We get the question quite often, "Do I need to have the house inspected?" Well, dollars and cents say, "yes", but most importantly common sense says, "yes." Consider this disturbing picture of house with toilet paper roll dispenser built into the shower!!! (along with an electrical outlet, yipes!)
First, let me state that I am not a home inspector. I am not posting this to solicit home inspection business. I am in the real estate repair, restoration, and property preservation business as a general contractor. I want buyers and Realtors to be aware that the homes in this market are VERY different than anything we have every worked on. It's just the fact.
If you are even thinking about buying a home in this market and debating a home inspection PLEASE consider the following:
- Nearly every home in this market is in need of repair regarding mechanical systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC). Why? Deferred maintenance. When the economy bottomed out, regular system checks and maintenance issues were neglected. It's like not changing the oil to your car. As long as the engine starts, the damage goes unnoticed, but at some point the engine is going to need to be replaced. It's the same with house systems. Thousands of dollars are spent to correct what could have been avoided if something as simple as a dirty air filter or small leak was attended to.
- Homes have been sabotaged by previous homeowners. Ingenious, creative, vindictive, and angry is the homeowner who bought his house with the promise of a great investment only to find himself thrown into a pit of negative equity and an unwilling bank to pull him out. What does he do? He sabotages the house in a last ditch effort to stick it to the bank. We have seen just downright ingenious contraptions to plumbing and electrical systems, small holes in the roofing, and other hidden gems that cause catastrophic damage.
- Tenant occupied short sales are on the rise. The landlord/ owner did not have the money to pay the mortgage; you think he is going to be willing to repair the house? Often the tenant is left to just occupy the house rent free. The tenant has ZERO investment in the house. It is like a free rental car to him with all the insurance...Varoooom! Let's use the speed bump as a launching pad!
- Short sale and REO vacant homes have a TON of issues just because of the fact they are vacant. Remember your science classes on how rust is formed. Water + Air + Metal = RUST. Water lines are not running, water is sitting in these lines forming pin hole rust spots. When the pressure is turned back on the pipes leak throughout the house. Happens all the time. I can not tell you how many water heaters we have replaced because of this. On top of that, the Realtors often do not check these things before turning the water on and before long there are hidden leaks and mold forming around the HVAC unit and sending mold spores throughout the house.
Just some things to consider if you are debating a home inspection by a qualified professional. In this market, it just makes cents sense.
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