Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
I am a first-time home buyer and have a home inspection Friday and I am planning on being at the house for the entire 3-4 hours along with the inspectors.
Are there any tips or recommendations you have to maximize my time spent in the house? Am I supposed/allowed only to shadow the inspector or can I also take pictures of certain things which may look suspicious? Are there are particular items that you can point out based on your experience which I should point out to the inspector?
Thank you!
Are there any tips or recommendations you have to maximize my time spent in the house? Am I supposed/allowed only to shadow the inspector or can I also take pictures of certain things which may look suspicious? Are there are particular items that you can point out based on your experience which I should point out to the inspector?
Thank you!
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Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
First off, in this market, you're lucky to be in a situation where you can have an inspection! Hang around the inspector and listen to what he (or she) has to tell you about the house. Use the time to take measurements, think about furniture placement...that kind of thing. I wouldn't take my own pictures for negotiation purposes, the inspector will take them and if you are suspicious about something, ask and let them give you their opinion.
My biggest advice (I'm now on house #6!) is not to freak out. The first time you see an inspection report, it's intimidating and some of the things they point out may seem really scary. In general, they really arent and can either be fixed easily by the seller or deferred until later. Major things like foundations, roofs, bug infestation, serious mold, can be deal-breakers but just about everything is fixable. If you have real concerns, you can always have a specialist do another inspection, we had a deck company do an inspection of the deck on our current house for example.
Good luck!
My biggest advice (I'm now on house #6!) is not to freak out. The first time you see an inspection report, it's intimidating and some of the things they point out may seem really scary. In general, they really arent and can either be fixed easily by the seller or deferred until later. Major things like foundations, roofs, bug infestation, serious mold, can be deal-breakers but just about everything is fixable. If you have real concerns, you can always have a specialist do another inspection, we had a deck company do an inspection of the deck on our current house for example.
Good luck!
Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
Did you hire the inspector, or was the inspector hired by the seller?
Have you check with state agencies about home inspector competence or complaints?
How qualified or professionally certified is this home inspector? Did they watch two episodes of This Old House, or do they know the business?
There's many horror stories about home inspectors who were as equally unqualified as Inspector Clouseau was to investigate a crime scene.
Have you check with state agencies about home inspector competence or complaints?
How qualified or professionally certified is this home inspector? Did they watch two episodes of This Old House, or do they know the business?
There's many horror stories about home inspectors who were as equally unqualified as Inspector Clouseau was to investigate a crime scene.
Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
You may get better tips with more information:
Approx age of home
Free standing house or condo?
If the former, wood frame construction? Approx geographic area?
Recently remodeled or is it pretty dated (approx vintage of finishes and last major update)?
i.e. What to watch for in a suburban, Texas ranch, built ca. 2010, may be rather different from what to watch for in an 1980s NYC condo or a Boston area brick home built around 1910...
Approx age of home
Free standing house or condo?
If the former, wood frame construction? Approx geographic area?
Recently remodeled or is it pretty dated (approx vintage of finishes and last major update)?
i.e. What to watch for in a suburban, Texas ranch, built ca. 2010, may be rather different from what to watch for in an 1980s NYC condo or a Boston area brick home built around 1910...
Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
FWIW, the inspector(s) probably know a lot more than you. Hopefully you have found someone experienced, who will do a thorough job. But yeah, houses are not pristine - even freshly built houses...
Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
Introduce yourself and then ask if you can look at the same things at the same time. See what they say. The report will have diagrams and pictures so it will be easy to remember what you have seen.
Are you having just a home inspection or is there a pest inspection too? As RE Investor I find the pest inspection to be more important in that it more directly addresses the structure and condition of the building.
No reason you can't ask questions on site.
Are you having just a home inspection or is there a pest inspection too? As RE Investor I find the pest inspection to be more important in that it more directly addresses the structure and condition of the building.
No reason you can't ask questions on site.
Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
Thank you and apologize for almost no information about the house. I have responded to your questions above.psteinx wrote: ↑Wed Oct 27, 2021 8:20 pm You may get better tips with more information:
Approx age of home - 42 years
Free standing house or condo? - Single Family Home (Basement Semi-furnished)
If the former, wood frame construction? Approx geographic area? - I think probably wood frame construction. I am not sure though.
