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Pest and Dry Rot? Explanations of some confusing Salem, Oregon real estate terms

By
Home Inspector with Perfection Inspection, Inc.

Pest and Dry Rot.  These are items that seem to be pretty straight forward, but if you look at the actual definition of these terms even I start to get confused!

Pest and Dry Rot is an unbelievably ambiguous term that gets thrown around a lot during the course of a real estate transaction.  To limit the amount of confusion lets dissect the parts and expectations of a Pest and Dry Rot inspection:

Most of the time, around Salem, Oregon the “P and D,” is what loan companies want to see (if anything) as far as the inspections.  So right from the start, things can get weird.  Unlike an appraiser I, the home inspector, do not work for the loan company.  My contract is with my clients (usually the buyers) and I do an inspection for my client’s benefit.  I do not care about what a loan company finds important, they did not hire me.

What is a pest?  I have had neighbors that definitely qualify as pests.  I have even known some real estate agents and mortgage officers that might fall under that guise.  So how am I, your well meaning home inspector, supposed to comment on Pests?  Stay tuned and I will further delve into what these terms actually mean……:

Wood Destroying Organisms Part 2

Wood Destroying Organisms Part 3

Jim Allhiser President/Inspector
http://SalemOregonHomeInspections.com
503.508.4321         jallhiser@perfectioninspectioninc.com

“Always on the cutting edge”

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Melina Tomson
Tomson Burnham, llc Licensed in the State of Oregon - Salem, OR
Principal Broker/Owner, M.S.

Now Jim...I can't believe you are calling me a pest...

Dec 12, 2009 09:46 AM
Jim Allhiser
Perfection Inspection, Inc. - Salem, OR
Salem, Oregon Home Inspector

Melina, I only talk about "other" agents!

 

Dec 12, 2009 02:45 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Jim, same here in WA as far as the use of the term "Dry Rot"-----widely used but never seen:)

Dec 17, 2009 12:53 AM
Jim Allhiser
Perfection Inspection, Inc. - Salem, OR
Salem, Oregon Home Inspector

Charles:  I wonder who started this whole mess...?

Dec 18, 2009 09:23 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Jim it is just the same as with Powder Post Beetles and Anobiid Beetles----generally speaking----at least "naturally occuring" we only have Anobiid not Powder Post-----doesn't stop even professional pest guys from calling Anobiids Powder Post:)  Given the huge difference in terms of distructiveness you wouldn't think they would want to make that mistake.

Dec 18, 2009 09:47 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

Over the years, I've certainly seen my fair share of agents who think they are inspectors and try to tell me what is wrong with a house long before you get there. (I find 90% of the time they are wrong and have just panicked a client for no reason)

Dec 22, 2009 10:46 PM
Jim Allhiser
Perfection Inspection, Inc. - Salem, OR
Salem, Oregon Home Inspector

Charles: I don't get it.  Laziness perhaps?

Todd:  Me too!  Or listing agents are sure that this listing can not go FHA and I find very few issues and it goes FHA just fine.  I guess that is what makes true pro's so valuable.

Dec 22, 2009 11:39 PM