Home Inspections

by Larry Hotz, All Denver Real Estate

“ABOUT HOME INSPECTIONS”

When a Buyer purchases a resale home, it is a good idea to have the home inspected by a professional home inspector. That way, if there is a major defect which would cost a lot of money to repair, you will know about it in advance. If necessary, you can negotiate the indicated remedy with the seller.

If the problem cannot be repaired or you can’t reach an agreement with the seller, you will not be obligated to proceed with the sale. However, to protect your rights under the Inspection Addendum,the buyermust meet the date deadlines specified to the contract.

Buyer Beware! There are some things home inspectors don’t do. In addition to a home inspector, you may wish to hire any of the following:

a.) A video sewer scope to determine the condition of the sewer pipes.

b.) An appraiser to measure the square footage of the home. Remember the appraisal deadline does not protect you against inaccurate square footage representation. You must object to inaccurate square footage representations before the inspection deadline.

c.) A mold inspector or mold test to determine the existence of mold.

d.) An asbestos test to determine if “asbestos-like material” is in fact present.

e.) A lead-base paint test if the property was built prior to 1978.

f.) A sprinkler system contractor to determine the functionality and adequacy of the sprinkler system.

g.) A heating contractor to examine the heat exchanger in the furnace or perform a gas test of it.

So, how do you find these specialized inspectors? Easy! Here is an excellent list of specialized inspectors from Home Systems Data in Greenwood Village, a Denver suburb.

I am not able to “recommend” a Home Inspector. There are many listed in the phone book; or you may know someone who would recommend an Inspector. Below are Home Inspectors who are offered for your information only. Please feel free to select any other Inspector you believe to be competent.

In selecting an Inspector you may want to ask:

1. How long have you been inspecting homes?

2. What specific training have you had to inspect homes?

3. What degrees or certification do you have? (Such as Professional Engineer, ASHI Certified, Bachelor of Sciences in Engineering, Master of Sciences in Engineering, Contractor’s Certification(s), etc.).

4. How long does the inspection last?

5. What does the inspection cost?

6. Do you provide a written report in that cost? Are photos provided?

7. Do you test for hazardous materials such as radon gas?

Most inspections are very routine. Most do not reveal major problems that could jeopardize the closing of the house. So, don’t worry, if there is a problem, we’ll handle it as provided in the Inspection Addendum. This is simply exercising the old proverb: “An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure!”