HOME INSPECTIONS

You need to know a great deal about your home/business when you sell it or if you are a buyer, before you purchase it! So, how do you as a seller handle disclosure without spending the next six months learning about construction? Many sellers use an inspector and have their property inspected before they sell. This way the seller is prepared and knows what is wrong and can repair it so the sale can go quickly and easily. Most buyers are going to perform an inspection on the property anyhow. This way all the necessary repairs can be done ahead of time and make a smooth sale. The inspector solves a whole series of problems. If the inspector you use is bonded and carries errors and omissions insurance, you may have assistance in any pending claims from buyers.

That, of course, does not get you off the hook, but it does help show that you had good intentions of not hiding anything. Of course, you will have a seller’s disclosure to complete for the sale of your property.

Finding a reputable inspector:

Almost anyone can inspect a home but that does NOT mean that they are qualified. In recent years, contractors without enough work have taken to house inspections to supplement their income. A house inspection can cost between $250 to $400. A contractor can walk through your home, check little boxes on a form, and charge you several hundred dollars for a few hours of work. But are contractors all qualified? Some are and some are not. A contractor who builds new homes may know very little about older homes. A plumbing contractor doesn’t necessarily know about electrical issues. A cement contractor doesn’t necessarily know about roofs and their longevity.

The real problem is that housing inspections are relatively new. In a few years, states may be licensing and testing home inspectors. But as of now, few states are doing this, so sellers and buyers are on their own for guidance as to which inspector is best suited for hire. One way of qualifying a potential inspector is to insist that he be a member of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. It is a trade organization which has been endeavoring to raise the standards of home inspectors in general. ASHI sets standards for inspectors and makes an effort to see that its memberships follow those standards. For more information about ASHI, you can contact the organization at Suite 630, 1010 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20007. Their telephone number is

(202) 842-3096.

Beware of contractors who offer to do a home inspection for a nominal fee, then find something wrong and offer to fix it, usually for a high fee. Some unscrupulous contractors have been using home inspections as a way of procuring business. A good rule of thumb is to never have the person do the work who does the inspection. Also, don’t ask the inspector to refer you to someone. That someone could be the inspector’s brother-in-law or sister who is on the team.

TERMITE INSPECTIONS

This is just a quick note to point out that termite inspections are not really a new part of the home inspection process. Lenders have been requiring termite/pest inspections as a condition for approving loans for decades. A termite inspection and the repair of damages has been a requirement of home sales for just about as long. In almost all states, termite inspectors are licensed, and their written reports are required to be registered.

PROTECT YOUR INTERESTS, SPENDING THE EXTRA TIME AND MONEY UP FRONT AS A PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE WILL USUALLY PREVENT PROBLEMS AND ISSUES DOWN THE ROAD!