The Norman Notebook

Most homeowners in Will County treat their attic as “out of sight, out of mind.” If the roof isn’t leaking, they assume everything up there is fine. However, your attic is actually a complex ecosystem. It needs a constant flow of fresh air to stay healthy. If that airflow is blocked or balanced incorrectly, it […]

The “M-word.” In real estate, few words cause more panic than Mold. For buyers, spotting black spots in a basement corner can be a deal-breaker. For sellers, it can mean expensive remediation bills. But here in the humid Midwest—especially in Plainfield and Will County—mold is a biological reality we have to understand to defeat. At

The roof is the first line of defense for any home, and unfortunately, it is often the most expensive component to replace. As home inspectors, we frequently have to deliver the bad news: “The roof is near the end of its life.” Once the shock wears off, the very first question every client asks us

When you walk through a potential new home during an open house, you are limited by what your eyes can see. You see the fresh paint, the granite countertops, and the staging furniture. But what about what you can’t see? What about the missing insulation behind the drywall? The slow leak dripping inside the ceiling?

In real estate, the most stressful days aren’t the ones spent cleaning for an Open House. The most stressful days come after you accept an offer, during the “Inspection Contingency Period.” You wait nervously while a stranger picks apart your home. Then comes the email: a 50-page report listing every defect, followed by a demand

When you search for a home inspector in Plainfield or Naperville, the results can be overwhelming. You see national franchises with 1-800 numbers, flashy websites, and inspectors who might drive in from three counties away. It can be tempting to just click the first “big brand” name you see. But at Norman Home Inspections, we

When you think of home safety, you probably think of smoke detectors, deadbolts, and maybe a security system. But in Plainfield and throughout Will County, one of the biggest risks to your family’s health is something you can’t see, smell, or taste. It is called Radon. At Norman Home Inspections, we treat Radon testing not

The snow is finally melting, the grass is turning green, and the Chicago-area winter is (hopefully) behind us. While you might be eager to get the patio furniture out, your house needs some attention first. Illinois winters are brutal on buildings. The constant freeze-thaw cycles, heavy snow loads, and high winds take a toll on

Driving through Plainfield or Joliet in January, you often see homes dripping with long, sparkling icicles. They look picturesque, almost like a scene from a holiday card. But to a home inspector, those icicles are a screaming red flag. They are the tell-tale sign of an Ice Dam—one of the most destructive forces your home