home inspection---specific things to watch out for

[sunsprit]

Perhaps it will help clarify ArthurDaly's "little bit confused" to know that Highlands Ranch built by Mission Viejo is a subdivision comprising 29,000 SFH's. Call it a "master planned community" if that makes you feel better, but it was all the work of the one developer's land, platting, and construction efforts.

The class action lawsuits representing 14,000 homeowners were for slightly less than half of the homeowners. There's a group of folk who didn't participate in the class action because they believe their damages are in excess of what the likely outcome of the class action suit would result and they didn't want to sign away their right to claims.

[VileTat]

sunsprit could you recommend any local engineering firms and/or inspectors?

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by VileTat

sunsprit could you recommend any local engineering firms and/or inspectors?

I'd suggest that you call a number of the listed engineering firms in the phone book, and interview them re their local knowledge/experience/services. With the soil problems in the area, this has become a big business around here and there are many competent firms.

Or perhaps the folk at Sullan's law firm will have a number of engineering firms to suggest. Might be worth calling them for their recommendation for somebody they've used in their court cases.

[ArthurDaly]

Sunspirit - I'm impressed with your obvious typing skills - however, I'm sorry that you feel the need to resort to sarcasm and condescension in your responses.

And yes, I'm still confused, because the more you post the more contradictions seem to appear.

So, back to my original point - take a 4 ft level with you to your inspection. Walls, floors, door frames, windows etc that are out of plumb or level are a concern. If you like the house, get a structural inspection. If settlement issues cause you to lose sleep at night - don't buy the house. Simple.

[bob32]

Thanks all for the comments and the spirited debate! We're in the middle of formalizing our inspection objections right now, and one of our requests is to extend the inspection objection deadline another week for us to have an separate inspection done by a structural engineer.