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 customers expense.Most new Realtor's have a big advantage in this area because the office will usually provide mentoring.
When the Washington Home Inspector's Legislative Advisory Group was crafting the language for Washington Home Inspector law we felt strongly that there should be a mentoring component. Ultimately this turned in a 40 hour component which is a drop in the bucket compared to the 1 year apprentice appraisers are required to do.
Many people who enter the industry feel they can transition from swinging a hammer doing construction to home inspection. That is so far from the truth its laughable. In the old days builders used to do it all and had a broad range of framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical and heating skills. Today all builders use subcontractors who specialize in a given trade so very few are generalists. Home Inspectors are generalists who need to be knowledible in all areas of the home. Take heating for example there are baseboard, force air, radiant and radiators. Possible energy sources are electric, gas, LPG, thermo and solar. We need to know each combination, correct installation and what could possibly go wrong. In most cases there is not enough time in the classroom to teach this stuff and mentoring is one opportunity to give the new inspector some experience on the systems.
Another area that schools don't do a great job at is business practices. This area ranges from taking customer inquiries to handling complaints. The mentor can actually show the student how an inspection job starts in the office to when the inspection report is delivered and the records are stored.
Many inspectors fail due to the lack of business process, good financial management and lack of marketing. A good mentor program will show them how the pieces fit together in a live, working setting.
Washington State License #312 ASHI Certified #249557 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
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 their license and who didn't. He said that he had spoken to the home inspector in question who had assured him that he carried a number of licenses and certifications. The home inspector implied that with what he already had, he was ok. I did mention the benefits to clients who use licensed home inspectors and said that clients should know who is licensed and who is not on referral lists. I hope this broker does this.
It does bring up the question of why would a practicing inspector (the company above has been around for a number of years) would not get their license? The penalty is that these inspectors have to go back to school for 120 hours or more and then ride along with a licensed inspector for 40 hours. Since September 1st, inspectors who missed the deadline have been popping up like moles. I am sure that the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) is getting every excuse in the book but because these deadlines were written into the law, the DOL hands are tied. Regardless, if these businesspeople are not aware of what happening in the industry, would you want to hire them? Home Inspectors are generalists and need to be knowledgeable in all areas of the home. I network with local inspectors all the time sharing information. Either this inspector kept to himself or decided that he was going to get out of the business before July 2010. Either way would you want to be referring someone like this?
Rick Bunzel, CRI Pacific Crest Inspections WASH. HI #312 ASHI Certified #249557 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
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 repairs or general maintenance for a while. Some homeowners who lose their property to a lender frequently damage the property. After the owners leave the property frequently we see the homes have been neglected or poorly winterized. Winterization was especially important during the December freeze we had. We have inspected homes that claimed to have been winterized and found freeze damage.
Bank-owned foreclosure homes are usually sold "as is," which means that the 10 to 30% you just saved on the purchase price can easily be eaten up by unforeseen repairs — frequently many of those issuesat not apparent to the buyers when they walk through the home. However "as-is" does not refer to the price the buyer is paying. It is important to understand that he bank's pricing of the home reflects the "assumed condition" of the property.
The savvy buyer will want to gather all the information on the home. Initially that can be the documented history of the home. Tax records and building permits are a good start. A CLUE report will give you the insurance history of the home. Many insurance agents will provide that free of charge. If neighbors are available they are great source of information on the neighborhood and the home. Lastly, a detailed home inspection will complete the picture as to what the home is and issues that will need to be addressed.
So the quick answer is YES. Also we are seeing many lenders require a copy of the home inspection as part of the underwriting process. The inspection report can also be used as a tool to justify the offer price or negotiate concessions.
//Rick
Rick Bunzel, CRI Pacific Crest Inspections 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
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 thinning the herd is healthy for the marketplace as the weak and underfunded service provider drop by that wayside leaving the strong and profitable companies.Unfortunately when these companies drop by the wayside they leave behind websites and literature to confuse the public.
This also tell me that I need to spend a little more time in the offices and get my next newsletter out letting everyone know that we are alive and thriving!
//Rick
Rick Bunzel, CRI Pacific Crest Inspections 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
Washington Home Inspector Licenses will be issued beginning July 1, 2009. Beginning Septembers 1, 2009, inspectors will be required to have a license to inspect unless they are already a practicing inspector. Practicing inspectors will have until July 2010 to become licensed.
Many Washington Realtors are under the impression that there home inspector is already licensed which is partially true. To be a Washington Home Inspector you are required to be a Structural Pest Inspector (SPI) which really has little to do with Home Inspection and more about identifying wood destroying organisms.
Realtors will need to beware that if they are using an inspector with less than 2 years experience (in business as of June 2006) then that inspector will not meet the licensing requirement in July without going back to school.
