My home inspector owns a gizmo that allows him to see through 4 feet of cement. He's able to detect termites behind walls by looking through his sun glasses as he levitates around the home like David Blane. He also wears a special belt that he can take off and wrap around a seller to get FULL disclosure on any item of the home. He's a SUPER INSPECTOR. He can identify every tree in all 246 counties across the State of Texas by simply sniffing the bark.
Actually, none of this is true.
Despite the ongoing misconception, home inspectors cannot see through walls. They cannot tell you when your air condition is going to stop working. They don't know if your foundation needs 1, 2 or 40 piers. They have no idea if that diseased tree is lacking a certain nutrient and if and when it's going to fall on the house and crush your barbie doll collection. Home inspectors have lot of tools, but none of them allow them to fly over your home and find every crack or crevice.
If you find a problem 4 years after you move in, consider that maybe it was happened after you moved in. It's not always the home inspector "missing something." Sometimes when you drive off the lot in your brand new car you run over a nail. It happens.
Home inspectors don't take apart dishwashers, water heaters, air conditioners or toilets to "find potential problems." They inspect what they can see.
Expansive soils exist in almost every corner of your community. Foundations crack. They always will. Termites exist in almost every single lawn in the city of Houston. It's not "If" they exist, but "when" they will get "in" the home.
The smartest thing to do is hire the best inspector you can find. If you have doubts about components of the home, hire a seasoned and reputable professional that's licensed in that field.
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