Standing Out in Ohio Podcast

Jim Troth
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Investing
  • Updated Biweekly

Brought to you from Ohio based home inspection company of Habitation Investigation. Information helpful to agents and buyers.  Conversations with professionals and entrepreneurs regarding their stories and what makes their companies and themselves stand out and gain competitive advantages. Listen to stories from Ohio real estate agents and related businesses to help you know how to improve and who to consider using for yourself or friends. Created by the owners of a highly rated home inspection company in Ohio and the Winners of Best Home Inspection Company in the Midwest https://homeinspectionsinohio.com/ 

  1. 2d ago

    The Hidden Chemicals In New Construction Homes

    Send us Fan Mail That “new house smell” might not be a reward for upgrading. It can be a warning sign that your indoor air quality is taking a hit from the exact materials that make modern construction fast and profitable. We start with the ground truth of smart building decisions: knowing what the land was used for before construction, and why Phase One environmental reports matter. But even when the site history looks clean, people can move in and start feeling sick within months and that is where the real detective work begins. We break down the most common new construction culprits we see again and again: off-gassing VOCs, formaldehyde, fiberglass insulation odors, and the chemical load that can come from foam products, flooring, paints, stains, varnishes, and engineered wood. We also talk about why a brand new mattress can be a surprisingly intense exposure source when it heats up all night, plus simple ways to reduce risk like airing out materials and making more natural choices where you can. Then we get blunt about moisture and mold. New builds often involve wet lumber, humid basements, and rushed timelines. If you already have a mold issue, blasting a basement with a power washer is basically watering the problem. We explain what to do instead, including drying strategy, air movers plus a dehumidifier, and why “code approved” is not the same thing as healthy. If you want a clearer plan for evaluating a new home, protecting your family, and pushing back when someone says “that’s normal,” hit play, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review with your biggest question about indoor air quality. Support the show To learn more about Habitation Investigation, the Three-time Winner of the Best Home Inspection Company in the Midwest Plus the Winner of Consumer Choice Award for Columbus Ohio visit Home Inspection Columbus Ohio - Habitation Investigation (homeinspectionsinohio.com)  NBC4 news segments: The importance of home inspections, and what to look for | NBC4 WCMH-TV Advice from experts: Don’t skip the home inspection | NBC4 WCMH-TV OSU student’s mysterious symptoms end up tied to apartment’s air quality | NBC4 WCMH-TV How to save money by winterizing your home | NBC4 WCMH-TV Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Scheduled classes Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Course listings...

  2. Sep 10

    New Houses With Hidden Toxins

    Send us Fan Mail New construction is supposed to feel like a fresh start, but what if the “new house smell” is a warning sign? We are Jim and Laura, and we have been inspecting newer homes that look spotless on the surface yet still come with real indoor air quality problems, including mold concerns and chemical exposure that sends homeowners searching for VOC testing and formaldehyde testing. When people feel sick at home, they are often shocked to learn the issue is not just an old-house problem. We dig into the part almost nobody budgets time for: the land beneath the house. In Ohio, many developments are built on former farmland, and that history can include legacy pesticides, stored fuels, and other contaminants that do not disappear just because the neighborhood is brand new. Layer modern building materials and tight construction on top of that, and you can end up living with a mix of off-gassing and environmental residue day after day. We also break down the most practical tool for buyers who want facts before they sign: the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, plus when a Phase II investigation is needed to take real samples of soil, soil gas, or water. We talk about why banks and lenders often require Phase I reports for commercial deals, why single-family builds may not be forced to do it, and how that gap can leave families taking on hidden risk. If you are building a home, buying in a new subdivision, or planning a final walkthrough or 11-month warranty inspection, this is your checklist for smarter due diligence. Subscribe, share this with a friend shopping for a new build, and leave a review with the biggest question you still have about land history and healthy homes. Support the show To learn more about Habitation Investigation, the Three-time Winner of the Best Home Inspection Company in the Midwest Plus the Winner of Consumer Choice Award for Columbus Ohio visit Home Inspection Columbus Ohio - Habitation Investigation (homeinspectionsinohio.com)  NBC4 news segments: The importance of home inspections, and what to look for | NBC4 WCMH-TV Advice from experts: Don’t skip the home inspection | NBC4 WCMH-TV OSU student’s mysterious symptoms end up tied to apartment’s air quality | NBC4 WCMH-TV How to save money by winterizing your home | NBC4 WCMH-TV Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Scheduled classes Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Course listings...

