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The flashlight inspection

By
Home Inspector with Patriot Home Inspections RBI 2556

I have been doing inspections for 4 years now and I was asked a question this week I have never been asked before. While gathering the information on the home for the inspection, I was asked "What tools do you use to complete your inspections?". As I was going over my list of equipment - moisture meter, ladder, flashlight, electrical meter, infrared camera, laptop computer, digital camera, etc, it dawned on me that I can't recall ever being asked this before. I have been asked about my reports, digital pictures, associations, licensing, insurance, what areas of the home are inspected, etc. but never what tools I actually use to do the inspection.

Come to find out, the buyers last inspector showed up with a flashlight and a clipboard. No meters, no digital camera, no ladder, nothing but a flashlight. It got me thinking about how many inspectors are running around charging buyers $300 or more for an inspection that probably wasn't worth the paper it was written on because nothing was tested. 

So, I did a google search for "questions to ask a home inspector" and found several sites that have a list of pre-qualifying questions. I limited the list blow to sites that are not home inspection companies. Here is a link to the list:

http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/insp/inspfaq.cfm

http://www.realtor.org/toolkits/consumere03

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/real-estate/20070311-adviser-home-inspector-a1.asp

 http://www.homebuyinginstitute.com/inspections_article7.php

http://mlshomequest.com/content/view/60/27/

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/201451/five_questions_to_ask_a_home_inspector.html

Now these are good questions to ask and many have the same questions, but not one of them asked "What tools are utilized in the inspection process?" It should never be assumed that all inspectors are the same. And if you are a home buyer looking to have an inspection completed, be sure to determine if your inspector owns more than a flashlight.

Show All Comments
Rick Bunzel
Pacific Crest Inspections - Anacortes, WA

Hubert,

Good post but I disagree with your premise. I say don't judge an inspector by there tools. I am sure that you have seen a number of inspectors come and go in SC over the 4 years you have been in business AND many of those inspectors had a boat load of tools. Just having the tools doesn't mean you know how to use them and interpet the information they are giving you.

For example, thermal images can be interpeted in many different ways. Just the fact that an inspector has one doesn't mean that they can use it especially if their certified through an organization that doesn't verify or test their knowledge.

What most important is experience. Home inspections are visual inspections and we as inspectors need to be able to interpet the more subtle signs and symptoms, and report them. Yes, I may pull out one of my three mositure meters to verify my observation but I don't use it on the majority of my inspections. In fact if I look back on what tools I use on every inspections the list is short: flashlight, screwdriver, infrared thermometer, and suretest outlet tester. I don't count my camera or laptop as those are for documenting the inspection. The other 40 lbs of tools for the most part are just for show.


Rick Bunzel, CRI
Pacific Crest Inspections
NAHI Member of the year 2008
NPSAR Affiliate of the Year 2006-2007
WWW.PacCrestInspections.com
360-588-6956
Fax 360-588-6965
Toll Free 866-618-7764

Oct 26, 2008 04:47 AM
Hubert Miles
Patriot Home Inspections - Florence, SC
Certified Master Inspector

Rick,

Thank you for your comment. I agree with you that an inspector should not be judged by their tools alone. I was simply stating that there are a lot of inspectors (especially in states with no licensing) that are doing inspections with just a notepad and a flashlight. And, I agree many of these don't stay in business long.

We are in an age of advanced tools and computer programs, and I feel it doesn't put forth a level of professionalism that our industry needs. The lists of "Questions to ask an inspector" that are floating around the internet don't really prove the inspector is capable of doing a proper inspection no more than if an inspector has tools or not.

I am like you in that I have a handfull of tools, a maglight flashlight, screwdriver, infrared camera, a GFCI outlet tester, and if needed my ladder, a level, a moisture meter, etc. But I can personally say that my infrared camera and moisture meter have found things that I would deem a major issue that I would have missed with just my own eyes.

I agree that I have seen a lot of inspectors come and go in the market. And I agree some of them did noty possess the knowledge necessary to provide quality service. But equally, I have seen many good inspectors fail because they did not know how to market their services in what has been a tough real estate market.

Oct 27, 2008 04:18 PM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

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