DIY Electrical

Three Tips Home Inspectors Say Every Homeowner Needs

By Brenda Masse / January 10, 2026 /

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…

Inspection Finds That Will Make You Say ‘Bless Your Heart’

By Brenda Masse / December 6, 2025 /

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…

Seriously, Check Your Electrical Panel

By Brenda Masse / September 20, 2025 /

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…

Epic DIY Fails: There Are Some Jobs Best Left to the Pros

By Brenda Masse / August 23, 2025 /

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…

Common Problems Home Inspectors Find That You May Have Missed

By Brenda Masse / May 3, 2025 /

When you’ve done as many home inspections as the inspectors at Green Scene Home Inspections have (more than 10,000), a few common themes emerge. People tend to neglect the same kinds of things in their homes, and of course, Mother Nature affects the homes in certain areas in the same sorts of ways. In Upon…