Jimmy Carter, Blairsville home inspector and owner of Inspect-a-Home,Inc., talks about why a home inspection is such a bargain in today’s marketplace.
For most people, a home purchase is the single greatest investment they’ll ever make. If someone is willing to spend $200,000 to $300,000 or more for a home, a home inspection fee of $300 to $400 is small change by comparison. Yes, compared to the purchase price, an inspector’s fee is only a pittance. Yet, too many home buyers forego this vital service. Why? Remember the old adage ” penny wise and pound foolish”?
Too often, folks buying a new, never lived-in house assume nothing could possibly be wrong with a brand new house. This is a dangerous assumption! I recently inspected a beautiful, new house for a client and among my findings were these these: 1.The framed walls were not anchored to the masonry foundation. 2. The main water cutoff valve was located far under the house and could only be accessed with great difficulty. 3. The main plumbing drain was not vented to the exterior. 4. The two air conditioning condenser units had no electrical disconnects. These were all serious defects and the repair cost was substantial. Without a professional inspection, the buyer would have been completely unaware of these important and potentially dangerous deficiencies.
Generally speaking, older homes do present many more problems to the buyer. This is especially true if repairs by previous owners were substandard. Older homes are like used cars. With age, things break and wear out. The quality of repairs become a critical matter.
Selection of the inspector is key to a competent analysis of a property. Ideally, the buyer will want to find someone with a significant background, preferably hands-on, in residential construction. How many inspections has he completed is a factor. A minimum of 1000 inspections under his belt is a good benchmark. Certification by a nationally-recognized organization of home inspectors is also important. The two best known such groups are the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors(NACHI) and the American Society of Home Inspectors(ASHI). Finally, the report form should be comprehensive yet easy to read and understand.
Home inspectors are not perfect but a good one will be able to give the buyer a valuable assessment of his potential purchase. Isn’t a little peace of mind worth a pittance?
Jimmy Carter of Inspect-a-Home, has been a home inspector for fifteen years and has completed over 3,000 successful inspections. As a former residential contractor, he has an intimate knowledge of houses. He is the Blairsville home inspector with the experience every home buyer needs.