Recently remodeled or is it pretty dated (approx vintage of finishes and last major update)? - Not remodeled. Things like Roof, Heating system, Gutters were recently replaced.
i.e. What to watch for in a suburban, Texas ranch, built ca. 2010, may be rather different from what to watch for in an 1980s NYC condo or a Boston area brick home built around 1910... - House is in Central New Jersey
Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
For now just going with Home Inspection. If the inspector report any signs of pest or termite, we will be going with a specialized inspection around it.coynerone wrote: ↑Wed Oct 27, 2021 8:28 pm Introduce yourself and then ask if you can look at the same things at the same time. See what they say. The report will have diagrams and pictures so it will be easy to remember what you have seen.
Are you having just a home inspection or is there a pest inspection too? As RE Investor I find the pest inspection to be more important in that it more directly addresses the structure and condition of the building.
No reason you can't ask questions on site.
Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
I'd put the house info in the original post, where it's easier for folks to see.
Built 42 years ago, so, circa 1980. If that's accurate, I think you're at low risk for lead paint and aluminum wiring, but it's close (the date cut-off). The inspector should know better. Not sure about asbestos... Not sure what the radon situation typically is in NJ.
Some other things of note:
Pests (esp. termites, rodents)
Water (penetration into basement, signs of roof damage/leakage, interior pipe leakage, hurricane damage, general mold).
Roof will be key
HVAC system, hot water heater, appliances
Electrical system quality and capacity, versus preferred modern norms...
Wallpaper is hard to get off, and/or may have been painted over
Foundation shifting/cracking. Some may be normal/acceptable, but then, maybe not.
Anything that's weather exposed on the outside - wood decks, patios, driveways - condition of these.
Plumbing - water pressure, any obvious off-taste or color
Built 42 years ago, so, circa 1980. If that's accurate, I think you're at low risk for lead paint and aluminum wiring, but it's close (the date cut-off). The inspector should know better. Not sure about asbestos... Not sure what the radon situation typically is in NJ.
Some other things of note:
Pests (esp. termites, rodents)
Water (penetration into basement, signs of roof damage/leakage, interior pipe leakage, hurricane damage, general mold).
Roof will be key
HVAC system, hot water heater, appliances
Electrical system quality and capacity, versus preferred modern norms...
Wallpaper is hard to get off, and/or may have been painted over
Foundation shifting/cracking. Some may be normal/acceptable, but then, maybe not.
Anything that's weather exposed on the outside - wood decks, patios, driveways - condition of these.
Plumbing - water pressure, any obvious off-taste or color
Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
I always shadowed my inspectors. Last time, some of the things he pointed out were stupid, such as stair railing sticking out a couple inches too far...couldn't careless about that. Or the patio trellis wasn't permitted, again didn't care. I told him to only focus on the bigger items. We went in the attic together too.
If you really want the house, I would ignore the small worthless stuff that gets pointed out.
If you really want the house, I would ignore the small worthless stuff that gets pointed out.
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Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
The home inspector works for you. You should follow him around. You should ask questions and he should expect to answer. Don't engage in useless conversation. Ask him about things that puzzle you. Expect him to explain about the various systems. Get a sense of which things he sees are important and which are minor. He will take pictures, no need for you to do so.
Don't get distracted, and don't do anything that will get the inspector distracted. Turn off the cell phone.
Don't get distracted, and don't do anything that will get the inspector distracted. Turn off the cell phone.
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Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
Your inspector should be a professional who will hopefully do his job well, but if he is too anal and finds too many issues with houses, he may not get any more referrals from the real estate agents. So, they're definitely good to have, but I know from reading some inspection reports this year, their list of things they are not responsible for finding can be longer than what they are checking on.
So, I'd ask if he doesn't mind and I would follow along, but not necessarily right over his shoulder. He should operate everything, including the dishwasher, stove, HVAC, etc., to ensure they all work. One thing I'd definitely want him to do is to make sure the main water shut off valve inside the house works properly and when closed, does not allow any water to flow to any open faucet. That is important because often the cheap little shut off valves behind toilets and under the sinks do not work, and if you need to fix a leak, you'll have a problem if you can't shut off the water.
I would take my own flashlight (for the dark areas and even to see other areas better) and camera and look for the following:
-Signs of too much settling (cracks in sheetrock or ceiling, in the basement walls, in the garage floor, etc.
-Any signs of water damage, especially in the attic and any part of the eaves that you can see (they replaced the roof and gutters for a reason).
-I'd look hard at the slope around the foundation to ensure rainwater flows away from the house.
-I'd look into the HVAC vents for signs of mold.
-If the basement is partially finished, try to see if there has been and water going into the area, and if there is a bathroom there and if it uses a sump pump to remove waste, be sure it works.
-I'd look for any rot around the window sills and trim inside and out. And if they've been painted recently, look for any waviness, or press on parts of it and see if it is soft. I'd also raise and lower all of the windows.
