Hire a professional inspector.
A professional will look at the home through objective eyes
By Earl Smelser
Valet Home Inspection
Why is it important? You might ask: "Won't I be able to see whether anything is wrong with a house?" Many home buyers decide to buy a home when they first pull into the diriveway. At that point they are blinded to the problems that exist. Typical home owners are relieved that the search is over and see only the things they are looking for -- e.g. a fireplace and a big backyard. A home inspector sees a home in a different light and will find the bad things that might be waiting in the shadows -- to pounce on the home buyer's wallet later.
What kind of training, licensing, experience? Oregon law requires home inspectors to be licensed by the Oregon Construction Contractors Board. Hire a licensed and experienced home inspector with a construction background and good communication skills. An inspectors license and any outstanding, unsatisfied claims can be verified by calling the OCCB in Salem at 1 (503) 373-7373.
Remember that a claim is not necessarily a red flag. The adage, "Show me a man who has never made a mistake, and I'll show you a man who has never done anything" applies here. The important thing is that the claims have been satisifed.
Ask the inspector some good questions, e.g.:
- Do you belong to a national or local home inspection organization? (e.g. the National Association of Home Inspectors, the American Society of Home Inspectors, the Oregon Real Estate Inspectors Association, and the Oregon Association of Home Inspectors.)
- Do you follow nationally recognized sstandards of practice?
- Do you carry errors and omissions insurance?
- How many home inspections have you performed, andhow long have you been in the business?
You should ask the home inspector to provide a sample of the kind of report he will give you on the home. One further tip: A good inspector is always busy. Be willing to wait a day or two to get the best.
Cost? Depending on the experience of the inspector and the condition of the home, an inspector generally will take from one to three hours. The price varies with the experience of the inspector and the size and location of the home. New inspectors start at about $175; an experienced inspector will charge $225 to $250.
Reports. Some inspectors provide a hand-written report on the spot. Some will fax or mail you a typewritten report in one to three days. A few others can provide on-the-spot, computer-generated reports. Most inspectors take the time to review the report with you at the time of the inspection or consult with you over the phone.
What if something is missed? The buyer should contact the inspector before making any repairs and ask him to come back to the home for another look. Most of the time, missed items can be corrected easily or resolved with the cooperation of both parties. If this fails, the buyer should contact the OCCB.
Where can I get more information or recommendations? References from friends who have recently purchased a home are the best source for choosing a home inspector. You can also get a list of members and have questions answered by contacting one of these associations:
- Oregon Association of Home Inspectors (PO Box 127, Lake Oswego, OR, 97034, 233-2225)
- Oregon Real Estate Inspectors Association, NW Chapter of National Association of Home Inspectors (640-0607).
- You might also want to check out the Web site of the American Society of Home Inspectors (www.ashi.com).
Will the inspector make repairs? No. The home inspector has one interest, and that is to provide you with unbiased information concerning the condition of the home. The standards of practice of professional inspectors associations forbid an inspector from doing inspections as a vehicle for obtaining repair work.
Source: Earl Smelser, Valet Home Inspection, 761-6483. In the past nine years, Earl has completed more than 5000 home inspections. He is an active member of national and state home-inspection organizations.
Go Back
|
