DIY Electrical
When you see the same problems in houses over and over again, you start to wonder why everybody doesn’t know the things you do. What are they, dumb? That’s a word we’re not allowed to use in my house. I tell my girls (who are 8 and 10) that answers are only easy if you…
There are a million things you need to know as a homeowner; in fact, there’s so much that sometimes new homeowners secretly long for the days when they could just call the landlord when something goes wrong. When you purchase a home for the first time, it’s common to learn as you go. That’s why…
Some folks believe that if you don’t have anything nice to say, you shouldn’t say anything at all. In Texas, if we don’t have anything nice to say, we say, “Bless Your Heart.” It follows that when in the field, home inspectors occasionally come across certain things that make them smile, shake their head, and…
The electrical panel box is like the brain of your home’s electrical system, and you really don’t want just any Tom, Dick, or Harriet messing around with it. This is why we here at Upon Closer Inspection always say, “Do Not DIY Electrical.” However, you shouldn’t just completely forget it exists either. Every sensible homeowner…
Over the years of writing Upon Closer Inspection, some of my favorite columns have been the ones dedicated to home inspection finds that are the result of probably well-meaning but epically bad DIY jobs. I haven’t thrilled you with any fantastic DIY fails recently, so I thought I’d collect some of my past favorites for…
