I didn't realize how much they have changed until I had a client who had been out of the country for 7 years and had not purchased an American home for almost 10 years.
Inspectors are licensed now! This is fabulous news for all concerned. It also means that inspectors are more thorough and they follow my rigorous standards. Buyers who haven't purchased in a while will can think the home they are buying is a disaster - IF they are comparing this report to one from years ago. Years ago - who knows???? The inspector may have been a stockboy at a hardware store and now considered himself/herself worthy of the INSPECTOR title. But not now: inspectors are licensed!
Most inspectors want to give you a report that includes maintenance items for when you move in the home. For example, 30 year old doorknobs may be loose and not operating properly. But you probably aren't expecting the seller to replace them all. The inspector will point it out - FOR EACH ROOM. Wow, it makes for a lot of line items and pictures and a big report. Its ok. An inspector now has a duty to point out everything ... and I mean everything.
PICTURES and more pictures. Formerly, a buyer might have heard there were 10-year old water stains (not damage) in the crawlspace from a water leak. Fixed. Not a problem. The end. But actually seeing that blackness on the wood - UGH! It feels dirty and can have an effect on the buyer. Of course, the pictures are good. I always want to put things in perspective for the buyer, though. Any house that has some age on it will have a leaky toilet or something in the course of its life. Just something to remember.
If you are a first time buyer or you are buying a home for the first time in several years, please note: your inspection report could be hazardous to your blissful buying mood! Keep things in perspective so that you don't talk yourself out of a home that will provide you with years of happiness. The next one you try to buy - it may have black stains under the brand-new, 30-year, architectural shingle roof. They will be ugly, too, but, by golly, I bet that roof isn't leaking now!
Comments(6)