Home Inspectors ~ a buyer’s new best friend
A slower real estate market has more sellers asking for home inspections, says Bill Kruszewski, owner of the Myrtle Beach franchise of HouseMaster.
Question: What should homeowners expect to get out of a good home inspection?
Answer: You will find out the condition of all the major systems like roofing, air conditioning, heating, water heater, electric and appliances. We check for functionality and condition. We do not do cosmetic checks.
Q: What should homeowners look for in picking a home inspector?
A: Call at least three and check their credentials. Ask how many inspections they’ve done. Ask if they carry professional liability insurance and general liability insurance. Another criteria is professional memberships, like the American Society of Home Inspectors. Ask if the report can be sent over e-mail, if it contains photos and ask for a sample report.
Q: What are major problems you see in homes in this area?
A: We see a variety of problems from the condition of roofing to siding to roof leakage. We see air conditioning and heating system deficiencies. We see a lot of moisture problems in crawl spaces.
Q: What’s the one thing homeowners could do to help the upkeep of their home, but usually don’t?
A: Maintaining the roofing, exterior and the flashings (sealants) are important. All systems have finite lives especially water heaters and appliances. We see maintenance issues on wood-exterior older homes. Vinyl and brick tend to have fewer maintenance requirements.
Q: What’s the one question all homeowners ask?
A: They ask us, “Would you buy this house?” We give them an inspection report and it’s up to them to decide. They ask, “Did the house pass the inspection?” There’s no pass/fail. We don’t decide that. They can read the report and decide if it works for them. In our experience, there’s probably no perfect home. You should expect the home inspector to find something - could be major, could be minor. Then you can work with your real estate agent and go over any concerns. It’s our job to provide the facts.
Q: What else is important for the consumer to know?
A: You should ask the home inspector if you can be there with them for the inspection. You can walk around with us and ask questions. We can give you a lot of useful information like where the circuit breaker is and the size of the hot water heater. If we find wood rot, we can show you the extent of it. Typically a home buyer sees a home for about 20 minutes. The home inspection gives them hours to get to know their potential new home.
Source: Jenny Burns, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, SC
