Special offer

Portland Real Estate Questions: How Can I Find a Good Home Inspector?

By
Industry Observer with RETIRED / State License is Inactive Inactive License Oregon

Portland Real Estate Questions:  How Can I Find a Good Home Inspector?

One of the most important aspects of purchasing a home is the home inspection.   Although the Sales Agreement* in our local market contains an "As Is" clause, this does NOT prevent buyers from conducting due diligence.

Most home buyers do not know the following:

  • Where to find for a good home inspector
  • What to expect from a home inspector
  • What the home inspection process is all about
  • How the information provided by the home inspector is used by the Realtor®
  • If the home inspector is an ALARMIST

In a recent home inspection, I witnessed a home inspector making "what if" statements about functioning equipment, not thoroughly inspecting major components of the home, not documenting obvious conditions that needed repair, not fully documenting conditions they VERBALLY mentioned to the buyers, making exhorbanent claims about what the seller "needs to repair" for the buyers (which seems to cross over into negotiations/practicing real estate without a license,) and quoting exorbitantly high (IMHO) repair costs/costs to fix.

Selecting THE WRONG HOME INSPECTOR can cost you the house AND the expenses of the home inspection

  • Home inspectors should NOT be hired to negotiate repairs
  • Home inspectors SHOULD be hired to inspect the property UNBIASEDY and OBJECTIVELY

When hiring a home inspector THE BEST ANSWER TO THE QUESTION: HOW CAN I FIND A GOOD HOME INSPECTOR is to ask your Realtor® for referrals. 

I supply two or three names of QUALITY home inspectors in the Portland Metro area.  

The following is a quote from a home inspector who knows how to do his job and refrains from the alarmist behavior: 

"The other side of the coin is the buyer that "wants me to find every little thing and make a big deal out of it" so that they can grind the seller on price. My usual response is that "I'm just here to observe and report". I don't have a dog in this fight and I don't care who wins. Not my job, man! Being professional, friendly and informative is my job." Dana Bostwick True Professionals, Inc.

There are a few home inspectors I've run into recently that have killed the deal and cost the buyer a lot of money.  

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU HIRE and if you want to know how to find a GOOD HOME INSPECTOR -- ASK YOUR AGENT!! 

If you don't trust your agent to supply you with quality referrals to home inspectors, then WHY are you working with them?!?

 

 

Read my previous articles:

This post is an entry in the FAQ Break Into Summer Organized challenge.
Posted by

 

 

Carla Muss-Jacobs has RETIRED effective May 1, 2018

Representing Buyers in the Portland Metro Real Estate Market | Clackamas Multnomah and Washington Counties | Since 1999

Carla Muss-Jacobs, REALTOR®, ABR, CEBA, ePro
Principal Broker/Owner ~~ INACTIVE

Carla Muss-Jacobs' retirement became effective May 1, 2018

Direct: 503-810-7192 

 

All Rights Reserved © 

Comments (6)

Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Carla, Great post. I am going to hit suggest. This should be read by all buyers.

May 18, 2012 07:00 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Ooooooooo good question, at the end of your post, Carla!  WHY work with someone if you don't trust them to know what you need them to know ... or wouldn't trust their referrals?  This questions has run through my head more than a few times lately.  Great topic ... with all sorts of informational gems in it!  Suggested!!

Gene

May 18, 2012 07:48 AM
Nancy Conner
Olympia, WA
Olympia/Thurston County WA

Excellent Carla!  And I love your ending question about trusting your agent for referrals too!  Part of working hard for our buyer clients - and wanting them to be happy so they will refer future business to us - includes knowing the inspectors who are experienced and thorough without crossing that line of trying to tell buyers how to negotiate with the seller for needed repairs.

May 18, 2012 08:06 AM
Kwee Huset
Kwee Huset Realty - Venice, FL
Venice Florida Homes For Sale

Carla, suggested. It is so true - If you don't trust your agent to supply you with quality referrals to home inspectors, then WHY are you working with them?!?

May 18, 2012 10:16 AM
Brenda Mullen
RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX
Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

The home inpsection is very important, however finding that right home inspector can be even more so.  I have a few great ones that I work with that will guide the buyer and show them everything.  They are meticulous and will find Everything, but many times that aren't deal killing things, just things that the buyer needs to be educated about.  

May 18, 2012 11:41 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Hi Gita . . . thanks!

Hey Gene -- the buyers that have an agenda typically don't go with an inspector I've referred -- and coincidently, they usually screw themselves right out of the home.

Hi Nancy . . . most people haven't gone on hundreds of inspections, so when I have referrral I know and trust, it's important. 

Hey Kwee -- Stands to reason ;-)

Hi Brenda . . . absolutely! 

May 18, 2012 02:16 PM