House Inspections

 Wise buyers have houses inspected as a condition of completing the purchases.

 

            The general structural inspection is the most common. Occasionally it is desired to have certain features re-inspected, such as roof, furnace and air conditioning, by people who work specifically in those areas.

 

            Termite and other wood-boring insect inspections are common in the parts of the country where termites and wood-boring insects flourish.

 

          Environmental hazards inspections are recommended where appropriate. These may be inspections for radon, lead paint, asbestos, mold, and other conditions that are currently recognized as problems in human habitation.

 

Buyers want to know what is broken and then ask sellers to repair/replace whatever does not work.

 

Big ticket ($) items in houses can be repairs/replacements to:

 

Structure

Roof

Windows and siding

Wall-to-wall carpeting

Fixtures, such as

Heating and air conditioning systems

Kitchen appliances and water heater

 

Some fixtures can be old but still work. Sellers hope buyers will accept these. Buyers may or may not agree and negotiations begin on what to repair and what not to repair. It is wise in negotiating to focus on the more costly issues and ignore the little problems. A crack in the pane in the attic window is far less important than the need for a new element in the water heater.

 

We recommend that buyers accompany their inspectors through the entire inspection. They learn a lot about the house they will soon live in for many years.

 

There are many qualified home inspectors, and some not so qualified. The home inspector you select should:

1. Be a full time professional.
   -Not a handyman, your uncle, or someone doing it on the side
   -Someone who has performed 500 to 1000 inspections or more.
   
2. Have a current license if your state requires one. Ask to see it.
   -Most require some level of insurance.
 
3. Be a member of a reputable Professional association such as:
   -The National Association of Home Inspectors
   -The American Society of Home Inspectors
4. Have real construction/home repair/home inspection experience.
   -not just internet home inspectors school.
5. Take the time to do a good job.
   -quality home inspections take time 2-3 1/2 hours or more.
   -less than that is not a home inspection.
6. Provide a written report listing problems and defects.
   -checklists are mostly worthless to home buyers.
   
   
   Qualifications list above courtesy of Scott Madison - www.MadisonHomeInspection.com
See his full article - How to Find and Select a Home Inspector

 

 

Check out our preferred inspector list.