Chances are most things will be fine, but it's much better to find issues before the seller's problems become your problems. If it's not too late, you could ask the seller for a homeowner's warranty that would cover many things for the first year, with maybe a $65 deductible per visit. Good luck!
So, I'd ask if he doesn't mind and I would follow along, but not necessarily right over his shoulder. He should operate everything, including the dishwasher, stove, HVAC, etc., to ensure they all work. One thing I'd definitely want him to do is to make sure the main water shut off valve inside the house works properly and when closed, does not allow any water to flow to any open faucet. That is important because often the cheap little shut off valves behind toilets and under the sinks do not work, and if you need to fix a leak, you'll have a problem if you can't shut off the water.
I would take my own flashlight (for the dark areas and even to see other areas better) and camera and look for the following:
-Signs of too much settling (cracks in sheetrock or ceiling, in the basement walls, in the garage floor, etc.
-Any signs of water damage, especially in the attic and any part of the eaves that you can see (they replaced the roof and gutters for a reason).
-I'd look hard at the slope around the foundation to ensure rainwater flows away from the house.
-I'd look into the HVAC vents for signs of mold.
-If the basement is partially finished, try to see if there has been and water going into the area, and if there is a bathroom there and if it uses a sump pump to remove waste, be sure it works.
-I'd look for any rot around the window sills and trim inside and out. And if they've been painted recently, look for any waviness, or press on parts of it and see if it is soft. I'd also raise and lower all of the windows.
Chances are most things will be fine, but it's much better to find issues before the seller's problems become your problems. If it's not too late, you could ask the seller for a homeowner's warranty that would cover many things for the first year, with maybe a $65 deductible per visit. Good luck!
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Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
1) Stay with the inspector and ask a lot of questions.
2) Take a lot of photos of everything, for your own use. Those may be extremely useful later.
3) If there is a basement, take a good sniff. Anything smell moldy or wet?
4) Be sure mechanical things work. The dishwasher works, the hot water is hot, HVAC cycles in all modes, etc.
5) If any valves are turned off, perhaps to an outside hose bib, why?
6) Look at the roof carefully. Use binoculars to see up close from the ground.
6.1) How old is the roof? How many layers does it have?
7) Take an outlet tester and test every outlet you see. The inspector will do a small sample, you test the others.
8) Any floor rugs? Any rugs in the kitchen, dining room, bedrooms? Lift them up and look underneath for missing flooring, cracked tiles, etc. that are hidden.
9) Look for anything that may be staged to hide anything.
10) Look for pest evidence in basement, attic, hard to access areas.
11) Look around outside. Does rain water have a place to go? Any french drains that need checking? Any fireplace/chimney issues?
12) Look at windows carefully. Check locks/hardware on doors. Look at sliding glass doors very carefully. (They are very expensive to replace right now).
13) If there are major issues found, negotiate on price rather than asking for fixes, so you can hire to fix or fix yourself. Chances are, any seller fixes won't be that great. Be reasonable, but also realize once you disclose a major issue to seller, they can't hide that from another buyer, so you have some leverage for a negotiation.
14) Look for hazards or anything an insurance company would not like, inside or out.
15) Look at the foundation, inside and out, for cracks. Not benign hairline cracks, but significant signs of unusual settling or stress. Beware any foundation issues, these may be extremely expensive to remediate.
15) If specialized inspection is needed for pests/termites, HVAC, etc. consider bringing in expert from the trade.
2) Take a lot of photos of everything, for your own use. Those may be extremely useful later.
3) If there is a basement, take a good sniff. Anything smell moldy or wet?
4) Be sure mechanical things work. The dishwasher works, the hot water is hot, HVAC cycles in all modes, etc.
5) If any valves are turned off, perhaps to an outside hose bib, why?
6) Look at the roof carefully. Use binoculars to see up close from the ground.
6.1) How old is the roof? How many layers does it have?
7) Take an outlet tester and test every outlet you see. The inspector will do a small sample, you test the others.
8) Any floor rugs? Any rugs in the kitchen, dining room, bedrooms? Lift them up and look underneath for missing flooring, cracked tiles, etc. that are hidden.
9) Look for anything that may be staged to hide anything.
10) Look for pest evidence in basement, attic, hard to access areas.
11) Look around outside. Does rain water have a place to go? Any french drains that need checking? Any fireplace/chimney issues?
12) Look at windows carefully. Check locks/hardware on doors. Look at sliding glass doors very carefully. (They are very expensive to replace right now).
