Who wins? Nobody. Not even the inspector.
I think this will ruffle a few feathers, but it is something that needs to be said. Why do some home inspectors simply feel it is their job to rip houses to shreds and not work with buyers and sellers? I get it that they are paid to find things wrong, and I get that they feel it is their duty to point out all the wrong things with a home, but aren't there many ways to do it without killing the deal and making the buyer upset?
Listen, when you buy a house for 80,000 in a city where the average is $175,000, there may be a few things wrong. After all, the house is over 50 years old and 50 years ago methods of building were different. Electric service was different, heating and cooling different, even siding and basements were different. Homes didn't come with sump pumps and GFI's. And then you pay someone several hundred dollars to come into this house and tell you all the things that are wrong. Of course there are going to be things wrong, but does the inspector need to point out all the doom and gloom items and make it seem that the home is going to fall down? I am thinking that the house is going to be standing for another 50 years, don't you?
I know the sidewalk has a crack and might be a trip hazard. I know the driveway is old and needs sealed. I get it that the new side door trim was not painted and is still factory finished. I see the a/c unit has debris on it. I get it that the outside faucet is not a frost free. I see the crack in the chimney cap. And the dreaded electric panel schedule is missing. There is debris in the chimney clean out, but I was thinking that's why it is a clean-out? Rust on the return air vent, oh my! Which of these items will cause the home to collapse and fall to the ground in a smoldering heap of ash? Then at the end the inspector says "imagine all the items that I can't see".
Now couldn't that have been done differently? Couldn't the inspector have said "This is an older home, and I expect that we will find many small items that will need addressed, but the house has been here for 50 years and I suspect it will be here for a long time longer. Let's see if there are any major concerns that will need addressed." The buyer would buy the home, the inspector would get more referrals, and the 50 year old home would live the good life. See, that wasn't so hard.
So when you buy a home, by all means have it inspected. Pick a home inspector who is competent and check their references, since there is no licensing in our state. Ask them what their philosophy is, are they a helper or just want to stop the deal? Ask them what is their opinion of older homes, especially if you are buying one. Older homes are going to have things wrong, as are newer homes. It's all about what happens when items are found and how serious they are as the vast majority of items can be corrected easily. Pick your home inspector wisely.
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