Friday, October 17, 2014

Tips In Doing Home Inspection Right

By Patty Goff


The bridge, it seems, between the seller and the buyer of a home is the home inspector. Hired because he serves the purpose of a reviewer or critic, his report may either drive the seller crazy or may turn off the buyer completely. Hence, the success of the transaction depends very largely on his part.

Of course, it is to be expected that houses will always have defects or impairments. There will always be fabulous and exciting and dour and boring and sometimes even maddening things that can turn up as a result of a thorough home inspection Des Moines. Hence, you will need someone who can list all those things from the opposite ends and the middle of the spectrum so that you get a crystal clear picture of what you getting yourself into.

Like in most jobs, there are people who call themselves professionals whether they are qualified or unqualified for the work. Few states license or regulate home inspectors, so the first thing to weed out the poison ivy is to look for credentials. Regulation may fall short, but there is a plethora of home inspector associations that you can trust just by the reputation of the name. Look for certification.

Have the person you are about to hire send you a sample report. If he sends you a document with only four to five pages, ditch the guy and move on with the other fish in the sea. Comprehensive reports are known to have an average of twenty to fifty pages, and often include photos and highlighted paragraphs that describe and talk about the defects and issues of the property.

A freelance inspector is also a good idea. Those who seem to have contractor partners and such are frowned upon, because that clearly suggests conflict of interest. Real estate agents who go buddy buddy with your man is also a red flag, because they might just be out for a quick sale. You do not want your truth bearer to be biased, you would want him to be fair to both parties. Another thing to avoid are those who will offer repairs.

Ask for the length of the inspection. At least three hours would be adequate to do a full viewing and spot all the necessary things to be bullet pointed in the report. Doing it less than the minimum implies not just laziness but a very vast possibility of missed defects and more room for mistakes than the property has. You want research and observation done slowly but surely.

Ask about reinspection charges. Should he find problems and there is a need for fixing, it is usually standard courtesy for the inspector to return to the house to verify repair status free of charge, although there are places in which they do charge for the return. Either way, be upfront, and never only take the word of the seller that the issue has been fixed. Have it absolutely checked.

Even the most seasoned of these professionals can err. Thus, it is vital to check if he has an errors and omissions coverage, in the event that there will be a mistake. Wannabes do not have this kind of thing.

Finally, be there during the inspection, even for just the last thirty minutes. You owe it to yourself to have the time to be able to see the property you are about to purchase. Allow the inspector show you the defects and see if they are minor or major, and if there are other concerns you might like to add or discuss.




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