As of January 2009, the Washington State Home Inspector Licensing Board is still in the process of determining the final requirements for the Education Curriculum, Testing and other requirements. What is clear is that if a home inspector did not have two years experience prior to June 12th 2008, they will not meet the current licensing requirements.
If you are already conducting home inspection on September 1st, 2009, you will have until July 1st, 2010 to obtain your license
If you start conducting home inspections after September 1st, 2009, you must be licensed before you provide services.
Requirements to obtain license:
If you have less than two (2) years' experience you must have: Successfully completed 120 hours of classroom instruction Successfully completed 40 hours of field training with a licensed inspector Proof of passing score in exam approved by the Board
If you have two (2) years' experience or more, you must have: Worked as a home inspector for two (2) years prior to June 12th, 2008 Completed 100 home inspections Proof of passing score in exam approved by the Board
The good news for the consumer is that the working home inspectors will have more experience and education than inspectors in non-licensed states. The licensed Washington Home Inspectorswill have a standards of practice that requires to meet a minimal quality standard. For Inspections or Inspectors who are not meeting these standards of practice, the consumer will have a means of filing a complaint with the Department of Licensing. Washington Licensed Home Inspector who are found in non-compliance can be fined, have there license suspended or in serious cases revoked.
A a home inspector who fought for the licensing through the Washington Home Inspector Advisory Group I am happy with the outcome and looking forward to being part of a profession that is consider a crucial part of the real estate process.
Rick Bunzel, CRI Pacific Crest Inspections NAHI Inspector 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
Yesterdays inspection almost came to an abrupt end. As soon as the buyer's Realtors and myself walked in I sensed that the home was too cold. I carry an infrared thermometer and a quick check of the inside temperature showed it at 29%. Yikes - fortunately the pipes and toilets had not frozen yet. The listing agent was lucky. If the pipes had been frozen I would have called off the inspection and requested a plumber defrost everything. Once we got the Ok from the plumber then we could do the inspection.
With Realtors carrying lots of listings they need to stay on top the vacant properties and make sure that they have heat on and maybe even the walks shoveled so buyers can get inside without wading through the snow
Rick Bunzel, CRI Pacific Crest Inspections NPSAR Affiliate of the Year 2006-2007 WWW.PacCrestInspections.com 360-588-6956 Fax 360-588-6965 Toll Free 866-618-7764
I was recently working with a client looking at a commercial property and was sent a Google Street View link. Last I checked they were only doing major metro areas however this morning I noticed the little yellow figure on the map and gave it a try. Sure enough -
The Googlers had driven through town to the end of main street and out to the ferry. Wow this is just like when we got our first traffic light, McDonald and Walgreens. Only this time we are really on the map. I suspect the Google Streetview car was through in early summer as the Fidalgo Coffee stand was open but the ACS building was not complete.
Google doesn't announce when they are going to map an areas but one needs to stay tuned to changes that can help remote clients get a feel for the area.
Rick Bunzel, CRI Pacific Crest Inspections
NPSAR Affiliate of the Year 2006-2007 WWW.PacCrestInspections.com 360-588-6956 Fax 360-588-6965 Toll Free 866-618-7764
Home inspection is an opinion based profession and yes, it is true if you put 10 inspectors in a room, you will get 10 different views. Is this unique to the inspection profession? No, the same can be said about lawyers, doctors, appraisers, claim adjusters and REALTORS. The reason is that our opinions are shaped by our experiences. Home inspectors are generalists. We have to know about the thousands of different items that go into homes ranging from old coal furnaces to energy management systems.
Unfortunately, there are inspectors who can go way overboard with their opinion. Here are some tactics you can use to put dose of reality into the transaction. So when you get the inspection response from HELL the first thing to do is to step back and be objective. How realistic is the list? Is the buyer’s agent simple using this as an opportunity to get more price concessions? Let’s take the roof for example. The buyers are asking for a new roof. How old is the roof? Most roofs will last 20-25 years. If the seller has not supplied it, ask for the specific wording the inspector used. For example, if the age of the roof is mid-life, then ask what criteria they are basing there request on. Let say the roof has visible repairs, that doesn’t justify replacement; repairs are part of normal maintenance. Your best defense at this point is to get a roofer to inspect the roof. A specialist’s opinion will always trump a generalist home inspector.
Some agents will want to talk to the home inspector directly and negotiate with them. For most inspectors this would violate their association’s Standards of Practice, so they won’t do it nor do they want to negotiate directly with the seller. Secondly, once an inspector creates and delivers an inspection report they won’t be inclined to charge it. Personally I don’t mind getting and giving clarifications when I have the permission of my clients but I do have a problem when the seller’s agent starts to question my opinion.