  3. Sep 2

    When You Can Legally Remove Bats In Ohio

    Send us Fan Mail Bats in the attic sound like a simple nuisance until you learn there’s a legal calendar, a safety checklist, and a very expensive cleanup waiting for anyone who guesses wrong. We walk through the Ohio timing that matters most, including the common exclusion windows (April 1 to May 15, and August 1 to October 14) and what changes when hibernation season hits. If you’re buying, selling, or maintaining a home, this is the kind of detail that prevents rushed decisions and ugly surprises during a home inspection. We also get practical about bat exclusion: why you cannot just seal every hole, how a one-way exit approach works, and why hiring a professional wildlife company is often the safest move. Bat guano is not just gross, it can create real respiratory risk, and we share a memorable example of what “years of accumulation” can look like in an attic. Along the way we explain what we do as inspectors when we encounter bats: document, recommend, and avoid harming protected wildlife. Then we pivot to chimney swifts, the sleek little birds that can shut down a chimney scope because they’re protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. We talk about when they’re typically in Ohio chimneys, why disturbing nests is illegal, and the simplest prevention step homeowners overlook: a chimney cap with a screen. We close with a couple of weird but useful field notes, including how spiders can block gas fireplace components and why pest activity can hint at a moisture problem. If this helped, subscribe for more straight-talk home inspection guidance, share the episode with a homeowner friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Bats in Buildings | Ohio Department of Natural Resources Chimney Swifts: An Introduction - Columbus Audubon Support the show To learn more about Habitation Investigation, the Three-time Winner of the Best Home Inspection Company in the Midwest Plus the Winner of Consumer Choice Award for Columbus Ohio visit Home Inspection Columbus Ohio - Habitation Investigation (homeinspectionsinohio.com)  NBC4 news segments: The importance of home inspections, and what to look for | NBC4 WCMH-TV Advice from experts: Don’t skip the home inspection | NBC4 WCMH-TV OSU student’s mysterious symptoms end up tied to apartment’s air quality | NBC4 WCMH-TV How to save money by winterizing your home | NBC4 WCMH-TV Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Scheduled classes Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Course listings...

  4. Aug 27

    Security Cameras Can Cost You The House

    Send us Fan Mail Security cameras feel like a smart upgrade until they start scaring off the very people you want to impress. We dig into a recent LendingTree study on home showings and surveillance, and the stats are more alarming than most sellers expect: many buyers worry they’re being watched or listened to, some stop talking strategy altogether, and a noticeable chunk simply walks out or never submits an offer. We also unpack the messy reality behind recording laws, using Ohio’s one-party consent rules to explain why “it’s legal” can still turn into a negotiation and trust disaster. The bigger issue isn’t just legality, it’s leverage. If buyers think you can hear their budget, their repair concerns, or their offer plan, they don’t relax, they don’t imagine living there, and they don’t engage the way motivated buyers need to. That shift can cost you money, time, and clean negotiations. You’ll hear practical, low-effort fixes that protect your home while protecting the deal: turning off audio, covering lenses on hardwired cameras, leaving a simple note to signal respect, and even where buyers should stand to talk so a doorbell camera can’t capture strategy. If you sell, buy, or work in real estate, this is the kind of modern showing etiquette that can decide whether an offer happens at all. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s listing soon, and leave a review with your take: should cameras be off during showings and inspections? Support the show To learn more about Habitation Investigation, the Three-time Winner of the Best Home Inspection Company in the Midwest Plus the Winner of Consumer Choice Award for Columbus Ohio visit Home Inspection Columbus Ohio - Habitation Investigation (homeinspectionsinohio.com)  NBC4 news segments: The importance of home inspections, and what to look for | NBC4 WCMH-TV Advice from experts: Don’t skip the home inspection | NBC4 WCMH-TV OSU student’s mysterious symptoms end up tied to apartment’s air quality | NBC4 WCMH-TV How to save money by winterizing your home | NBC4 WCMH-TV Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Scheduled classes Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Course listings...

