DO I NEED A HOME INSPECTION ?

​

ALL homes have issues, even newly built homes. Just because the house doesn’t show visible signs that’s something is wrong, doesn’t mean that everything is OK. Most issues lurk in the crawl space, inside walls, bathroom floors and the attic. Not all issues are water related or involve damage to a certain system. Some issues involve safety violations, code violations, improper wiring and plumbing issues, vegetation and drainage, etc. Some issues can go unnoticed for days, weeks, maybe even years. Some issues are hastily repaired and covered with paint so it cannot be seen by the new buyer. You are interested in buying a home, possibly your forever home, one of the bigger, if not the biggest investments you’ll ever make in your life. There’s a possibility you’re stuck in the wants-vs-needs struggle and many things can go unnoticed when house shopping. You are focused on things like house color, location, the room sizes and what color we should paint the walls. Is this living room big enough for our furniture, how close are the schools and shopping centers, this den is perfect for my office space, where your toolbox will go in the garage, etc.

 

A lot of home buyers fall in love with a certain house and think that they can easily fix the things that the seller has disclosed or manipulate the cost to repair in driving the price down, but what about the things the seller hasn’t disclosed? Some home owners don’t disclose “everything” and play the ignorance card…..

• I didn’t know that was there

• I didn’t know that was leaking

• The repair man told me he fixed it

• It wasn’t that way when we filled out the disclosure statement.

• It’s been like that for years and it’s never been an issue

 

You’re not looking to make sure the plumbing is bonded or if the water heater isn’t plumbed properly. Do you check to make sure all the toilets work and the sink P-traps are intact? Do you inspect the crawl space to make sure there isn’t present or past termite or water damage? Is the chimney braced and firestops installed at each floor? Does the chimney damper work? Has there been damage to the roof before? I’m assuming there may be 1/1000 people out there that are this meticulous when house shopping. You don’t need to be focused on these things, you need to be focused on making good financial decisions for your family. Let Me, an outside set of eyes, an unbiased opinion giver, be the one to let you know what’s wrong with the house so you can make the best investment decision.

 

A thorough house inspection should go no less than 3 hours, the bigger houses take more time and can go 4 hours or more. A good inspection will tell the prospective buyer, what the major and minor defects are, what appliances and systems are possibly near the end of their lifespan and what things are good for now but will need to be serviced, repaired or replaced soon. Be prepared to spend 3 or more hours with me and feel free to ask questions. A lot of people have their family and friends or kids along and that’s just fine, but the inspection will go more smoothly if it’s just the buyer and myself. Even the realtors will try to give you “easy fixes” for the things I point out. Realtors aren’t structural engineers or contractors in every trade. Get professional advice from the report. The Inspector will let you know what needs to be evaluated further and by whom. Keep in mind that my job isn’t to try to sell the house to you and it isn’t to get you to pass on the house either. My job is to give you an honest, unbiased and subjective opinion of the condition of the house in question, on that day.