Some tips or observations I notice during a Home Inspection

A Palmdale, Lancaster and Southern California's Home Inspector's observations!

One of the things that I end up saying is "There's no perfect Home". What I mean is, there are no homes without defect! It's not the little one's that anybody worries about...

I perform quite a few, to say the least, Home Inspections in Palmdale CA, Lancaster, Santa Clarita along with other areas. Recently as well, I've actually been to a few homes that are being sold by someone living there. That's a surprise compared to the last year or so. Good sign for our market, I suppose.

Are there ways to "improve" the home inspection process... likely so!

• If you are selling a Home... keep the clutter down to a minimum if possible. If I can't look under a sink, a garage is so packed I can't open the side door, bathroom counters are so full that I can't see the counter top, I'm likely going to indicate that in the report, buyers may become worried that a seller is "hiding" something. Your home is lived in. That's fine, but help me help you!
• I'm going to find some things... not to worry. Here's the thing. Taking care of the obvious stuff can help us both. If at all possible, contact a Home Inspector for a Seller's Inspection. A good inspector can easily help you identify the obvious repairs needed and you can decide what you can or can't do. A defect on a Home Inspection Report is not going to be a surprise and I tell my clients that all the time. A lengthly inspection report may give the impression that your home is poorly cared for and deferred maintenance is always a concern.
• Pets!!! If at all possible.. maybe having the family dogs at a neighbor or friends home is a plus or a crate/carrier if possible. I've chased a few dogs and cats up and down the street as they've gotten out as I am going in and out of the home. Is it my fault... not really. I still try to catch them though. An inspection just the other day, I heard my client, the buyer saying "I'm not sure I realized how much the pet in the home bothered my allergies until today" Another concern or liability are BITES. In the last decade and longer I've been bitten a few times. Did I sue? No, but you, the seller may not be so lucky. Sadly enough, the last 2 times I've been bitten the Seller's Agent was at the inspection. Not really looking out for the Seller's best interest, I didn't think. I remember thinking when I arrived to the home "Is the Akita a great idea to have running loose during the inspection..?" Dogs of all shapes and sizes seem like they are afraid of people wearing tools.  Animals like me when I get there, by the time I am wearing some tools, it makes the dogs uncomfortable. Tape measure, flashlights and gadgets "dangling" in my pockets and such. It's their turf!
  
• If you are to do repairs prior to selling the home or having it inspected... that's great! But at the same time, some of the repairs that I have seen were blatent, poor attempts to cover up an obvious problem. I recently performed a roof inspection on a home that I was inspecting... the seller had paid someone to patch up a roof that needed replacement. Did the seller know the difference... who knows. But it was good money after bad.

I will post some more insights as I have time and look forward to helping my customers and colleagues where I can.

Tim Spargo - Home Inspector

Home Inspections Palmdale CA

Home Inspections Lancaster CA

Home Inspections Santa Clarita