  5. Aug 18

    Gas Leaks In Homes

    Send us Fan Mail You can live in a house for years and never suspect a thing, then an inspector walks in, runs a combustible gas detector along a fitting, and finds a leak you cannot see and might not smell. Jim and Laura break down what that moment really means for homeowners and buyers, and why propane and natural gas leaks show up so often during real home inspections in Ohio. We get specific about how gas leak detection works, why soap-bubble testing can miss small leaks, and why a previous utility check does not always tell the whole story. We also lay out a clear, practical “severity ladder” you can remember. If the only way to find the leak is putting the detector right on the joint, it is usually a fix-it item, not a panic moment. If you smell gas after opening a furnace room or heading into the basement, that is when we pick up the phone and recommend a plumber right away while airing things out safely. And if you smell gas at the front door, we talk about why you should not be flipping switches, why sparks matter, and what the next step should be. Then we switch to a different kind of gas entirely: radon. We explain why radon testing still matters even when a mitigation system is installed, plus the real failures we see in the field, from bad installs to fans that are “running” but not actually moving air, to pipes set too low and sucking water. If you care about home safety, home maintenance, and making confident decisions during a real estate transaction, this conversation is built for you. Subscribe for more inspection insights, share this with a homeowner who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest question about gas leaks or radon. Support the show To learn more about Habitation Investigation, the Three-time Winner of the Best Home Inspection Company in the Midwest Plus the Winner of Consumer Choice Award for Columbus Ohio visit Home Inspection Columbus Ohio - Habitation Investigation (homeinspectionsinohio.com)  NBC4 news segments: The importance of home inspections, and what to look for | NBC4 WCMH-TV Advice from experts: Don’t skip the home inspection | NBC4 WCMH-TV OSU student’s mysterious symptoms end up tied to apartment’s air quality | NBC4 WCMH-TV How to save money by winterizing your home | NBC4 WCMH-TV Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Scheduled classes Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Course listings...

  6. Aug 12

    How To Choose A Builder You Can Trust

    Send us Fan Mail A brand-new home can still be built wrong and the scariest part is how easy it is to miss problems until drywall goes up. We’re Jim and Laura, and we’re sharing what we’re seeing on real new-build inspections, plus the practical steps that help buyers avoid expensive surprises and months of stress. We talk through how to choose a home builder with real accountability: the difference between a builder with an in-house crew versus one who subcontracts everything, why supervision matters, and how repeat issues show up when nobody “owns” the quality. We also dig into builder contracts that restrict site access, force arbitration, or even try to block you from hiring an independent home inspector. If a contract is designed to limit your ability to verify the work, we explain why that’s a giant red flag. You’ll also hear specific examples of construction defects we’ve found, from framing that isn’t providing support to unsafe electrical splices hidden under insulation. Along the way we clarify why building code is only a minimum standard and why manufacturer installation instructions often matter more for long-term performance. If you’re building a house, buying a new construction home, or choosing between builders, this is a straightforward checklist for protecting your investment. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s house hunting, and leave a review with your biggest builder red flag. Support the show To learn more about Habitation Investigation, the Three-time Winner of the Best Home Inspection Company in the Midwest Plus the Winner of Consumer Choice Award for Columbus Ohio visit Home Inspection Columbus Ohio - Habitation Investigation (homeinspectionsinohio.com)  NBC4 news segments: The importance of home inspections, and what to look for | NBC4 WCMH-TV Advice from experts: Don’t skip the home inspection | NBC4 WCMH-TV OSU student’s mysterious symptoms end up tied to apartment’s air quality | NBC4 WCMH-TV How to save money by winterizing your home | NBC4 WCMH-TV Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Scheduled classes Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Course listings...

