Home sellers can speed their home inspection by following these suggestions. The inspection will go smoother, with fewer concerns to delay closing. If access to items normally inspected is not possible, it creates a sense of unknown and could cause concern for the buyer, whom is normally already nervous about what might be found.
1. Confirm that water, electric and gas service are on, with gas pilot lights burning.
2. Ensure pets won't hinder the inspection. Ideally, they should be removed from premises or secured outside. Tell your agent about any pets at home.
3. Replace burned out bulbs to avoid a "Light is inoperable" report that may suggest an electrical problem.
4. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace dead batteries.
5. Clean or replace dirty HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) air filters. They should fit securely.
6. Remove stored items, debris and wood from foundation. These may be cited as "conditions conducive" for termites.
7. Remove items blocking access to HVAC equipment, electric service panels, water heaters, attics and crawl spaces.
8. Unlock areas the inspector must access - attic doors or hatches, electric service panels, closets, fence gates and crawl spaces.
9. Trim tree limbs to 10' from the roof and shrubs from the house to allow access.
10. Attend to broken or missing items like doorknobs, locks and latches; windowpanes, screens and locks; gutters, downspouts and chimney caps.
Checking these areas before your home inspection is an investment in selling your property. Your real estate agent will thank you!
Darren
May 25, 2011
May 21, 2011
No moisture meter? Really??
I got a call yesterday from a sales agent that has referred me previously, asking me if I could help her out with something.
It seems that clients of hers used a home inspector they found and during the inspection, he saw some stains under a couple of windows and declared they were wet.
The agent asked him if he had a moisture meter to test them, but he didn't have one.... Really?
A home inspector without a moisture meter is like a piece of bread with nothing on it... quite useless!
I tested the areas he noted first with my infrared camera, then with a moisture meter. Nada. The areas were as dry as an interior wall- 6-7% moisture.
A person that calls themselves a home inspector should have the basic tools of the job and properly back up all suspicions with testing. This one needs more training and should invest in some proper tools before they really mess up a deal and give out poor information.
It seems that clients of hers used a home inspector they found and during the inspection, he saw some stains under a couple of windows and declared they were wet.
The agent asked him if he had a moisture meter to test them, but he didn't have one.... Really?
A home inspector without a moisture meter is like a piece of bread with nothing on it... quite useless!
I tested the areas he noted first with my infrared camera, then with a moisture meter. Nada. The areas were as dry as an interior wall- 6-7% moisture.
A person that calls themselves a home inspector should have the basic tools of the job and properly back up all suspicions with testing. This one needs more training and should invest in some proper tools before they really mess up a deal and give out poor information.
May 18, 2011
Good, Bad & Ugly
During most home inspections, I find typical issues such as maintenance items or general improvement suggestions. But on occasion, I find some concerns that clients don't want to deal with, or just can't afford to. These types of concerns could be structural issues, moisture penetration in the basement or electrical items.
One such inspection comes to mind; I recently did an inspection on a home with a crawl space that was wet. It also did not have a proper foundation, but had a wood skirt around the exterior made of different materials, nearly all was rotting! The house was being supported by concrete blocks sitting on bare ground under the floor joists. Bare wet earth will cause the floor and framing system to rot over time, as the moisture will evaporate upwards into the building. There was some bowing of an exterior wall that was worrisome but this was just another of many issues with the house, much to the relief of her trying so hard to be supportive dad, my client walked away from the deal.
Incredibly though her sales agent seemed to be upset with me for delivering the news and was, in my opinion, quite rude and confrontational. At the end of the day, I sleep sound knowing I do my job as honestly and thoroughly as I can.
Home inspectors are trying to help people with what is usually the most expensive and long-term purchase of someones life. We need to be conscious of the ramifications of not doing this to the best of our abilities. A smart person once said "If in doubt, Bow out". Good advice in my opinion.
One such inspection comes to mind; I recently did an inspection on a home with a crawl space that was wet. It also did not have a proper foundation, but had a wood skirt around the exterior made of different materials, nearly all was rotting! The house was being supported by concrete blocks sitting on bare ground under the floor joists. Bare wet earth will cause the floor and framing system to rot over time, as the moisture will evaporate upwards into the building. There was some bowing of an exterior wall that was worrisome but this was just another of many issues with the house, much to the relief of her trying so hard to be supportive dad, my client walked away from the deal.
Incredibly though her sales agent seemed to be upset with me for delivering the news and was, in my opinion, quite rude and confrontational. At the end of the day, I sleep sound knowing I do my job as honestly and thoroughly as I can.
Home inspectors are trying to help people with what is usually the most expensive and long-term purchase of someones life. We need to be conscious of the ramifications of not doing this to the best of our abilities. A smart person once said "If in doubt, Bow out". Good advice in my opinion.
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