What Really Matters?
What things you need to know?
Whether you are buying or selling a home, the process can be stressful. A home inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind, but often has the opposite effect. You will be asked to absorb a lot of information in a short time. This often includes a written report, checklist, photographs, environmental reports and what the inspector himself says during the inspection. All this combined with the seller's disclosure and what you notice yourself makes the experience even more overwhelming. What should you do?
Relax. Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections. These are nice to know about. However, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories:
Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection. Realize that sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the report. No home is perfect. Keep things in perspective. Do not kill your deal over things that do not matter. It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller's disclosure or nit-picky items.
Relax. Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections. These are nice to know about. However, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories:
- Major defects. An example of this would be a structural failure.
- Things that lead to major defects. A small roof-flashing leak, for example.
- Things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy or insure the home.
- Safety hazards, such as an exposed, live buss bar at the electric panel.
Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection. Realize that sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the report. No home is perfect. Keep things in perspective. Do not kill your deal over things that do not matter. It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller's disclosure or nit-picky items.
When choosing a Home Inspection provider, what questions should I ask?
After you’ve made an offer to buy a home, and it has been accepted, most potential home buyers choose to include an inspection as a contingency in the purchase agreement. It’s the wise thing to do. The last thing you want is to buy a home without realizing that there’s a significant foundation or roof problem. If this is your first time buying a home, you’re probably not familiar with what to look for in an inspector, or even know how to pick the right one.
The Nitty Gritty!
Here are some questions to ask your home inspector before you hire him:
Are you certified and licensed?
Are you insured and bonded? Are you experienced in residential inspections? How long have you been a home inspector? How many inspections have you completed? Are you a full–time home inspector? How much is the inspection? How long will the inspection take? What does the inspection cover? How long will it take to receive your full report of the inspection, does it include pictures and do you have a sample? Will I be able to be there during the inspection? Are you a member of any professional home inspector associations? How do you keep your expertise up to date? What training do you have? |
Even though some states don’t require a certification or a license, Florida does, a home inspector who is certified and licensed can give you additional peace of mind.
By having insurance, the home inspector is covered in the case that there’s a mistake in his inspection report, and the new homeowner decides to take legal action. Make sure the inspector has experience in residential inspections, as opposed to commercial inspections. Obviously, the more experience your home inspector has, the better you’ll feel. However, newer inspectors often have more experienced ones helping them out, so you actually get two sets of eyes instead of one, which can also help you. In other words, if the inspector is not as experienced, ask if he’ll have someone more experienced helping him. If he is, then you know that the demand for his services is high enough for him to make a living out of it. Don’t necessarily go for the cheapest option. Buying a home is probably the largest investment you’ll ever make, and you don’t want to jeopardize it by choosing an inexperienced inspector with the lowest price. If it takes less than two hours, then the home inspector may not be spending enough time to do a thorough inspection. Your home inspection should cover all applicable requirements in your state and comply with the standards of practice and code of ethics. Your inspector should be able to provide a list of areas that are included. If there are areas that you want to make sure your inspector covers, make sure you ask upfront so there are no surprises. By asking to see a sample, you can determine if you’ll be able to understand the reporting style. Also, you should be able to receive a report within 24 hours of the inspection. If they say no, that’s a red flag, and you should probably keep looking. Some of the largest associations include the National Institute of Building Inspectors (NIBI), the American Home Inspectors Institute (AHIT), the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI). This will give you an idea of how serious and professional the home inspector is. A good inspector will stay up-to-date on his training. |
The Plain Truth?
Remember, you’re really interviewing this person for a job. It makes sense that you do your due diligence before trusting him with such a large purchase.When you choose an inspector, you're selecting the professional who will give one of your biggest investments a full physical checkup. You want to choose someone who is competent, thorough and trustworthy. Unfortunately, too many buyers just go with the cheapest inspection company or the one recommended by their Realtor. Sometimes, some good old fashioned research and and a little bit of common sense go a long way. At CFL Home Services, you can rest assured you are getting thorough and comprehensive, top to bottom inspection of the home by a State Certified, licensed, inspector who is trustworthy.