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What should we expect from normal home inspection? What is usually included in HI? What other inspections should we order? Electrical/plumbing? Where and how to find someone for separate electrical/plumbing/roof inspections?
If the house has 2 stories, does the home inspector usually check the roof/ walk over?
I am in Tampa, FL.
Usually, the home inspector will be able to generally cover everything (including electrical, plumbing, framing, a visual of the roof, etc). I doubt you'd need a separate electrical or plumbing inspection.
The inspector's job is to point out potential issues. So if there are some issues that are brought up that you're concerned with, it's probably best to bring in a contractor to get an estimate on the costs to fix it. Based on that estimate, you can renegotiate the price or ask the seller to make the repairs.
Besides a contractor the only other additional person you might want to bring in is a structural engineer. The inspector might identify a fairly major problem with the framing or foundation. At that point a structural engineer would be the appropriate person to evaluate the condition and provide input.
I was very pleased with the home inspection I had done.
He was here about 5 hours and went over EVERYTHING.
In a couple days I got the very neat printout booklet pointing out any problems and each one he stated if they were a high importance or low importance.
I was very impressed with the job he did and the price------------$225
I then bought the booklet over to a guy who was making adjustments to my house for handicap accessable and asked him to give a price on each item listed.
He did...........I hired him--------all things on that list were taken care of as they were all quite minor.
( I paid for it )
I'm not in Florida either- but the only additional inspection we paid for when we bought a house last year, was a Termite Inspection from a pest control company. It turns out that there were a few termites, and the seller paid to have them treated before closing.
What should we expect from normal home inspection? What is usually included in HI? What other inspections should we order? Electrical/plumbing? Where and how to find someone for separate electrical/plumbing/roof inspections?
If the house has 2 stories, does the home inspector usually check the roof/ walk over?
I am in Tampa, FL.
Most inspectors for this area will do an overall inspection of the electrical, plumbing and roof but if you want a more comprehensive inspection you will need to get a specialist in each area you want inspected.
Many local inspectors now also do the wind mitigation inspection which is important to keep your insurance costs down.
I would also be hesitant to utilize someone that comes to a website and just posts one sentence like this to try and get you to use their service.
The above business has a link to their latest award from the U. S. Commerce Association, I was curious so I checked on them and this is what I found.
Quote:
Recent emails notifying businesses that they have won prestigious awards from a national association appear to be part of a widespread scheme designed to get companies to pay for “vanity” awards and plaques.
The group behind the “awards” program is the U. S. Commerce Association of Washington, D. C. The association has been sending out news releases in recent months to businesses nationwide, telling them they have been selected as “outstanding local businesses” and offering them an opportunity to buy one or more awards to mark the honor.
A home inspector is a generalist, like a family physician. They know a little bit about a lot of things. If you want something totally in depth for a system then you need to get a specialist, just like you would see a cardiologist, ENT, etc.
You can go to ashi.org and do a search for inspector in the Tampa area. There are lots there. Call a few up and listen to what they say. Pick an inspector on experience not on price. I would try to find an inspector that has been in business 10 years or more.
I'm in TN, but I do know a few inspectors in that area if you want to send me a DM.
Thanks for all answer. I was wondering how inspectors check roofs for 2 story houses. I cannot imagine one walking on the roof, so how they can assume roof's condition. I called few inspectors for estimate and the whole profession made me wonder what I am really paying for. Every single one was talking about checking existing appliences for like 15 minutes listing every single one... I don't really care since I am looking to install new ones including AC... My lender told me they don't require regular home inspection... I guess when the right house comes, I will hire professionals for each part of house just to be sure there are no major problems and skip general home inspector.
Hiring a specialist for each part of the house-----------( electrician-------plumber-------roofer----HVAC------ETC )could get VERY COSTLY
That would be like having a physical and demanding specialists are all present so each specialist can examin e you.
( I think you would get laughed at as a general physicians are just as qualified to give complete physicals as inspectors are to inspect a house )
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An exa,ple
