[AlphaBeta]

Has anyone had a home inspection and then found problems with the house that was not in the report?

When choosing a home inspector, is it better to choose someone who has one of those cameras that can see into your walls (thermal camera), or is that not a big deal?

[macgeek]

ALL home inspectors do a crappy cursory inspection, mine gave me a 32 page report, most of it 'filler' and pictures of blown out / missing light bulbs.

some may do a better job (using xray's to look in walls) But you pay for that expense
I think you can just bring in a handyman, and get a better and more honest inspection.

home inspectors look for the 800 lb gorilla, they miss all the monkeys.

Jonathan

[WestieJeff]

+1.

They make you feel better, but largely find totally obvious stuff. "Air Conditioner didn't turn on, should be check out by qualified HVAC professional" kind of thing.

I still get them every time, but I do feel like overall it's a waste.

Originally Posted by macgeek

ALL home inspectors do a crappy cursory inspection, mine gave me a 32 page report, most of it 'filler' and pictures of blown out / missing light bulbs.

some may do a better job (using xray's to look in walls) But you pay for that expense
I think you can just bring in a handyman, and get a better and more honest inspection.

home inspectors look for the 800 lb gorilla, they miss all the monkeys.

Jonathan

[classic1956cars]

Originally Posted by macgeek

ALL home inspectors do a crappy cursory inspection, mine gave me a 32 page report, most of it 'filler' and pictures of blown out / missing light bulbs.

some may do a better job (using xray's to look in walls) But you pay for that expense
I think you can just bring in a handyman, and get a better and more honest inspection.

home inspectors look for the 800 lb gorilla, they miss all the monkeys.

Jonathan

Good post

[crazy_bd]

I had two inspectors look at my house before I bought it, because I wanted a "second opinion". First guy was in and out in about one hour, cursory and superficial. The second guy spent about 4 hrs, thorough beyond any expectations I could have had and found quite a bit more than the first guy. So, don't think ALL inspectors are the same.

[macgeek]

Originally Posted by crazy_bd

I had two inspectors look at my house before I bought it, because I wanted a "second opinion". First guy was in and out in about one hour, cursory and superficial. The second guy spent about 4 hrs, thorough beyond any expectations I could have had and found quite a bit more than the first guy. So, don't think ALL inspectors are the same.

AND $$ YOU $$ PAID $$ DOUBLE $$ FOR THAT $$ KNOWLEDGE
As ALWAYS ymmv

PS: Please post the name of the GOOD INSPECTOR!

Jonathan

[lvoc]

Originally Posted by WestieJeff

+1.

They make you feel better, but largely find totally obvious stuff. "Air Conditioner didn't turn on, should be check out by qualified HVAC professional" kind of thing.

I still get them every time, but I do feel like overall it's a waste.

9 out of 10 are routine. The tenth is a wing ding.

There is nothing that a knowledgable buyer or buyer and contractor could not do for himself. But the good ones are thorough and disciplined.

Simple ones like verifying that the water meter does not turn once you have everything off...and note that can be a complex task if you don't know you way around home systems. We had one that took a couple of hours to find a leaking valve in a humidifier. Another case though the leak was under the driveway making a $900 repair.

Found one house with five broken trusses. Did not buy. A broken truce or improperly installed one is not unusual. Five in the same area is trouble.

So if you are very knowledgable and prepared to put in the effort you can do your own inspection. If not..

Inspectors are immune from things that could not be seen or easily deduced. They are not in the clear on anything that they miss negligently.

[ScoopLV]

This is another area where it makes sense to DIY.

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

Find a good new home punch list (also called a punch-out list or a snag list) -- even if you're not looking at new construction. Use this as a checklist when you've narrowed it down to a few houses. There are a LOT of things to check. I don't go house hunting without a small tool kit, which includes a level, a square, a receptacle tester, screwdrivers, an infrared thermometer, tape measure (amazing how far off the MLS listing room dimensions can be -- and always in favor of the seller, it seems). Check EVERYTHING. Don't rely on others to look out for your best interest. You're the one who has to live there after closing. Finding minor problems can help you negotiate price. Finding major problems can save you from major headaches down the road.

[lvoc]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

This is another area where it makes sense to DIY.

Room dimensions almost always come from the original builder. The listed area of a Las Vegas home comes from the Assessor's office and is basically an external measurement of the property. Not neccessarily accurate but quite consistent.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by lvoc

Room dimensions almost always come from the original builder. The listed area of a Las Vegas home comes from the Assessor's office and is basically an external measurement of the property. Not neccessarily accurate but quite consistent.

I've measured a lot of 1,925 square foot houses that were listed for sale as 2,000. A few inches off here, a foot there, and all of a sudden, the house is hitting online searches for 2,000+ sqft. Amazing how that happens.

But I'm sure this is just human error, and not just another example of unethical business practice. Yeah, right. Sure it is. Tape measures are tricky beasts, after all.

Who's worse? The liar who sent the incorrect measurements off to the assessor's office? The assessor who doesn't verify? Or the endless parade of people down the line who just accept the measurements as fact without bothering to check?