Home inspector for home - No utilities on! (Tampa: bank owned, foreclosed)

[why_westchase]

Hello Friends,

Please inform if there are any good home inspectors in the Tampa area (Hillsborough specifically) who can do an inspection without the utilities on?

Thanks
Angelo

[housingcrashsurvivor]

He'd have to be very good to check for plumbing leaks with no water pressure.

But seriously, check to make sure they are really not on. Could be that you might be able to turn your water on right at the street valve.

Also frequently Tampa Electric, if that's who services your contract-for-purchase house, leaves the electric on even though nobody is paying. (Supposedly they start to charge if too much is used but probably not just for a lightbulb, etc, and probably not for the time a home inspector would require).

So it could be you don't have to do a thing and that everything is actually up and running. Otherwise you should have the existing homeowner turn on all services so these items can be inspected.

[bentlebee]

Originally Posted by why_westchase

Hello Friends,

Please inform if there are any good home inspectors in the Tampa area (Hillsborough specifically) who can do an inspection without the utilities on?

Thanks
Angelo

I guess you are buying a foreclosed home and since the prices are very low you have to take notice that you have money on the side for future issues.

Many homes have been empty for a long time sometimes even years and even a good home inspector won't find everything.

I have seen homes being inspected and new oweners moved in and later discover the A/C are working but not as they should, which mostly can be detected after living their. An inspector can only messure the system for the time he is there and if it will cool, but not how it works when it is on for weeks or days in a row. We also have seen new owners who had trouble with roof leakages and other issues.

The new owner across from me had issues with buying new appliances since the scumbag who bought it with zero down, and never paid one dime (according to him self) and never lived there, only had it as an investment, took all appliances and everything else he could crab. The new owner found out that custom made appliances had been there and had to order everything which was more expensive than the regular stuff you can buy in every store.

But having said that, all the new owners I know, are still happy with their cheap or nice bargain...but if you have a tied budget than buy cheaper because an empty house will have some issues....

[TampaKaren]

Both TECO & Hillsborough County Water (most of Pasco Utilities, too!) will turn on the utilities for a one-day inspection. Ask your Realtor; there's a form we can complete. There are inspectors with generators large enough to power the house, but you can expect to pay exhorbitant prices, e.g., $1,500 for 2500 square feet heated.

[leon maroc]

Why would you want to inspect without power and water on? Your hot water, A/C, appliances, etc. will not run. The water can be turned on - if it is not padlocked at the meter. The electric can be turned on by the power company with a phone call. If this is bank owned, the bank rep can have this done for you.
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