Home Inspectors

I work in the mortgage industry. i see this all the time. a guy is hired at $250.00 and their suppose to inspect the entire house. come on!!
Yet clients will jump on because its cheaper.
funny...i always figured buying a $400,000.00 house you would want to make sure its not about to fall down.
 
This means nothing.
For a few years now you have had to be trained and write an exam to be a security gaurd.
But you should see some of the meat heads that still get there liscence.
I hope this isn`t a cracker jack box money grab like the security stuff is.
 
the27thelement said:
This means nothing.
For a few years now you have had to be trained and write an exam to be a security gaurd.
But you should see some of the meat heads that still get there liscence.
I hope this isn`t a cracker jack box money grab like the security stuff is.
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Seriously. If you get less than 100% on that test that should be a failure.
 
Macs said:
Seriously. If you get less than 100% on that test that should be a failure.
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I wonder if that test is mainly a tool to assess basic language skills. Although I still don't know how half those people pass it, going by those employed in the industry.
 
I paid about $450 for my last home inspector. He was an instructor at a college that teaches home inspections. He made sure all the electricals worked and if he didn't he knew how to make it work. He even lectured me on how many things work and what to do in an emergency situation such as gas leak, water leaks, etc.. The best was the final report he gave which had many recommendations for more efficient heating though the house was in top shape not much problems but I could easily see a $250 home inspector breeze through it in half an hour for which this guy did a thorough 3 hours inspection.

He demanded I asked a lot of questions lol. Must home inspectors if you ask too much questions they'll get angry and some even walk away from the job. That's when you know you've got a single trade specialist working home inspections as a side job.
 
lol, and i love how at the end they make you sign a paper basically stating that he cant be held accountable for anything or everything.....so if he missed something its not on him.....so why even get an inspector?

When we bought the house and had it inspected i was there with him throughout and it was one of those

"your roof needs to be replaced" - yes i know
"your furnace is old but in good condition" yes, i know that as well....
"you have a 200 amp service which is good" yes i was aware of that as well...

i dunno, but at least for me, who researches and reads into something before going in and works with his hands and troubleshoots systems all day the home inspector didnt tell me anything i didnt already see.

For someone who cant change a lightbulb i can see even a bad inspector being a good thing.

Oh and here's my biggest pet peeve about buying a house....You are about to drop all your savings into a down payment, and spend the next XX years paying off the rest of it while spending 50% and up of your time in this structure and you're allowed TWO VISITS!? And even then the real estate agents get all pissy when you demand to see it the second time and even more pissy that you're taking longer than 20 minutes!?! Anyone see anything wrong with that?
 
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I no longer higher home inspectors. I hire individuals in the trades. Most of them give free estimates however after they come in and inspect and quote I tell them the deal then shoot them a hundo for their time. I also let them know if I am going to have them repaired they will be the first call out.
 
I went with Carson-Dunlop and got a guy that had been doing home inspections for more than 20 years. Most of what he said was common sense and there was still the waver that relieves them of any responsibility. He did do some things I wouldn't have thought of (like moisture tests on finished basement walls). I'd probably use them again (like Red_Liner, the inspector is more a second opinion to ensure my assessment was accurate).
 
When we purchased our first house we hired a home inspector, at the time it seemed like a good investment and for many it would be. What got me and killed the credibility of the inspector was when we sold our house 4-5 years later, the new purchasers hired a home inspector, turned out to be the same guy. He provided them with a report that contradicted many of the things in our report, not talking about wearable things like roofing, furnace,... He pointed to a ditch down the side of our property, telling the owners our septic was no good because the ground was wet. This was in April, imagine there was a ditch that had recent run off into it. I went so far as to take a sample into a lab, where it was analyzed as clean run off water and not from a broken septic system.

Unfortunately a very negative experience.

On the other hand, I have a firend who recetly did the courses, I beleive he may be done and have the courses completed, but he is definitley someone I would trust, he has it set out as his retirement gig.
 
rbjeepthing said:
I no longer higher home inspectors. I hire individuals in the trades. Most of them give free estimates however after they come in and inspect and quote I tell them the deal then shoot them a hundo for their time. I also let them know if I am going to have them repaired they will be the first call out.
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This is what I did, had a family friend who is a general contractor do the house inspection for me.
 
Red_Liner740 said:
lol, and i love how at the end they make you sign a paper basically stating that he cant be held accountable for anything or everything.....so if he missed something its not on him.....so why even get an inspector?

When we bought the house and had it inspected i was there with him throughout and it was one of those

"your roof needs to be replaced" - yes i know
"your furnace is old but in good condition" yes, i know that as well....
"you have a 200 amp service which is good" yes i was aware of that as well...

i dunno, but at least for me, who researches and reads into something before going in and works with his hands and troubleshoots systems all day the home inspector didnt tell me anything i didnt already see.

For someone who cant change a lightbulb i can see even a bad inspector being a good thing.

Oh and here's my biggest pet peeve about buying a house....You are about to drop all your savings into a down payment, and spend the next XX years paying off the rest of it while spending 50% and up of your time in this structure and you're allowed TWO VISITS!? And even then the real estate agents get all pissy when you demand to see it the second time and even more pissy that you're taking longer than 20 minutes!?! Anyone see anything wrong with that?
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I think you chose the wrong agent.
 
psycho44 said:
I paid about $450 for my last home inspector. He was an instructor at a college that teaches home inspections. He made sure all the electricals worked and if he didn't he knew how to make it work. He even lectured me on how many things work and what to do in an emergency situation such as gas leak, water leaks, etc.. The best was the final report he gave which had many recommendations for more efficient heating though the house was in top shape not much problems but I could easily see a $250 home inspector breeze through it in half an hour for which this guy did a thorough 3 hours inspection.

