Sump Pumps and Ceiling Fans

A house on the fringes of Northern California's wine country sounds like a sweet inheritance, but it could be easily soured if the house isn't up to snuff. This home is nestled on the northern edge of Marin County in Novato, a growing city that has kept a small town feel. It sits in a beautiful suburban setting surrounded by hills--but the hills and what runs through them could cause the homeowner problems. The property is a 1968 contemporary stucco owned by Vicki Baseheart. The house detective is 26-year veteran Larry Hoytt.

Then, a condo in Germantown, Maryland, has an eager seller wondering what she'll have to do to get top dollar at closing. Homeowner Kim Snyder has been having trouble with her building and is about to learn how trouble in adjoining units can have a big impact on what happens to her unit. The property is a 1990 two-bedroom condominium located in the Water's Edge development, and the house detective is Reggie Marston.