| A pre-purchase house inspection is one of the first | | | | exists in a house. It's is simply not possible to |
| stages of the due diligence investigation process of | | | | perform to that level of service. Problems are missed |
| purchasing a house. A real estate inspection is limited | | | | during code compliance inspections during the |
| by what the inspector can see and what areas the | | | | construction of the house, when the inspections are |
| inspector can access. There is no substitute for an | | | | performed when no wall, ceiling or floor coverings are |
| experienced, well educated inspector. And experience | | | | in place and no insulation conceals defects. A real |
| does not mean just the number of years that an | | | | estate inspector performs his inspection on houses |
| inspector has been in the business of inspecting | | | | that have wall, floor and ceiling coverings and that |
| houses. Experience should be judged by the | | | | are commonly occupied and furnished. Further, the |
| inspector's involvement in consumer advocacy, by | | | | owner of the house has had the opportunity to |
| the inspector's commitment to continuing education, | | | | conceal, intentionally or not, indications of problems |
| by the levels of membership the inspector has in | | | | with the house. |
| industry associations and by the inspector's | | | | Once you have received the report from the |
| certification as a building code inspector. Any good | | | | inspector, you should understand that the items listed |
| inspector should be happy to discuss his background | | | | in each section of the report most likely do not |
| and experience levels and the inspector should be | | | | represent all of the defects with the part, |
| willing to provide you with samples of his inspection | | | | component or system. The report is not going to list |
| report. | | | | all defects or problems with each part, component |
| As a consumer of inspection services, you should | | | | and system. The inspector cannot disassemble |
| expect the inspector you employ to be competent | | | | equipment or perform destructive testing. Once an |
| and thorough. No matter the level of experience, no | | | | appliance or wall is opened, more problems or |
| inspector can inspect a 2500 square foot house in | | | | defects should become evident. Once the technician |
| less than 2 hours and claim to have performed a | | | | or professional starts to make repairs based on the |
| competent inspection. Inspections take time. The | | | | items noted in the inspection report, more defects or |
| more curious and detailed the inspector is, the more | | | | problems should be discovered. If the repair |
| indications of defects the inspector is going to find. | | | | technician or professional does not find any further |
| The inspector should produce a report that provides | | | | problems, you should be pretty confident that the |
| you with the information that you need to know so | | | | repair technician or professional is not doing a |
| that you can determine if you need to continue the | | | | thorough job for you. |
| due diligence investigation on a particular part, | | | | Always feel free to ask your inspector for more |
| component or system or if you are satisfied with the | | | | information about any issue that you are unclear |
| condition of a part, component or system. If the | | | | about. It is the inspector's job to find indications of |
| inspector cannot find an indication of a defect, | | | | defects, deficiencies or problems. Some problems |
| deficiency or problem, the inspector should have the | | | | may have been repaired but the indications of the |
| self assurance to be able to say that no problem | | | | problems may remain. In these cases, the information |
| was found and that there were no indications that | | | | provided by the inspector may seem erroneous. But |
| you should waste your time continuing the due | | | | it is the inspector's responsibility to note the indication |
| diligence investigation process on that particular part, | | | | of the defect whether the defect has been repaired |
| component or system. The inspector should not | | | | or not. |
| produce a report that simply refers you to other | | | | It is the responsibility of the real estate agent and |
| specialists or technicians. For example, a real estate | | | | the owner of the house to try to dissuade you from |
| inspector in Texas is required to make a written | | | | further due diligence investigations. They will also try |
| statement regarding the need for repairs to a | | | | to minimize the implications of the items noted in the |
| foundation. An inspector who produces a report that | | | | inspection report. |
| just refers you to a foundation leveling contractor or | | | | Remember that you hired the inspector as a part of |
| an engineer so that other people can make a | | | | your due diligence investigation process. You paid the |
| determination of the performance of the foundation, | | | | inspector for the inspector's opinions. The real estate |
| the inspector has not provided you with the service | | | | agents and the seller get their money when you |
| that you have paid him for. The inspector has not | | | | close on the house. Who is really working in your |
| performed his responsibilities to you properly. The | | | | best interest? |
| inspector is just seeking to reduce his liability. | | | | Copyright© 2010 by Fred Willcox |
| No inspector is going to find every problem that | | | | All rights reserved. |