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As I have stated previously, starting Inside Edge Home Inspections Ltd. wasn't an impulsive decision but the result of years of meticulous planning. However, even the most thorough plans couldn't foresee the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our industry. Amidst the challenges, one crucial aspect I focused on was choosing the perfect company name—a decision that held more weight than paperwork, software setup, equipment procurement, and initial marketing strategies combined!
The Naming Challenge
Understanding the pitfalls faced by many unsuccessful home inspection companies, I delved into extensive research. Analyzing corporate records of Nova Scotia's home inspection firms unveiled a clear pattern—certain naming styles had short lifespans in the market. This pattern was also seen throughout Canada and the United States. Criteria emerged to avoid these pitfalls:
Simplicity and Universality: The name had to be easy to spell, comprehend, and possess broad appeal.
Distinctiveness: It couldn't resemble any existing North American home inspection (or related industry) company names.
The Selection Process
After rigorous brainstorming, I narrowed down numerous options to five potential names. Eliminating 'Top Shelf' and 'Power Play' was a conscious choice to steer clear of any misconception about our core focus—a home inspection company, not a hockey-related side endeavor. Narrowing it down to the final two names, I was poised to proceed until a setback—both names were already in use in Atlantic Canada.
The "Eureka" Moment
Frustration loomed as what should have been a straightforward decision turned into a labyrinth of challenges. The breakthrough came unexpectedly during a casual game of hockey. After an all-too-common stumble on the ice, the words "I should have used my inside edge!" slipped out, instantly resonating as the ideal name. It effortlessly met all criteria and received the official green light, marking the final piece of our launch puzzle.
Bringing Inside Edge to Life
Within an hour of submitting my concept to the designer, our captivating logo was born. Its creation was swift and remarkably aligned with our vision. Proudly displaying it, the logo symbolizes our identity and dedication to delivering quality inspections with accurate and helpful information for our clients.
The Naming Challenge
Understanding the pitfalls faced by many unsuccessful home inspection companies, I delved into extensive research. Analyzing corporate records of Nova Scotia's home inspection firms unveiled a clear pattern—certain naming styles had short lifespans in the market. This pattern was also seen throughout Canada and the United States. Criteria emerged to avoid these pitfalls:
Simplicity and Universality: The name had to be easy to spell, comprehend, and possess broad appeal.
Distinctiveness: It couldn't resemble any existing North American home inspection (or related industry) company names.
The Selection Process
After rigorous brainstorming, I narrowed down numerous options to five potential names. Eliminating 'Top Shelf' and 'Power Play' was a conscious choice to steer clear of any misconception about our core focus—a home inspection company, not a hockey-related side endeavor. Narrowing it down to the final two names, I was poised to proceed until a setback—both names were already in use in Atlantic Canada.
The "Eureka" Moment
Frustration loomed as what should have been a straightforward decision turned into a labyrinth of challenges. The breakthrough came unexpectedly during a casual game of hockey. After an all-too-common stumble on the ice, the words "I should have used my inside edge!" slipped out, instantly resonating as the ideal name. It effortlessly met all criteria and received the official green light, marking the final piece of our launch puzzle.
Bringing Inside Edge to Life
Within an hour of submitting my concept to the designer, our captivating logo was born. Its creation was swift and remarkably aligned with our vision. Proudly displaying it, the logo symbolizes our identity and dedication to delivering quality inspections with accurate and helpful information for our clients.
That's one fine looking logo if I may say so myself!
Selecting a name for our company was no easy feat—it required insight, perseverance, and an unexpected moment of clarity. Inside Edge isn't just a name; it's a testament to our commitment to delivering excellence in home inspections. We invite you to join us on this journey as we continue to uphold the values embedded in the name Inside Edge Home Inspections and see the difference a high quality, independent home inspection can provide.
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We are currently renovating one of our three bathrooms: we replaced the shower unit, redid the floors, painted the walls and the next step will be to replace the vanity and sinks. When the installers were putting in the new shower, it was observed that there was a rotted subfloor that needed to be replaced. Not a big surprise or expense, but something that should not be ignored. Today’s blog post is a spotlight on bathrooms and some of the things we home inspectors are looking for.
Something I wish I could do as a home inspector: rip out floors!
