mixture, top with more powdered sugar, and let stand uncovered overnight.
Directions:
6. Cut into squares, decorate, and serve.
Inspired by Food Network
Libertyinspectiongroup.com | 610.717.3082 | Page 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
24 VETERANS SQ MEDIA, PA 19063
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: PAGE 1 Inspections Gone Bad PAGE 2 Phil Knight’s ‘Shoe Dog’ Our Customers Say It Best PAGE 3 Detecting Radon in Your Home Homemade Marshmallows PAGE 4 The Birthplace of Halloween
THE REAL HALLOWEEN TOWN
C O U N T Y M E A T H , I R E L A N D , W H E R E H A L L O W E E N B E G A N
Fans of Halloween don’t need to look far to find somewhere to celebrate their favorite holiday. There are festive parties all over the world, from New Orleans to London, but if you really want to embrace the spirit of Halloween, there’s no better destination than the birthplace of the holiday: County Meath, Ireland. Every year in Boyne Valley, the residents of County Meath throw a month-long Halloween celebration. The Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival attracts thousands of guests from all over the world, and while this festival has only been celebrated since 2009, many of the traditions observed here date back to ancient times. The ancient Irish weren’t trick-or-treating or visiting haunted houses on Oct. 31, but they were celebrating the pagan holiday Samhain. Over 3,000 years ago, this Celtic festival was born in Meath and marked the end of the harvest. Samhain was celebrated with bonfires, offerings to fairies, and other rituals meant to keep evil spirits away. Many of these customs
carried through the centuries and inspired Halloween traditions that are still practiced today.
Today, Meath celebrates Oct. 31 with a blend of spooky thrills and traditional Samhain practices. The Spirits of Meath Halloween Festival starts with the lighting of the first torch fire of Samhain in Athboy, which kicks off a month of fun activities. If you like your Halloween extra spooky, the scream park, Farmaphobia, is waiting for you. And if you’re not a fan of screaming your head off, you can check out the Halloween-themed Spookling Afternoon Tea for fresh-baked treats and spirited conversation. The motto of this all-ages festival is “Fun by Day; Frights by Night,” meaning all the really scary ghosts wait until after sunset to come out. There are plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween, from carving jack-o’-lanterns and eating chocolate to running for your life through a haunted corn maze. And in County Meath, you can celebrate Halloween in every possible way. For more info, visit www.Discoverboynevalley.ie/whats-on/spirits-meath-halloween-festival-2018 .
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