ARTICLE # 1:
Why You Should Do a Home
Inspection
By: Dr. Maher Abu-Mallouh, P. E., H. I., A & H
Engineering, P. C.
A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the
physical structure and systems of a home, from roof to foundation. A home
inspection is the equivalent of a physical examination from your doctor. When
problems or symptoms of problems are found, the inspector may recommend further
evaluation or remedies. A home inspection summarizes the condition of a
property, points out the need for major repairs and identifies areas that may
need attention in the near future. Buyers and sellers depend on an accurate
home inspection to maximize their knowledge of the property in order to make intelligent
decisions before executing an agreement for sale or purchase. A home inspection
points out the positive aspects of a home, as well as the maintenance that will
be necessary to keep it in good shape. After an inspection, both parties have a
much clearer understanding of the value and needs of the property.
There
are many good reasons to do a pre-purchase home inspection. Here are just a
few:
Reason
#1: It makes good business sense
Consider
the fact that the average price of a home is in excess of $400,000.
Consider
that a new roof can cost anywhere from $6000 - $25,000.
Consider
the fact that a new furnace can cost from $3000 - $7,000.
Reason
#2: You will have greater peace of mind
Buildings
old and new need repairs and even on newer
Reason #2: You will have
greater peace of mind
Buildings old and new need
repairs and even on newer buildings it is not uncommon to have repairs
estimates into the thousands of dollars.
Reason #3: You will be
better informed
Being armed with the right
information will help you make a good decision and feel great about it. Not
doubt about it, buying real estate is not a stress-free event but a home
inspection will relieve some of the strain.
Reason #4: Some
inspections provide free short term warranties
Ask your Realtor about short
term home inspection warranties. These warranties are sometimes provided by
Home Inspectors and are a valuable protection of your investment.
Reason #5: Some
inspections provide after inspection services to help you maintain your home
The
purpose of a home inspection is to inform the individual buyer of the current
condition of the home. The purchase contract the buyer and seller signed is
contingent on the home inspection. A buyer will generally have the option based
upon the inspection to; opt out of the purchase, ask for repairs or credit
towards repairs or a purchase price reduction.
It
would seem that the importance of a good, thorough home inspection by a
qualified home inspector is obvious. Never the less many home buyers do not
adequately research the profession before hiring an inspector. Most people
simply ask the price of the home inspection and availability of the home
inspector when calling to hire an inspector. This is an extremely poor
method in which to choose a home inspector. When buying a new car or
furniture set would you merely go to the retailer and buy the lowest priced
soonest available item? What would you most likely purchase and take home? In
all likelihood a poor quality item that you will probably regret hastily purchasing.
Hiring
a skilled professional home inspector is absolutely no different. Just like the
example, a low priced, quickly available inspector may mean the same thing;
poor quality. So what should a home buyer be looking for in a home inspector?
Association
Membership: Home inspectors who have
made the commitment of time, training, testing and money to belong to a
reputable professional home inspection society are generally more committed to
doing a high quality job for their clients. But be careful, not all home
inspection organizations are equal. Some ask for little or no training,
knowledge or experience to become a member, while others are very rigorous in
their qualifications for membership. A membership logo means little; it’s
what’s behind the symbol that counts. Inquire about and research this area
fully, it will provide you with great insight into the home inspectors'
abilities and dedication to performing a top notch home inspection.
The
Inspection: How long does the home
inspection take? As previously mentioned short inspection times mean poor
quality. A thorough home inspection on an averaged sized home, (1500-2500 sq.
ft.) should last 2-4 hours. Also ask if the inspector would like you to attend
the home inspection. If they say no, this should alert you that something is
wrong with this particular company. A good home inspector should insist that
you attend the home inspection if at all possible.
The
Report: This is why you hire a home
inspector, to provide written detailed information about the house. The first
and most important question, when and how will you receive the report? On site,
within 24 hours, a week, by email, regular mail or delivered by the inspector.
What type of report does the inspector use, what is the approximate length of
the report, are there pictures included? Be wary of short reports, 10 pages or
less, and long report turn around times.
Other
Qualifications: Ask if the home
inspector has additional certifications or licenses in services that you may
need in addition to the home inspection. For instance radon testing is a very
common ancillary service provided by many home inspection companies, but many
inspectors are not certified or formally trained. Some states may even require
certification or licensing in these services.
Miscellaneous
Items: Some things you should confirm
when calling to hire a home inspector. Be positive that the inspector that will
be doing your home inspection possesses the qualifications stated by the person
on the phone. This is especially important when talking with multi-inspector
firms. Also will the home inspector be readily available for follow up
questions.
Price: The very last question you should ask, not the first.
Put quite simply, you get what you pay for. Good home inspectors demand higher
prices because of experience and money invested into training to improve their
skills and their business for the benefit of their clients. Remember the money
you pay a good inspector is an investment. You will very likely receive
back from the seller monies well in excess of the home inspection fee. Be
certain to choose your inspector wisely.