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When the advice given is just… BAD!

By
Home Inspector with NCW Home Inspections, LLC

When the advice given is just… BAD! Wenatchee Home Inspections

 

Sometimes you just have to wonder about the internet and some of the advice given there.

 

Here is a prime example-Top Tips for Prospective Homebuyers.

 

From this article “For those who feel that home inspection Toronto is something that is best done by professionals, nothing could be further from truth. With a little bit of effort, almost anyone can do a good job of it. In fact, with the Internet to help these days, a lot of people in Canada are doing home inspection themselves.”

 

Yes this article states that with a “little effort” you can do a good job of it.  Well… in all honesty there maybe some home inspections that do little more than what a lay person could do, but if you hire a good home inspector this would be the farthest from the truth.

 

This brings me to an example of a home buyer who decided against using one of the good home inspection services in Wenatchee. They instead went with a family member who was an inspector (I do not know what kind of inspector they were, and I have my doubts).

 

Later I was called by their Realtor who knew me to ask if I would look at something really quick for them. I was on a home inspection in the neighborhood so I said no big problem I would be over as soon as I was finished with the home inspection I was performing.

 

I was looking at a water leak they needed addressed in the basement. So I go run some water in the kitchen sink which above the leak area. I open the kitchen cabinet and see that the dishwasher discharge hose was not installed properly. Okay not a huge deal. But as I ran water into the sink I find no leak there.

                                    Dishwasher discharge

So down to the basement and sure enough water is coming out of the wall. What was happening is the main drain from the kitchen was actually in the foundation wall (not a usual installation) and was cracked/punctured.  This means a plumber was now going to have to jack-hammer the floor and/or wall and create a new connection and then reinstall the drain line on the surface of the wall.

 

Waste line leakWaste line leak

 

A little more involved than everyone suspected and a bit more costly. A professional home inspection would have found this and most likely this would be corrected prior to the sale. The cost of the home inspection would have been covered in this expense alone.

 

For those who want to take the advice in the article remember… you do not know what you do not know.

 

“If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.”

Red Adair

 

NCW Home Inspections, LLC  is a Licensed Washington State Home Inspection service located in Wenatchee Washington serving Chelan County, Douglas County, Kittitas County, Okanogan County and Grant County Washington and the cities of Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, Oroville, Cle Elum, East Wenatchee, Quincy and many more…  

 

Your Wenatchee and Chelan Professional Real Estate, Home and Structural Pest Inspection Service

 

www.ncwhomeinspections.com                                               509-670-9572

 

James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Wow, that is weird. And for sure an expensive fix. Like they say, you get what you pay for.

Mar 02, 2014 11:17 PM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Donald,

The post you mentioned about doing your own home inspection is by far one of the worst posts I have ever sen as far as advice for home buyers. There is a reason we home inspectors are in business.

That's because we inspect homes for a living, we know what we are doing.

Getting a small check list off the internet will not make you inspection any better. Know the facts before proceeding with such bad advice.

The leak you found needs to have some good professional plumbers fix the issues.

If they don't want that, then they can get some advice from the internet. LOL

Crazy. (just kidding).

Have a good day on The West Coast my friend.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 02, 2014 11:24 PM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Jim, It is so true. They saved themselves a home inspection fee but got to pay for a very nice plumber to show up and perform the repair ; )

 

Clint, I know, what are some thinking. Heck while you are at it sleep in a Holiday Inn Express and do some surgery ; )

Mar 02, 2014 11:38 PM
Robert Butler
Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

This is like those Nigerian 'letters' offering you millions to open a Canadian/American bank account. Clearly a scam and not written by a English language speasker. 

It contradicts itself and has had names and phrases replaced. It may even be based on a commecial ad place by a Toronto  inspection company.

Junk writing.

Mar 03, 2014 06:25 AM
Randy Mitchelson,APR
Marketing Advisor & Squeeze Mortgage - Bonita Springs, FL
First Impressions are made at First Click

Water works in mysterious ways! I have a house full of leaks unfortunately. As soon as we fix it and think we can sleep well, something reappears elsewhere. 

Mar 03, 2014 07:29 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Robert, I think you are right. But still you know how it goes on the internet.

Randy, If you have an older home with say, galvanized plumbing, then total replacement maybe what needs to be done.

Mar 03, 2014 10:39 PM