  7. Aug 6

    Stop Blaming The “Sensitive” Spouse And Test The Air

    Send us Fan Mail That “new house smell” can be a warning sign, not a perk. We meet a problem that keeps showing up in new Ohio construction and even recent remodels: homeowners feeling dizzy, foggy, or irritated the moment they spend time indoors, sometimes with both partners getting sick at the same time. When a builder shrugs and says it will fade in a few weeks, we explain why that is not always true in today’s airtight homes.  We break down VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in plain English and explain why formaldehyde deserves its own test. From cabinets and composite wood to flooring, insulation, paints, adhesives, nail products, cleaners, and “fresh scent” plug-ins, modern materials can off-gas a chemical mix that irritates eyes, nose, and throat and can contribute to headaches and other symptoms. We also talk through several common compounds seen in testing, what they are often linked to, and why fragrance-heavy products can make an otherwise clean home feel unlivable.  Then we get practical: how professional air sampling actually works, why lab analysis matters, and why a handheld meter that only gives a single VOC number can leave you stuck. When you know the specific chemicals, you can hunt down the source, choose the right next step, and avoid expensive guessing games. If you are buying a new build, planning a renovation, or already feeling “off” at home, this conversation will help you decide what to test, when to test, and how to make your indoor air healthier.  Subscribe for more real-world home inspection and indoor air quality guidance, share this with a friend moving into a new place, and leave a review so more homeowners can find it. Support the show To learn more about Habitation Investigation, the Three-time Winner of the Best Home Inspection Company in the Midwest Plus the Winner of Consumer Choice Award for Columbus Ohio visit Home Inspection Columbus Ohio - Habitation Investigation (homeinspectionsinohio.com)  NBC4 news segments: The importance of home inspections, and what to look for | NBC4 WCMH-TV Advice from experts: Don’t skip the home inspection | NBC4 WCMH-TV OSU student’s mysterious symptoms end up tied to apartment’s air quality | NBC4 WCMH-TV How to save money by winterizing your home | NBC4 WCMH-TV Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Scheduled classes Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Course listings...

  8. Jul 28

    HOA Red Flags For Homebuyers

    Send us Fan Mail That HOA fee isn’t just a line item, it’s a financial system and a rulebook you’re agreeing to live under. We dig into the HOA red flags homebuyers should take seriously before closing, especially if you’re buying a condo or a home with shared amenities. We’ve both got strong opinions about property freedom, but we keep it practical and focused on what protects you: documents, numbers, and how the community is actually maintained. We start with a real client moment: the inspection gets cancelled because the HOA paperwork raises enough concerns that the buyers walk away. From there, we get specific about HOA financial health, what capital reserves are supposed to cover, and why high monthly dues do not automatically mean the association is prepared. We talk about reserve studies, upcoming major projects, and how underfunding can lead to brutal special assessments that owners may not be able to afford or sell their way out of. Then we zoom out to the everyday quality signals that tell the truth fast: the condition of common areas, signs of neglect, and whether anyone can even explain who is running the HOA. We also get into CC&Rs and the lifestyle rules that can blow up your plans, like bans on company vehicles, pet limits, restrictions on home based businesses, and rules around boats or RVs. If you want a clear checklist for HOA due diligence and a few hard lines to consider before you sign, this one will save you stress and money. If this helped, subscribe for more buyer focused guidance, share it with a friend shopping in an HOA community, and leave a review telling us your biggest HOA dealbreaker. Support the show To learn more about Habitation Investigation, the Three-time Winner of the Best Home Inspection Company in the Midwest Plus the Winner of Consumer Choice Award for Columbus Ohio visit Home Inspection Columbus Ohio - Habitation Investigation (homeinspectionsinohio.com)  NBC4 news segments: The importance of home inspections, and what to look for | NBC4 WCMH-TV Advice from experts: Don’t skip the home inspection | NBC4 WCMH-TV OSU student’s mysterious symptoms end up tied to apartment’s air quality | NBC4 WCMH-TV How to save money by winterizing your home | NBC4 WCMH-TV Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Scheduled classes Continuing Education for Ohio Agents Course listings...

See All (259)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Brought to you from Ohio based home inspection company of Habitation Investigation. Information helpful to agents and buyers.  Conversations with professionals and entrepreneurs regarding their stories and what makes their companies and themselves stand out and gain competitive advantages. Listen to stories from Ohio real estate agents and related businesses to help you know how to improve and who to consider using for yourself or friends. Created by the owners of a highly rated home inspection company in Ohio and the Winners of Best Home Inspection Company in the Midwest https://homeinspectionsinohio.com/ 

Information

  • Creator
    Jim Troth
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    259
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Standing Out in Ohio Podcast
  • Show Website
    Standing Out in Ohio Podcast

You Might Also Like