She'd been told that hiring an inspector for a brand-new house was a waste of money. The county inspected it. It has a warranty. Nobody had ever lived in it. We found nineteen things.

Flips were about 8% of U.S. home sales in early 2026. A renovation hides the evidence an inspector normally reads — here's how to find the gap between what was made pretty and what was actually fixed.

You've bought houses before — just never one built like this. What buyers moving to Nocatee, RiverTown, Shearwater and Silverleaf from out of state consistently don't know to ask about a new Florida home.

If you walked into a model home in Green Cove Springs or Middleburg without an agent, nobody in that transaction works for you - and nobody will mention that you can hire your own inspector. Here's what to know, and when.

A 4-point and a wind mitigation inspection answer questions for your insurer — a home inspection answers them for you. Here's what each one covers, what changed with the 2026 wind-mitigation form, and why "just get a 4-point to save money" is a costly mistake.

You found the house, your offer was accepted, and suddenly everyone's talking about "the inspection period." Here's exactly where the inspection fits in your purchase, what happens on the day, and — the part too few people explain — what to actually do with the report once it lands in your inbox. Where the inspection fits in the transaction 1. Offer accepted → the clock starts. Florida purchase contracts include an inspection (due diligence) period — commonly somewhere betwee

After thousands of inspections across Northeast Florida, I've noticed most surprises at the inspection table come from one place: a mismatch between what buyers expect an inspection to be and what an inspection actually is. So let's fix that in plain language. What a home inspection IS A home inspection is three things: visual, operational, and safety-focused. Visual. I examine the readily accessible, visible parts of the home — roof, attic, foundation and structure, exterior

Buying new construction feels like the safe choice. Everything's brand new, it's built to current code, and nobody else has ever lived there. So a lot of buyers assume the usual homework — inspections, due diligence, asking hard questions — doesn't really apply. That assumption is exactly what gets people into trouble. New homes have their own set of risks, and they're different from the ones buyers worry about with older homes. Here are seven of the most common myths we hear

There's a common assumption that a brand-new home is a flawless home. After all, everything is new, it was just built to code, and the local building department signed off on it. So why would you need an inspection? The honest answer: a new home is built fast, by many different trades, under deadline pressure — and small things get missed. A municipal code inspection confirms a home meets minimum requirements. It is not the same as someone walking the home on your behalf, met

Polybutylene, galvanized steel and cast iron each fail in their own way, and insurers treat them differently. Here's how to tell what you have, how serious each one is, and what it means for coverage and repairs.

After enough inspections, you build a short list of tools that earn their place on your phone's home screen. The ones you reach for over and over because they answer real questions in real moments. For me, two of those tools sit at the top of the list. They're free, they're public, and they take about thirty seconds to use. And while I rely on them every time I'm on-site, they're just as useful for the Realtors I work with — especially on showings, when a client is asking the

At Hanna Home Services, we’re always looking for ways to make the inspection process easier, faster, and more convenient for both homeowners and Realtors. That’s exactly why we built the new Hanna Home Services mobile app — now available on the Apple App Store. Android is coming soon. Whether you’re scheduling inspections regularly or just need quick access to trusted information during a transaction, the app keeps Hanna Home Services right at your fingertips. Why We Built It

If you've ever hired a home inspector, you've probably checked their Google reviews. I would too. And if you've looked at Hanna Home Services, you've seen something unusual — 176 five-star reviews and one single 1-star review. Today I want to talk about that one. What Happened In November 2023, I was hired to complete a 4-point inspection on a rental property. A 4-point inspection evaluates four key systems — roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC — and is required by insurance

Jacksonville & Northeast Florida Homebuyers Guide Buying a home in Jacksonville or Northeast Florida often comes with an inspection report full of technical language. Some items can sound alarming at first glance, but many findings are common, manageable, and not deal-breakers . At Hanna Home Services , the goal is to provide clear, same-day information so buyers and agents can focus on what truly matters — not get distracted by issues that are typical for the age and style

Warm air, spring rain, and high humidity create the perfect environment for mold growth. Add in tight new construction homes and closed-up houses from winter, and it’s easy to see why indoor air quality problems show up this time of year.

New construction buyers love to believe they’re getting a flawless home. The reality? Builders are stretched thin, trades are rotating fast, and quality control isn’t what most Newly constructed home in Holstein Crossing, Lake Asbury, featuring modern design and landscaping in Green Cove Springs, Clay County, Florida. people assume. Even brand-new homes — especially in rapidly growing areas like Lake Asbury, Green Cove Springs, Clay County, and St. Johns — can hide defects th

A fresh coat of paint does more than make your home look sharp — it’s one of the most important defenses your property has against Florida’s harsh climate. Here in Northeast Florida , where humidity, salt air, and intense UV rays constantly attack exterior surfaces, paint failure can quickly turn into water intrusion, wood rot, and costly structural repairs . At Hanna Home Services , we see it all the time during home inspections across Clay, Duval, and St. Johns counties . P

Buying or maintaining a home in Northeast Florida is a big investment, and our unique climate can make certain problems more common here than in other parts of the country. As a Certified Master Inspector with years of experience in Jacksonville and the surrounding areas, I’ve seen the same issues appear again and again in home inspections. Some of these problems are minor if caught early, but if left unchecked, they can turn into costly repairs. Here are the seven most commo

When you go to your primary care physician for a checkup, the doctor’s job isn’t to perform surgery or treat every possible condition on the spot. Instead, they look at the big picture—your overall health—and flag anything that might need closer attention from a specialist. A home inspection works exactly the same way. The Home Inspector = Your Home’s General Practitioner A Certified Master Inspector is like a general practitioner (GP) for houses. We do a thorough, head-to-to

This week, a potential client messaged me: “After much thinking and reading the builder’s warranty plus my trust in him, I’ve decided to not do the home inspection pre-purchase. I will think of doing one at 11 months prior to the end of our builder’s warranty. So I will keep you in mind.” Trust is good. A builder’s warranty helps. But when it comes to your new home, neither should replace a professional inspection. Why You Shouldn’t Skip the Pre-Closing Inspection New constru