Planning A Home Inspection Soon?

Do you need a home inspection before making a decision to buy your next property?  Well, there are so many home inspection companies out there to choose from, so choose wisely.  How?  Online, the yellow pages, a trusted referral.

Online example: http://www.homeinspections-usa.com/

Just make sure to do your homework beforehand, because a home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. So, find a reliable company with a proven track record and don’t be afraid to ask for their testimonials and/or referrals, too. 

When beginning your search, look for a Licensed Professional Engineer -P.E./Company who specializes in residential home inspections.  Also, very important, ask if they include with it, a termite inspection, too.  Get a few price quotes from at least three firms.  Typically, an inspection can take up to two hours or more, depending on the size of the home. 

The state regulated and licensed P.E. puts their seal on the finished report - it is the key to YOUR protection, in case something should come up afterwards. (The practice of engineering is regulated in all States; however, the home inspection business is unregulated in about half of the States where anybody can be a home inspector).

Only Licensed Professional Engineers are accepted as members to both; NABIE* and NSPE**. The home inspection company you hire should have these professional affiliations:

     *NABIE stands for National Academy of Building Inspection Engineers – they meet tough entrance requirements, and are highly qualified in the home inspection profession and abide by a strict code of ethics.

    **NSPE stands for National Society of Professional Engineers.

Inquire how long it would take to get the detailed written report after the inspection is done. Of course, you want the hard copy with the seal, but ask to get an extra copy by email, too. The email version can serve as a backup, just in case you’d like to forward an email copy to your attorney.

Once decided on an inspector, bring your checklist of concerns on your appointment day, because once you start getting into conversations, you may forget to ask your questions. You should follow the inspector around the home to learn how the home systems work, and always, always ask questions along the way. You are PAYING for this service, so you have every right, even if you feel your questions may seem too silly to ask. Trust me, they’ve heard it all and, besides, this is their specialty, not yours.

Some of the tools an Inspector rely on:

Electrical testers, a fuel gas and carbon monoxide detector, moisture meter, ladder, inspection mirror, flashlight, level, digital camera, computer laptop, clipboard-checklist, etc. (I’ve encountered a P.E. utilizing a printer from his vehicle to print out a report right on the spot)!  The digital camera is such an excellent tool.  It makes it simpler for the P.E. to explain what they are seeing by including the pictures in the report. It is reliable especially to pin-point concerns in places YOU may not want to go, like in an attic, behind a boiler, or a roof, for instance.

Many times I find the inspector shows up before the actual appointed time to inspect the outside of the home first. They begin inspecting the roof, the foundation/structure of the home, grading of the land, etc.  Not to be overlooked, the exterior facades are checked, as well as, the windows, doors, fireplaces. Outside decking needs inspecting along with any patios, porches, sidewalks, and driveways, too.

Whether the home has a well and/or septic system, these systems should be evaluated, too. Around our area, most of us are connected to sewers now (until you get to some of the older 2 acre homes that still have cesspools). Also, the inspector should look for materials that may contain asbestos containing materials.

There is just so much more to an inspection than just checking and evaluating the plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and electrical systems. Testing underground storage tanks (“buried” oil tanks), test paint for lead, test the drinking water for lead, (if applicable, testing well-supplied drinking water for bacteria), test smoke detectors, test for radon gas in air, test for urea formaldehyde foam insulation, etc.

Obviously, a home buyer should know the condition of the home being purchased. Knowing what repairs are needed, if there are any major defects, and safety issues that need immediate attention. However, an inspector should not offer to fix something for money, OR quote an actual price for anything that needs repairs.  They are there to tell you about the good, and the not so good with professional guidance….and there are a great deal of terrific ones out there!

Should you feel the need to seek out independent contractors for price quote repairs, I’m sure you can get a few free estimates. All in all, I find that homeowners needing to sell will make things right, or give a credit off the price and you then have it done your satisfaction.  Whatever you decide, you’ll be more comfortable in making an informed decision on whether to move forward to buy the home of your dreams!  Good Luck!!!

Extra Tips:

Even on a brand NEW construction home, it still may be a good idea to have an inspection done just to satisfy your own “what-if’s.” 

Also, I encourage homeowner’s thinking about selling their home that they could benefit from having an inspection done before they put their home on the market to take care of any issues beforehand.  It’ll show better as a home well taken care of and wastes less time having to negotiate these issues later on when trying to get into contract (which could take weeks/months, if repairs are needed).