home inspections: A Home Inspection Is Not Optional - 05/19/13 02:37 AM
A Home Inspection Is Not Optional How often have you heard the need to get a home inspection from a Realtor? There is no legal requirement in Oregon to have a home inspection, but it would be incredibly unwise not to get one. Buying a home with hidden repair/safety/health issues can be a money pit. 
The cost of an inspection is money well spent. All inspectors are not created equal. Your Realtor should be able to provide you with a list of inspectors who have demonstrated proficiency and attention to detail.
Each inspector has a list of the different inspections that … (31 comments)

home inspections: Should I get my short sale re-inspected? - 02/07/10 07:11 AM
Should I get my short sale re-inspected?
Should I get my short sale re-inspected? I would say my answer to that is probably yes, depending on how much time has elapsed. I was talking to a new home owner last week. He purchased a short sale and the period between the home inspection and the closing of the short sale was nine months. The Seller continued to live in the house.
When he took possession of the home, it was apparent that no maintenance and very little cleaning had been done during that period. The carpets were very dirty, the furnace … (8 comments)

home inspections: How do home inspectors test for Chinese drywall? - 11/24/09 05:41 AM
How do home inspectors test for Chinese drywall?
This question was posed to me yesterday and I did not have a good answer. This drywall has not been an issue around here, yet. I did see something on TV where inspectors in Florida cut out a section of drywall and looked at the label on the backside. This seems awfully invasive and requires a repair. I'm sure that there is a better test, but I don't know what it is. Can anyone tell me how to test for this drywall? Thanks.
Wayne B. Pruner is a Realtor® at Oregon First, who … (8 comments)