t’s a common piece of real estate advice that you are much better off buying the worst house in the best neighborhood than you are buying the best house in the worst neighborhood. This adage has been around for years and in our current marketplace I have seen more than a few "worst homes."

Fixer uppers are not for everyone. In this market we have all seen some dumps in good neighborhoods, but face it some require more than a deep cleaning and paint. I just went through and update my hall of shame realizing that there are homes out there that are beyond Home Depot "you can do  it" repairs. Home Inspectors get to see the OMG type of repairs  such as this one where the beam was cut during the furnace installation and duct taped back together. My point is that fixer uppers can be expensive and stressful. In some cases the enthusiasm diminishes into buyers remorse as they realize the job is much larger than they anticipated.

The home inspection can help set the buyers expectations and what they are buying into. Most of us have some construction experience or know general contractors that can give buyers a quick estimate to get the home where they need it to be. Sometimes the costs are shocking and will kill the deal but in the end we want happy clients.

Furnace, chimney fireplace Hall of Shame

Plumbing Hall of Shame

 

Rick Bunzel, CRI
Pacific Crest Inspections
 WA Licensed Home Inspector #312
ASHI Certified #249557
NPSAR Nominee Affiliate of the Year 2009-2010
NAHI Member of the Year 2008
 NPSAR Affiliate of the Year 2006-2007
WWW.PacCrestInspections.com
360-588-6956
Fax 360-588-6965
Toll Free 866-618-7764

Yea!!!! - just went over 20,000 points!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

House is Sinking - Its the Inspector's Fault
02/15/2010
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OK I am paraphrasing just abit but this was the jist of the BC Local New headline A couple bought a house in 2007 and now 3 years later it is "sinking" and they are blaming the Home Inspector. I know this may sound defensive but there is always… more
Lessons learned at the Final Walkthrough
02/07/2010
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Final Walkthrough I love educating my clients and oftened surprised at how little they understand the buying process. I oftened get the "deer in the headlights" look when I talk about the next steps. Its understandable that they are being… more
Its bank owned, why get an inspection?
01/29/2010
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I was speaking to a Realtor today and she mentioned that in the last 4 foreclosed home buyers, 3 chose not to have an inspection because they were bank owned. Wow I thought they must be some risk takers! Here are five reasons for a buyer to… more
Inspecting Foreclosed Properties
01/27/2010
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Inspecting bank owned homes can be a challenge. Most have been vacate for a time and many don't have utilities on. For the buyer a home inspection can alleviate some of the uncertainty but a home inspection does have it limitations especially… more
5 Biggest Mistakes in Home Inspections
12/16/2009
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I saw a great article on BankRate about the 5 biggest mistakes in Home Inspections Here are some highlights with my own insight: #1 Not having New Construction Inspected. Amen to that. I have a whole section on my website called the Hall of… more
Home Inspector Mentoring
10/30/2009
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As most experienced home inspectors know the first 100 or so inspections they did as new inspectors were really on the job learning Most home inspection companies are single inspector so you are really on your own and frankly learning at the… more
Unlicensed Inspector Referrals
09/24/2009
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I was speaking with a managing broker this week discussing licensed home inspectors. He pulled out his inspector list and I noticed that he had a name of an unlicensed inspector on his referral. I asked him if he was going to notated who had… more
Should I have a "bank owned" home inspected?
02/25/2009
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After all its being sold as is… There is a reason why these homes are referred to as "distressed" properties. Many owners that go into foreclosure have been struggling financially, which usually means that the house has not received needed… more
Are You Still in Business?
02/24/2009
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I had a call from a REALTOR that started out that way. I had never done business with this individual just a few folks in her office. It just points out that the "thinning of the herd" is really hitting the real estate industry hard. In some ways… more