He demanded I asked a lot of questions lol. Must home inspectors if you ask too much questions they'll get angry and some even walk away from the job. That's when you know you've got a single trade specialist working home inspections as a side job.
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As with any trade, there are good inspectors and bad. As a Realtor I've definitely seen both ends of the spectrum, a lot of inspections aren't worth the paper they are printed on, but I've got a few hand picked inspectors who I trust and I know will do their very best. Expect a good inspection to take 3+ hours, to go through the entire home including the attic or any crawlspaces, have appropriate tools such a moisture meter and a camera to take lots of pictures. A good inspector will insist the buyer be involved in the process and will point out things all around the home. Not necessarily detrimental things, but just little things you'll want to take care of.. you need a little caulking here, adjust the grade around the side of the house etc. Much of which is common sense, but especially for first time buyers, it's good to get that list in writing to refer to after you move in.

Red_Liner740 said:
Oh and here's my biggest pet peeve about buying a house....You are about to drop all your savings into a down payment, and spend the next XX years paying off the rest of it while spending 50% and up of your time in this structure and you're allowed TWO VISITS!? And even then the real estate agents get all pissy when you demand to see it the second time and even more pissy that you're taking longer than 20 minutes!?! Anyone see anything wrong with that?
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kellen said:
I think you chose the wrong agent.
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THIS.

As for only have 2 visits... there is no such law in Ontario. By default you have NO RIGHT to revisit the property until the sale has closed and it belongs to you. Most agents as a general practice will put the right to revisit 2 times in the agreement of purchase and sale as that is generally sufficient for most buyers, but he or she should have explained that to you when drafting your offer. If you wish for more visits it is your right to put as many as you choose in the contract, being reasonable of course or the seller will reject it. I have clients who have chosen to view the property once a month during a 6 month closing. If your agent refuses to increase the amount of visits from 2. Find a new agent. If he tried but the sellers won`t sign the agreement.. well.. decide if that`s the house for you, or accept it and move on. If during your visits your agent tried to rush you, or convince you not to schedule the visits.. find a new agent. If you`ve used up the alloted visits in your contract and something comes up requiring you to see the home an additional time.. contact your agent. He or she should be willing to call the sellers agent and negotiate you an additional visit even if it isn`t in your contract. MOST sellers will be agreeable so long as you can agree on a time that is convenient. If your agent refuses to try. Find a new agent.


GreyGhost said:
I went with Carson-Dunlop and got a guy that had been doing home inspections for more than 20 years. Most of what he said was common sense and there was still the waver that relieves them of any responsibility. He did do some things I wouldn't have thought of (like moisture tests on finished basement walls). I'd probably use them again (like Red_Liner, the inspector is more a second opinion to ensure my assessment was accurate).
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The inspector will make you sign a waiver, but this is due to the fact that there are some things even the best inspector simply cannot see. They can't start pulling down drywal in a finished basement to check out the foundation for example. However, if you come across a problem that reasonably should have been seen by the inspector after you move in, the waiver means nothing. You do have recourse.
 
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forgot to add my recent home inspector did thermal imaging which I think is worth the extra money. Just don't like the subliminal advertising for his service to repair certain things but I guess most home inspectors do that.

My first home inspector was like Red Liner's. In and out in 30 minutes. All he did was observed and pointed things out.

If you want bang for your bucks get one that will get you involved in the process and give you advice to improve certain problems.
 
Let me expand on it. Yes one of our clauses was two visits....we could have asked for more, we could have asked for none. All i was trying to emphasise is that a house is the biggest purchase of your life and in grand scheme of things we spend very little time on it. Hell, people spend more time eyeballing cars than houses. Nobody has an issue that the "industry standard" is 2 visits?

Sure "get rid of your agent". If the crooks werent so damn self-protected. They all make you sign that paper stating that if you purchase a property in X amount of time even without their help they get an X percentage. So i could dump them, go to another agent but he wont take you on if he knows you signed that agreement because he will be out of money. And finally this only happened upon signing of the agreement and a month later when the second inspection was scheduled. A little to late to be looking for another agent no?

Now, i'm not bitter and grumpy. I got a smoking deal on the house BECAUSE of the upkeep it needed and all the work was done by myself, and no surprises jumped out at me after the fact. It was just some peculiar facts that i wanted to highlight.
 
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I just bought a 10yr old home a few weeks ago. (closes in 3 weeks)
I did my own inspection, against my agents 'better judgement'. (he must get a 'kickback', or else he wouldn't have been so insistant).
When my present house sold, conditional upon "home inspection" I was a bit concerned.
The inspector, buyers, and buyers' agent came along last Sunday - yes Sunday. (My agent suggested I leave the house for 4 hours. I told him to go **** himself, I'm not going anywhere).
So - the buyers coughed up $450 for this clown to tell them everything is ok. FFS - this house was built in 1929 & there's a boatload of issues that he completely overlooked, or just didn't see. One thing he did see, was a magazine I picked up in Tennessee. Being a rider himself, the inspector spent more time talking to me about riding etc, than he did inspecting the house, although they spent the better part of an hour trying to figure out a way to make the bathroom door swing left, rather than right.
He asked: "When was the roof last re-shingled?". I said: "2005". That was good enough for him - didn't even pull his ladder out to see that the chimney is in dire need of re-pointing.
Short story long - just get someone who has basic general contracting skills to inspect a home you're interested in buying and put the "inspection fee" to better use.
Also - when buying a used house - ask your agent to make the seller fill out an SPIS. It's as good, or better than paying for a home inspection, IMO.
 
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