Understanding Home Inspection Reports - 03/24/07 09:31 PM
Understanding Home Inspection ReportsBy Rick BunzelPacific Crest Inspections, LLCWhen shopping for a home inspector most buyers’ initial question will be "how much"? However, a much better question would be “what does your inspection cover and what type of report format do you provide”? There are many styles of reports used by home inspectors, including the checklist (pictured above left), narrative style and custom computer generated (pictured above right) which normally is a narrative style. Many home inspectors are still using carbonless forms while other will use photocopied forms. I have seen reports done on notepad paper. Some reports are delivered on … (0 comments)

Using CLUE when buying a home - 03/18/07 10:36 PM
 
I recently discovered the CLUE database after I identified several mysterious issues for a savvy client. Home inspectors are limited to doing visual inspections. At the time of inspection rarely does our client own the property, so we are in the property as a guest of the seller. This means that we cannot do anything that may damage or destroy the property. In many situations this may mean that we leave the inspection with more questions than we started. We can see mystery stains on walls, we may see water damaged sheetrock thats been repainted, we may see repairs where … (0 comments)

How long do home inspections take - 03/10/07 11:12 AM
How long do inspections take?   Our cannned answer is 2-3 hours. However the reality is "it depends". Yesterday, I found myself apologizing to a realtor for getting done in 90 minutes on a 2300 sq ft. home with a crawl space. There were a number of factors that allowed me to move quickly through the inspection without missing anything:   It was 3 years old. Old enough to have gone through the new home issues but not old enough for things to start breaking.   Only two professionals lived in the home. The home was gently used   Minimal contents … (4 comments)

What is the Seller's Disclosure - 03/06/07 12:53 PM

As a precursor to a performing a home inspection, I will typically ask for the disclosure. Many of my buyers aren't even aware of this form. The disclosure is critical as it is the sellers statement of the condition of the home. One of the roles of the home inspection is verify the statements of the disclosure.  
When a buyer and seller enter into a contract, a seller has certain obligations to disclose any known defects, needed repairs, and violations of law, which the home may manifest. This is where the Seller’s Property Disclosure is used to notify the buyers … (1 comments)