Inspecting bank owned homes can be a challenge. Most have been vacate for a time and many don't have utilities on. For the buyer a home inspection can alleviate some of the uncertainty but a home inspection does have it limitations especially during winter and the utilities are off. Fortunately in the Anacortes, Bellingham, Burlington or Mount Vernon, Wa we do not have the deep freezes that other parts of the country have but it does get cold here. Regardless of whether the home has been "winterized" if the home has gotten below freezing you are going to have some damage. There is no way to get all the water out of the plumbing or appliances and when it turns to ice it will cause damage. This is a case of "Buyer Beware" so we do our best to describe the limitations of a visual inspection to our clients. So even if you have an inspection, there maybe latent damage that does not turn up until later. Your best bet is to reserve money for repairs. Buyers can also mitigate some risk by buying a 1 year warranty on the home.
Rick Bunzel, CRI
Pacific Crest Inspections
WA Licensed Home Inspector #312
ASHI Certified #249557
NAHI Member of the Year 2008
NPSAR Affiliate of the Year 2006-2007
WWW.PacCrestInspections.com
360-588-6956
Fax 360-588-6965
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