Notes

INSPECTION REPORTS - 10 Things to Keep in Mind THROUGHOUT YOUR Inspection
In discussions with novice and experienced inspectors, the same things come up again and again. Here are ten things you should keep in mind as the inspection is conducted.

1. Have realistic expectations about the home.

A limited understanding of aging in older homes can make stress in purchasers, who might expect a greater degree of perfection than would typically be possible.

Everyone knows that there is a difference between a 100 year old house and a more recent home. Older houses perform differently, and were built to different standards. Older homes age differently predicated on era of construction.

A perfect example of this is usually a basement that was originally built of stone, then filled with mortar and parged to make a more water-resistant area. Although it still leaks, this is an average 100 year old basement, which would not be looked at acceptable in a 20 year old home. Or consider an older septic bed or weeping tile system is more vunerable to problems than a newer one.

Even though there are norms for aging in homes that make very good general guidelines, each house has its own unique personality that you should understand and respect.

2. Keep your emotions in balance.

You wish to avoid feeling roller coaster highs and lows when major expense items are identified by the inspector. Maintaining your emotions in check permits you to absorb more information also to avoid getting overwhelmed by "all of the little things".

As a purchaser, you need to understand that your feelings on the building aren't relevant to the inspector's actual report. The inspector must report on every defect that he finds, however the inspector also needs to put things into context for you.

Of course, an excellent inspector will not over-express his personal feelings and opinions about a house, and what should be done with the house. The inspector shouldn't lose sight of what the homebuyer may be thinking or feeling so as to help his client make the best assessment. This enables the inspector to describe the things that need extra clarification.

3. There is absolutely no such thing as a defect-free home.

A fresh structure will have some items in need of correction, and the most immaculately kept home may also have some conditions that might use some improvement. There is no home ever inspected that required no ink on the inspection report.

Additional info is attempting to educate you on all the little things that have to be done, and he also offers the overall goal of assisting you identify major expense items. While it may seem like the inspector is picking on your purchase decision, he could be really just attempting to pack just as much information as he is able to into the limited time frame that he has to spend with you. Understand that you will need to keep things in context.

Inspectors desire to give their clients many useful and relevant home elevators the house, but sometimes, even when there aren't any major issues, it's possible that some inspectors may overload by individually describing all of the little things. It could only be considered a window screen here, and a door knob over there, but following a long descriptive analysis of several details, you might arrive at the conclusion that "My God! There are a great number of things wrong with this house!"

A good inspector will not waste everyone's time and emotional capacity discussing every doorknob and screen inside your home. You ought to be told verbally, and in writing, there are "one or more" or "some" or "several" minor repairs or improvements required on doorknobs or window screens, or whatever.

4. You must understand the main items now.

It is a good idea to differentiate between what you what is critical to know now, and what you can clarify once you move in.

For example, in the inspector's efforts to make sure that you successfully accomplish a maintenance activity on your new home, he may tell you how easy it is and possibly explain how to do it. Remember that he is telling you for information purposes, and that you will need additional guidance or instruction when actually doing it for yourself.

5. The inspection procedure may be the same every time.

The inspector follows a systematic method of examining and reporting on items, so he will lead you through the house and how you things in a specific order. This consistency of approach may be the method that he uses to cover all the countless items that he must examine.

In the event that you consistently ask questions about things that the inspector has not yet had to be able to discuss, then you will throw him off and he might forget to explain something of note.

This is not meant to dissuade you from asking pertinent questions to greatly help clarify things in your thoughts. For anyone who is wondering "What on earth is he discussing now?" you then have to ask the inspector to explain. While you can telephone your inspector anytime, you have the perfect possibility to share his time now.

For example, if he is discussing basement dampness and you enquire about the electrical system, he should redirect your focus on the topic at hand, and discuss the electrical when the time comes.

6. Pay attention.

This sounds obvious, but every inspector has encountered a time if they have given their clients a large explanation about why something should be done, or not done, only to find out later they completely missed (or misinterpreted) a significant factor. In case a homebuyer isn't listening, the message simply does not get through.

The inspection is an important time, designed to inform you and save money in the short and longterm. When you are distracted by anything (children, relatives, friends, etc), you might not get some important information. Do not think about the inspection a good possibility to show the house to important people in your life.

If there are too many people saying too many things all at once, you shouldn't be shy to politely require some space to consult with your inspector. The inspector may also redirect your attention to the business at hand.

7. The inspector is really a generalist, not a specialist.

The inspector knows how exactly to diagnose problems, but the smart inspector will not offer solutions if he is not completely conversant in the problem accessible. He should guide you to consult with a specialist if the problem involves a far more thorough analysis.

However, all inspectors have a specialty. If he could be a licensed electrician, then you will get more info on electrical issues than if he could be an engineer.

8. The inspection may be the only thing the inspector is aware of.

A lot of the issues involving a home purchase have nothing to do with the inspection. Unless he could be being paid to pump a septic tank or test a well, you're probably a little off-track discussing it. In the event that you ask where the boundary lines are or what the home value is, you need to be told by the inspector that he doesn't know. These discussions won't accomplish anything at the moment, and it's something you'd be better off discussing with your agent or lawyer.

Take into account the big picture, keeping in mind that buying a house is a big project, and the inspector is only paid to be involved in one section of it.

9. Have fun.

It isn't each day that you get to get a home. Enjoy the process as best as possible. Lighten up. You will find a large amount of work and angst involved in home inspections and home buying, and adding stress will take away from your effectiveness in understanding the inspection and making decisions.

10. Follow up.

If your inspector directs you to follow up on issues with another specialist, be it for termites, wood stoves, insurance or other issues, it is incumbent upon one to do so. This is not a case of the inspector passing the buck, but a case of making you alert to issues that require further investigation.

There are also going to be areas that are disclaimed because of restricted access. Concentrate on these once you can so that you can find out if anything was hidden from view.

If you are told to do some maintenance and fail to do so, there might be negative consequences. As an example, failing woefully to caulk the bathtub or re-grout the tiles you could end up a straightforward case of rot, or plaster could fall with harm to furnishings or personal injuries. The inspector may not warn you of all possible consequences, because he expects that you'll do your due diligence with respect to repairs or maintenance.

References:

OAHI's KRMG Educational Series, Part 5

Frank Gruszewski has been involved in construction since 1983, and has renovated century homes, new homes and everything among. He started his home inspection company in 1995, quickly became a Registered Home Inspector (RHI) with OAHI and today has multiple inspectors working for his clients. He has a degree in computer science, is a firefighter, and is married to a wonderful woman. Four children keep him on his toes. Visit his website at http://www.torontohomeinspections.com
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