13) If there are major issues found, negotiate on price rather than asking for fixes, so you can hire to fix or fix yourself. Chances are, any seller fixes won't be that great. Be reasonable, but also realize once you disclose a major issue to seller, they can't hide that from another buyer, so you have some leverage for a negotiation.
14) Look for hazards or anything an insurance company would not like, inside or out.
15) Look at the foundation, inside and out, for cracks. Not benign hairline cracks, but significant signs of unusual settling or stress. Beware any foundation issues, these may be extremely expensive to remediate.
15) If specialized inspection is needed for pests/termites, HVAC, etc. consider bringing in expert from the trade.
Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
Lots of good advice here. One more thing, consider having the drain line snaked with a video camera. Last time I had this done it was about $300. Cheap insurance to find out if your drain (the main one that goes to the municipal sewer line) is damaged and will require a $$$ repair.
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Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
+1sherwink wrote: ↑Wed Oct 27, 2021 8:18 pm Did you hire the inspector, or was the inspector hired by the seller?
Have you check with state agencies about home inspector competence or complaints?
How qualified or professionally certified is this home inspector? Did they watch two episodes of This Old House, or do they know the business?
There's many horror stories about home inspectors who were as equally unqualified as Inspector Clouseau was to investigate a crime scene.
Great points!
(hilarious but true. . .. "Kato. . . I know where you are. . .come out now. . . . ")
OP: make your own checklist before the inspection. You can look up online what needs to be inspected or make a post on the forum and the "experts" here will help you with the list. Then, follow the inspector around and say nothing. When he's almost done, give him the list or have a "chat" about him making the inspection "complete". Also, without being a "pest", ask him about things here and there. If your instinct (aka bs meter) starts to go on alert. . . investigate further and chat further, etc.
There can be a big difference if the inspector is paid for and hired by the buyer or seller, sometimes.
If the seller or realtor, the best interest is having the sale go through and commisions earned.
If the buyer and hired independently, then the best interest is in the inspection itself and the buyers best interests.
But, not always.
j
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Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
Both an experienced realtor and trained home inspector here ( do not do paid inspections simply attended what was at the time a premier school for home inspection to be a better realtor) key things to consider that could be costly down the road:outlierZ wrote: ↑Wed Oct 27, 2021 7:58 pm I am a first-time home buyer and have a home inspection Friday and I am planning on being at the house for the entire 3-4 hours along with the inspectors.
Are there any tips or recommendations you have to maximize my time spent in the house? Am I supposed/allowed only to shadow the inspector or can I also take pictures of certain things which may look suspicious? Are there are particular items that you can point out based on your experience which I should point out to the inspector?
Thank you!
Infrastructure including: roof condition , age, past leaks if any , interior roof deck condition . Hvac , condition, age. Windows, condition, age. Basement (if applicable) any “non ordinary” cracks in walls or floor ( ie one side of the crack is uneven- can be an immediate deal killer as it may indicate a structural issue - normally when seen I recommend terminating the deal) water intrusion evidence- if an older home more than likely “some” water/moisture has penetrated- evidenced by active water or stains on framed walls, foot of stairs. Exterior grading- if sloped lot, is the lot properly graded?
Electrical- inspector will open the panel box to determine if there are issues- if an older home there may be an “unsafe” panel ( zinsco, federal come to mind ) that are a problem ( ie panel should be completely replaced)
Misc- pet stains - if wood flooring was stained with pet urine, this can be difficult to address. Some sellers attempt to hide with dark stain - look for it- can be quite costly
Regarding the above- unless anything is new or close to new, ask the inspector what the reasonable remaining life of that component is. If nearing end of life, Google cost to replace whatever component in question - then you’ll have options including:
1) terminating the transaction ( if the contract allows)
2) request that seller repair/ replace or credit for the item
3) budget for repair/replacement of said item
Your realtor most likely has outlined the above options. Some components of a house can be extremely costly . Despite the current market where buyers are “desperately seeking” their first or next home, please remember that a) don’t fall in love with a home until you have a complete understanding of the total cost to own, and any questionable findings during inspections are part of that . b) there is ALWAYS another home
Bottom line, hopefully your inspection will be more education than critique of problems. You should come away with a better understanding of how the home works, understand that it is in essence a living , breathing thing that must be properly cared for and , in the unlikely event red flags are discovered, you’ll have avoided what can be a money pit.
Enjoy
Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
Inspectors have the job of documenting issues that they can see...
