| 7. |
What
do inspectors do?
"House Inspectors" will check
your new home from top to bottom including
structural systems, mechanical systems,
drainage, appliances, etc.
|
| 8. |
What
is the inspector's liability if he misses
something big?
Most inspectors attempt to limit their
liability to the amount of fee they
charge for the house inspection.
|
| 9. |
How
much do they charge?
There is a wide range of charges. A
rough "rule of thumb" is the
inspector will charge a fee equal to
10%-15% of the total square footage
of the house.
|
| 10. |
What
do I expect them to do with me and for
me?
The inspector should be willing to let
you accompany him during the inspection.
He should be willing to point out both
minor and major deficiencies found in
your new home and the significance of
each. In addition, your inspector should
show you preventive measures to assure
a longer life of it's components.
|
| 11. |
What
should I expect in form of documentation
from them?
Most inspectors will give you a written
report explaining the condition of each
specific component of your new home
as well as a general description of
your new home's condition.
|
| 12. |
Should
sellers get one before they list their
home?
It is advantageous if a seller is able
to have an inspection done before they
put their home on the market. Realistically
it only happens about 1% of the time.
Many times, sellers can make corrective
measures before deficiencies are discovered
by the buyer. This seller paid inspection
report can be used as a tool to make
the buyer feel more comfortable with
the general condition of the house.
It should never be used by the buyer
as a substitute for a thorough, impartial
inspection by his own inspector. Who
knows, maybe the sellers unemployed
jack-leg brother made the report!
|
| 13. |
Should
they get on the roof?
Many times inspectors can cause a lot
of damage to a roof if they get on it.
Older slate roofs, cedar and brittle
composition roofs can be innocently
and severely damaged! Many times inspectors
will check the roof's condition from
ladders, stand off at a distance with
binoculars, and check the attic area
for light and moisture stains that show
evidence of past or present leaks.
|
| 14. |
Should
they crawl under the house? Should I?
They should! Why don't you do it just
once to make sure you know what you
are buying? I promise you'll never do
it again!
|
| 15. |
Should
they "poke at the wood" with
a screwdriver?
You'll be amazed how much rotten wood
you will find. It especially occurs
around windows and doors where caulking
has failed. Many times it occurs at
butt joints where pieces of siding meet
each other. Make sure you check where
the deck meets the house. This is a
common place for severe decay. If you
see fresh paint, beware. It is often
used as an attempt to cover old rotted
soft wood.
|
| 16. |
How
many repairs can I expect the seller
to perform?
The more you cut his price at the beginning,
the less likely he is to make a long
list of repairs!
|
| 17. |
Should
I have the seller do the work or give
me cash so I can do it?
Often it is better for you to hire your
own people to do the work after you
move in. If something goes wrong with
the work, you will know whom to contact
to get the problem(s) corrected. Many
contractors do not allow their warranty
to be transferred from the seller to
the buyer, so be careful!
|
| 18. |
The
purpose of a house inspection is not
to renegotiate the contract price!
Its purpose is to find significant hidden
defects that you were not aware of that
may affect your health, safety and investment. |
| 19. |
Don't
take anything for granted!
Take your time and pay attention! |
| |
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