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What to look for

Know what you're seeing before you call. It gets you a better quote.

Pl · Plumbing
  • Water under a sink or around the toilet base
  • Drains that gurgle or back up in more than one fixture
Rf · Roofing
  • Water stains on the ceiling, especially after rain
  • Shingles in the yard or granules piling up in the gutters
Wm · Water damage & mold
  • Musty smell that won't leave
  • Dark spots on drywall or ceiling
Ss · Septic & sewer
  • Wet, green patch over the drain field
  • Gurgling in all drains
Sg · Siding & gutters
  • Water pouring over the gutter edge in rain
  • Gutters pulling away from the fascia
Wd · Windows & doors
  • Fog between double panes
  • Drafts you can feel with your hand
Pc · Pest control
  • Droppings in cabinets or along walls
  • Mud tubes on the foundation (termites)
Pt · Painting
  • Peeling or bubbling paint outside (moisture behind it)
  • Chalky residue when you rub exterior siding
In · Insulation
  • Attic insulation below the top of the joists
  • Rooms that are hot upstairs and cold downstairs
Pw · Pressure washing
  • Green or black streaks on siding
  • Driveway darker than the sidewalk
Fd · Foundation repair
  • Doors that suddenly stick or won't latch
  • Stair-step cracks in brick
Fn · Fencing
  • Posts that wobble when pushed
  • Boards rotting at the bottom or pulling off
Tr · Tree removal
  • Dead branches with no leaves in summer
  • Branches touching the roof or power lines
Ls · Landscaping
  • Standing water a day after rain
  • Brown patches that spread
Dw · Drywall
  • Soft or bubbling spots (water behind it)
  • Nail pops in a line along studs
El · Electrical
  • A breaker that trips again right after you reset it
  • Outlets that are warm, discolored or buzzing
Hv · HVAC
  • Air blowing but not cold (or not warm)
  • Unit short-cycling: turning on and off every few minutes
Gd · Garage doors
  • Door reverses before closing
  • Loud bang then door won't lift (broken spring)
So · Solar
  • Production app shows a sudden drop
  • Inverter showing a red light or error
Gn · Generators
  • Frequent outages in your area
  • Medical equipment or a well pump that needs power
Ap · Appliance repair
  • Dryer takes two cycles to dry
  • Dishwasher leaves standing water
Hd · Handyman
  • A punch list with five or more small things
  • Mounting anything heavy on drywall
Sm · Smart home & security
  • Dead Wi-Fi zones where you'd want a camera
  • No camera on the front door
Ep · Epoxy floors
  • Oil stains that won't lift
  • Dust from bare concrete tracking inside
Ch · Chimney & fireplace
  • Smoke coming into the room
  • Black, flaky buildup inside the flue
Wt · Water treatment
  • White scale on faucets and in the kettle
  • Soap that won't lather
Kb · Kitchen & bath
  • Grout that stays dark (water getting behind the tile)
  • A soft spot in the floor near the toilet or tub
Fl · Flooring
  • Boards that bounce or squeak
  • Tile grout cracking or tiles that sound hollow
Cc · Cabinets & countertops
  • Doors that won't stay closed or hang crooked
  • Laminate peeling at the edges
Po · Pool service
  • Green water that won't clear
  • Pump running loud or losing prime
Ad · Additions & remodels
  • You need a permit (you almost certainly do)
  • Walls you're not sure are load-bearing
Cn · Concrete & driveways
  • Cracks wider than a quarter inch
  • Slabs that have sunk and created a trip edge
Ms · Masonry & stucco
  • Crumbling mortar between bricks
  • Stucco cracks you can fit a dime in
Cl · Christmas lights
  • Rooflines you'd need a ladder on a slope to reach
  • Old strings with half the bulbs out
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