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How can I prepare for the home inspection
- ARE THE LIGHTS ON? Before the day of the home inspection, find out if the power, gas, and electricity are on in the home. The home inspection is useless without the utilities turned on. CRI charges a trip charge to come back out. Contact your Real Estate Agent and they should be able to schedule the utilities with the selling agent. Normally, it will take 3-5 days for the utility companies to respond.
- IS ANYONE HOME? If the home is occupied, find out when the occupants will be gone. If possible, it is recommended to do the home inspection without the owner of the home present. Given the present climate of the real estate market, the circumstances behind the sale of a home are not always to the benefit of either the tenant or the present owner. We find that avoiding any possible discomfort or ill sentiment allows for a thorough and smooth inspection process.
- BABY ON BOARD? Don't get me wrong, I love children. I have three boys myself, but the home inspection can potentially present safety issues. During the home inspection process, I'm opening compartments which, in many cases, haven't been opened in years. I find MOLD, ASBESTOS, LEAD, EXPOSED ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS and other hazardous conditions. On one occasion, I had a stove catch on fire during the home inspection. It is important to prevent the children from being exposed to these types of hazards and, for this reason, we ask that no children be present for the home inspection. In addition, the home inspection is definitely a time to maintain focus on the home and our findings.
- IS IT A FAMILY AFFAIR? I know your excited....I'm excited for you. It's only natural that you want your family to see your new home. However, the home inspection is not the time for the house warming party. Remember, I'm there to make sure you aren't walking into a nightmare blindly. So if I find the nightmare, it only makes it harder when the family is there to here the bad news also.
- TO BRING REALTOR OR NOT TO BRING REALTOR? The home inspection can make or break a sale. The real estate agent, in our opinion, should be present to guide you through this very important step in the process. Agents can often help by asking questions the buyers may not know to ask. It is also highly beneficial that the agent see first hand the items we find during the home inspection, as it may facilitate possible price negotiations or requests for repairs from the seller.
- LOCKOUT! Please arrange a method of access to the home. We often carry supra keys or have access to lock boxes, but only when we are informed of this need in advance. It is important to have a method of access available, which often can be arranged for between the selling agent and your agent.
- PICTURE PERFECT? Okay, you have found your new home and after an exhausting search, you know everthing has to be perfect, right? Wrong! As a home inspector who inspects up to ten homes a week, I can safely say.....I HAVE NEVER FOUND A PERFECT HOUSE! We will always find an issue which will need service. Our home inspection is intended to prevent you from bearing unexpected and costly issues, both immediate and long term. Safety is CRI's top concern and because we are so good at finding these kinds of issues, you can trust you and your family is in good hands. The truth is, even though the items we find on your future home may be serious and in need of prompt attention, they are the same items I would find within most homes...old, new, expensive or affordable. It doesn't matter, mistakes are made! If people didn't make mistakes in construction, homeowners didn't watch too many episodes of HGTV programming, or if people didn't choose the wrong contractor because of what was thought to be the "right price", I would have no reason to inspect your home. In short, the purpose of our inspection is not to hurt your home owning dreams. My main concern is to make sure you are aware of the costs of repair, of immediate safety issues, and of the overall "health" of the building, allowing you to make a well-informed purchase.
Okay...so those are the biggies, at least that's all that comes to mind. And don't worry about taking notes during the inspection. That's my job! SEE YOU AT THE HOME INSPECTION!
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