Although home inspection is opinion based, we must use criteria to base our opinion. Using the roof as an example we are taught to look at granule loss, curling of edges, burn through, and cracking to judge its overall condition. All manufacturers have guidelines for installation and usage. If you think the inspector is being harsh or punitive, examine the criteria they use to form that opinion. If the inspector doesn’t have a solid basis for his/her opinion, ask for a clarification. “Codes” are a four letter word and often misused. Most experienced inspectors stay away from codes due to the inconsistent way they are applied. Every building department adopts the building codes at a time and place of their choosing. If a homeowner wants to remodel a kitchen a building department may want the entire electrical and plumbing systems upgrade while the neighboring city may not. One city may be using the 2007 plumbing codes but 2005 electrical codes while the neighbor is just the reverse. I have even seen in a brand new development where two inspectors from the same building department disagree on how to apply the current building codes. Get the picture? If a home inspector is using building codes to describe a defect, ask them for specifics and their qualifications to cite the building codes. If the home had been remodeled and approved by the city, then it met the codes as they were being applied at that time.
If you are listing an older home (especially if it has gone through a number of remodels) then I highly recommend a pre-listing inspection. Being pro-active is your best defense against an inspection. The owners will get to see their home through the eyes of an inspector. They will get an opportunity to correct issues at a time and place of there choosing. If they don’t want to correct them, then they can disclose them. Either way it lessens the shock and puts the sellers in a better negotiating position.
We are seeing a rise in Manufactured Home Sales as people trade down or opportunistic buyers jump on these low cost homes. If they happen to be using FHA they will want to check to see if the foundation are going to need to be upgraded before they make the offer
The most common problems found:
Tie downs - insufficient numbers or inappropriate materials (I saw anchor chain resently!!)
Tie downs - Inappropriate ties downs such anchors are stakes driven into the soil
Skirting - Skirting is no longer allowed - HUD wants a foundation wall
Piers - Stacked block cannot be on soil - they must be on poured concrete footer or plastic spread foot base
Wood Skirting - no allowed by FHA
Block on soil Not allowed by FHA
In most cases it is not difficult to upgrade the foundation to meet FHA/HUD standards but its still an obstacle that take time and funds to overcome
Rick Bunzel, CRI Pacific Crest Inspections NPSAR Affiliate of the Year 2006-2007 WWW.PacCrestInspections.com 360-588-6956 Fax 360-588-6965 Toll Free 866-618-7764
With the number of hurricanes marching down on the Gulf and Southeast I started thinking it was time to review our Disaster Planning. Since I am a firefighter and had my first home in the middle of earthquake country, this was something we always did. Everyone should give some thought to the type of disaster they have and how to prepare. A little bit of thought and preparate will go a long way to helping you help yourself. Please, please don't depend on fire, police, national guard or FEMA to come rescue you. All these services get inundated with requests that they must prioritize. During a disaster you must decided whether you need to shelter in place or evacuate. This is best decided way before the storm hits.
What Shelter-in-Place Means: You are going to stay in your home and ride it out. This assumes that your home's construction is solid enough to withstand the event. Your home should also have a "last refuge" which is usually a small, interior room, with no or few windows. If you are going to shelter-in-place then you should also have food, water and medications for at least 5 days.
Evacuate: The obvious method is by car and its fairly simple to throw everything you need into the SUV but what if the road is out or the traffic is backed up so long that you run out of gas? You need to be prepared to move on foot during an evacuation. Every family member should have there own backpack with their own items including some food and water. In addition you may want a rolling bag with food, water, bedding etc. If you have a pet you also have to think about food for them.
* Medical supplies: prescription medications and dentures. * Disaster supplies: flashlight, batteries, radio, first aid kit, bottled water * Clothing and bedding: a change of clothes and a sleeping bag or bedroll and pillow for each household member * Car keys and keys to the place you may be going (friend's or relative's home)
Since you are leaving your home don't forget about important papers: * Driver's license or personal identification * Social Security card * Proof of residence (deed or lease) * Insurance policies * Birth and marriage certificates * Stocks, bonds, and other negotiable certificates * Wills, deeds, and copies of recent tax returns
A little thought and preparation goes a long way in a disaster. We all saw the Katrina pictures of the folks who were caught in the middle of it. However the majority of the people who did evacuate early on did it safely and without incident. The news usually doesn't focus on those prepared because its not news.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Home inspection is an opinion based profession and yes, it is true if you put 10 inspectors in a room, you will get 10 different views. Is this unique to the inspection profession? No, the same can be said about lawyers, doctors, appraisers, claim adjusters and REALTORS. The reason is that our opinions are shaped by our experiences. Home inspectors are generalists. We have to know about the thousands of different items that go into homes ranging from old coal furnaces to energy management systems.
Wood Skirting - no allowed by FHA
Block on soil Not allowed by FHA
;)
;)