Water Damage
I’ve said it many times but will repeat again that water is the #1 enemy of homes. Obviously, a bathroom is by design filled with water using fixtures that are valuable, provided they function as intended. I have identified many leaks during home inspections, but surprisingly the bathroom is rarely the cause. This is likely because most homeowners regularly visit the bathroom and can quickly identify and stop a leak. The two most common causes of water damage are:
GFCI Receptacles
Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters are critical safety features that can prevent death by electrocution (water and electricity don’t mix!). Electrical codes have expanded their use throughout the home but the first room they were required to be installed in was the bathroom. Not only do we always check that they are working properly, but they should also be tested monthly by the homeowner/tenant.
Ventilation
People are often surprised to learn that the kitchen doesn’t require ventilation, but the bathroom certainly does. A fan (or window) is required to remove the high amounts of moisture, especially after a shower otherwise mould and mildew can quickly take root. There is another type of ventilation we look for: waste pipe (DWV) ventilation. One of the clearest symptoms of inadequate DWV ventilation is gurgling toilets and we can advise further steps if this is detected during a home inspection.
Shower/Flooring Tiles
A home inspector is not an interior decorator and does not focus on cosmetic issues, but cracked flooring or shower tiles are not only ugly but can provide a means for water to flow where it should not be going. We also don’t comment on things like carpet, but an exception is made for both the bathroom and kitchen as neither should ever have carpeted floors.
Improper Drainage
While I offer and usually recommend a sewer scope inspection to my clients, they aren’t always necessary to detect problems. The biggest issue I see is slow draining sinks and toilets. If all the sinks and tubs in the home are slow to drain, it is likely a system wide problem that a scope can provide more information about. Luckily most drain issues are isolated to one specific sink or tub and it is often the result of hair that catches debris and while gross, is usually not difficult to clear. Be sure to regularly clean your drains to prevent this from happening.
Contrary to certain TV shows, a bathroom leak is usually not detected from a waterfall in the floor below but is usually very slow and subtle. As a home inspector I use thermal imaging, moisture meters and of course good old-fashioned senses to help determine if a bathroom requires further attention from a plumber.
I’ve said it many times but will repeat again that water is the #1 enemy of homes. Obviously, a bathroom is by design filled with water using fixtures that are valuable, provided they function as intended. I have identified many leaks during home inspections, but surprisingly the bathroom is rarely the cause. This is likely because most homeowners regularly visit the bathroom and can quickly identify and stop a leak. The two most common causes of water damage are:
- Failed Toilet Seals: when you stop and think about it, a toilet is an amazing device, quickly and safely removing waste without using any electricity, all while preventing nasty sewer odors from entering the bathroom. This is done using a wax seal and over time the seal can be damaged and not be 100% effective. This can lead to a slow leak that not even a home inspector can identify at first. The clearest symptom of a failed seal is a bad smell coming from the bathroom.
- Leaky Bathtub Drains: I made sure to mention that we used installers to put in our bathtub and showers. The company we used was far from the cheapest, but they did quality work. I have seen substandard installation work, and the results can lead to damaged drywall, mould growth and high humidity.
GFCI Receptacles
Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters are critical safety features that can prevent death by electrocution (water and electricity don’t mix!). Electrical codes have expanded their use throughout the home but the first room they were required to be installed in was the bathroom. Not only do we always check that they are working properly, but they should also be tested monthly by the homeowner/tenant.
Ventilation
People are often surprised to learn that the kitchen doesn’t require ventilation, but the bathroom certainly does. A fan (or window) is required to remove the high amounts of moisture, especially after a shower otherwise mould and mildew can quickly take root. There is another type of ventilation we look for: waste pipe (DWV) ventilation. One of the clearest symptoms of inadequate DWV ventilation is gurgling toilets and we can advise further steps if this is detected during a home inspection.
Shower/Flooring Tiles
A home inspector is not an interior decorator and does not focus on cosmetic issues, but cracked flooring or shower tiles are not only ugly but can provide a means for water to flow where it should not be going. We also don’t comment on things like carpet, but an exception is made for both the bathroom and kitchen as neither should ever have carpeted floors.
Improper Drainage
While I offer and usually recommend a sewer scope inspection to my clients, they aren’t always necessary to detect problems. The biggest issue I see is slow draining sinks and toilets. If all the sinks and tubs in the home are slow to drain, it is likely a system wide problem that a scope can provide more information about. Luckily most drain issues are isolated to one specific sink or tub and it is often the result of hair that catches debris and while gross, is usually not difficult to clear. Be sure to regularly clean your drains to prevent this from happening.
Contrary to certain TV shows, a bathroom leak is usually not detected from a waterfall in the floor below but is usually very slow and subtle. As a home inspector I use thermal imaging, moisture meters and of course good old-fashioned senses to help determine if a bathroom requires further attention from a plumber.