Home Inspection Center
Home inspections are a critical part of the buying or selling process. The standard
purchase contract requires that buyers sign a "Buyer's Inspection Advisory" which advises
them to have a professional home inspection to uncover any problems. For sellers, getting
your home inspected before an offer allows you to remedy and/or disclose any problems,
thereby avoiding any surprise for buyers when they write an offer.
Here are some of the resources available:
1. Home Inspection Video - See a home inspection!
2. Read an actual home inspection report.
3. Read/search Barry Stone's column, Inspector's In the House (below).
4. Send a question using the form to the right. ===>
5. If you are a Seller, get your own inspection before you put your home on the market.
California does not require any license to be a home inspector,
so it is important for both home buyers and sellers to make sure that they
hire an inspector who is a certified residential inspector and who
carries errors and omissions insurance. To help you think through the
selection of your home inspector, click here for our 10 Tips.
As a buyer, you can be present on the home inspection (and we really recommend it).
Being there gives you a chance to ask questions, to see and discuss what Mark has found,
and to ask other questions about your new home. Some of the areas inspected include:
structure, heating and cooling, roof, electrical system, plumbing
and fixtures, attic, basement and/or crawl space, foundation, gutters, insulation,
interior and exterior walls, porches and decks, and the water heater and appliances.
A good inspector helps both buyers and sellers become aware of any defects that weren't
already known. (If they had been known, they would have been disclosed.) Please note: Sellers have no
obligation to repair any defects. Repair requests are just that--requests. However, if
an unknown defect is a safety issue, violates the then-current building code, or affects functionality,
many sellers will accommodate the request in one way or another. A good inspection helps to
put all those issues on the table so that everyone is satisfied with the transaction.
For information about various topics, just click on any of the links to the
left or run your own search! One of our 600+ articles is posted below.
|
A question from one of Barry Stone's columns....
BUYER RAILS AGAINST INSPECTORS & AGENTS
Inspector's in the House by Barry Stone, Certified Building Inspector
Dear Barry,
I've seen reports and read articles about home inspectors pander to the Realtors who recommend them, simply to help close deals. Having just received a rip-off home inspection, I'm now convinced that this is the case. The inspector chosen by my agent did a third rate job and overlooked many details. For example, he didn't even test the Jacuzzi pump, citing as his lame excuse that 'the tub might not drain.' The garbage compactor also was not tested. Why? Because 'the piston might get stuck.' These and other omissions came to light during our meeting at the Realtor's office, after the inspection was completed. Well if things get stuck or don't drain, isn't that the point of the inspection? Isn't that why I hired him? When I complained, he added outrage to insult, offering to inspect those 'special items' for an additional fee. Well, no thank you. I'll go check them myself. And in future deals, I'll avoid all of you home inspectors and the agents you truly serve. Don't bother to respond. This isn't a question. Roger
Dear Roger,
Although you decline the need for an answer, it is difficult to dismiss the provocative issues and indictments you raise. To begin, I appreciate your disappointment and share your disgust at the exclusions and excuses offered by your home inspector. However, as I lack the opportunity to speak with your inspector or your agent, I must address the situation as hypothetical, rather than affixing direct judgment.
Under normal circumstances, a trash compactor and whirlpool bathtub should be included in a standard visual home inspection, not as a separate specialty inspection, and not for an additional fee. Failure to incorporate such items in a home inspection, particular for the dubious reasons you cite, is a clear indication that an inspector is not performing in accordance with accepted industry standards.
Fortunately, there are better inspectors than the one you hired. Those who conduct their work according to your description neglect an ethical duty to serve the interests of their customers. At the same time, they lower the general reputation of their profession, to the detriment of competent inspectors and of the home buying public.
The better members of the home inspection field (and be assured, there are many) routinely evaluate built-in fixtures, without excuses or additional fees. Those who short-change this process do not represent the better side of the home inspection craft.
As to your Realtor, it is a common practice among agents and brokers to suggest particular home inspectors. Many offer these recommendations with honorable intentions, to promote total disclosure, but unfortunately, there are some who do not. There are many who name the best and most thorough inspectors, but there are some who fear that too much disclosure will jeopardize the deal. There are also agents who make no specific recommendations at all, preferring that the buyer make the choice of which inspector to hire. Regardless of the approach, no buyer should feel obligated to employ a particular inspector, just because the Realtor says so. An agent can advise, but the final choice belongs to the buyer. The choice of a home inspector is too critical to be left to chance. Careful consideration should be made before selecting anyone. It is essential to inspect the inspector before inspecting your new home. This decision is just too vital to be delegated.
In the aftermath of your recent purchase, it's time to resolve lingering uncertainties in the wake of your home inspection. Rather than condemn your inspector and Realtor outright, they should be contacted and advised of your concerns. If the quality of the home inspection is in doubt, a second inspection would be advisable. By calling several real estate offices and escrow companies, you may learn which inspector in your area has the best reputation for detail and thoroughness. If a second inspection reveals no additional problems of consequence, you'll have bought yourself some peace of mind. If significant revelations result from a second inspection, the first inspector should be asked to consider these new findings and to share in the responsibility of addressing them.
As part of this follow-up process, it will be the role of your agent to facilitate communications and actively represent your concerns. At that point, the true nature of your representation will be affirmed.
Distributed by Access Media Group. To write to Barry Stone, please visit him on the web at www.housedetective.com.
|
Equal Housing Opportunity.