1) Recognize the inspector has essentially no liability for missed items and no responsibility for items they can't see non-destructively. You are likely to receive a true list of issues, but unlikely to receive a *complete* list.
2) Most houses have a bunch of small immaterial issues - just because these are written down, they don't make the house less desirable and can/should be ignored unless you intend to use as a negotiation point.
3) The documentation of individual issues can be overwhelming and comes in a verbose structured format - ask the inspector to verbally distill this data into the information you really care about (they're more likely to be transparent without a document trail):
a) which of these issues are material,
b) what is remaining life on appliances and roof and likely cost to replace,
c) is this a good house and would the inspector buy / recommend this house to a family member.
1) Recognize the inspector has essentially no liability for missed items and no responsibility for items they can't see non-destructively. You are likely to receive a true list of issues, but unlikely to receive a *complete* list.
2) Most houses have a bunch of small immaterial issues - just because these are written down, they don't make the house less desirable and can/should be ignored unless you intend to use as a negotiation point.
3) The documentation of individual issues can be overwhelming and comes in a verbose structured format - ask the inspector to verbally distill this data into the information you really care about (they're more likely to be transparent without a document trail):
a) which of these issues are material,
b) what is remaining life on appliances and roof and likely cost to replace,
c) is this a good house and would the inspector buy / recommend this house to a family member.
Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
Dittos to the first reply, “Don’t freak out”. I been through this three times during the past two years. As a seller, on the advice of my realtor, I had a pre-listing inspection done the idea being to avoid having a deal fall apart due to the inspection. I engaged licensed pros to look at several problems. The written report was overly dramatic and on some issues just plain wrong. Most of the “very serious” items were not problems at all and the rest were easily fixable. When the house sold the buyer had an inspection done also. It did not mention most of the awful things in the prelisting report. It did find some issues the first report missed which were fixable at a moderate cost.
I was on the buying end in another state and again the report painted a doomsday picture. I was ready to walk even though I had put down a large non-refundable due diligence deposit. Once again the licensed experts determined that the issues were not nearly as bad as the inspectors report indicated.
These inspections are necessary but should be taken with a fistful of salt. An inspector is only human and cannot be an expert on all the construction trades. They seem to be coming under more state regulation and as a result they tend to CYA by writing up worst case situations. Don’t panic until the licensed pros look at the problems.
I was on the buying end in another state and again the report painted a doomsday picture. I was ready to walk even though I had put down a large non-refundable due diligence deposit. Once again the licensed experts determined that the issues were not nearly as bad as the inspectors report indicated.
These inspections are necessary but should be taken with a fistful of salt. An inspector is only human and cannot be an expert on all the construction trades. They seem to be coming under more state regulation and as a result they tend to CYA by writing up worst case situations. Don’t panic until the licensed pros look at the problems.
- Voltaire2.0
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Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
As stated above, lots of good advice here. I won't pile on the previous comments except to reiterate that the inspector works for you, not the realtor(s) or the seller. Don't be afraid to tell him that.
As to your situation, three items worth mentioning. Since the roof and gutters were replaced, investigate potential damage to the attic, eves or interior ceilings. You want to know if there were leaks or ice dams that precipitated this work. Neither are necessarily deal breakers if they were repaired properly, but you want to know before buying.
While in the attic, check for adequate insulation. It may be a throwback to 1980. Here again you want to know sooner rather than later if remediation will be needed.
Third, open and close every door and window to confirm that they open and close smoothly. If many don't there could be a foundation problem. If a few don't, it's worth finding out why.
Last, I owned a house in NJ in the early 80s and it had interior aluminum wiring. There were mixed opinions then on whether it was a fire hazard and on what to do about it. You might want to ask an electrician (not the inspector) about this.
As to your situation, three items worth mentioning. Since the roof and gutters were replaced, investigate potential damage to the attic, eves or interior ceilings. You want to know if there were leaks or ice dams that precipitated this work. Neither are necessarily deal breakers if they were repaired properly, but you want to know before buying.
While in the attic, check for adequate insulation. It may be a throwback to 1980. Here again you want to know sooner rather than later if remediation will be needed.
Third, open and close every door and window to confirm that they open and close smoothly. If many don't there could be a foundation problem. If a few don't, it's worth finding out why.
Last, I owned a house in NJ in the early 80s and it had interior aluminum wiring. There were mixed opinions then on whether it was a fire hazard and on what to do about it. You might want to ask an electrician (not the inspector) about this.
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Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
So, if you're still with us, one last thing. If interested, the date of manufacture is usually on each appliance just inside of or on the door of each one. The inspector will check the appliances, but knowing the date may raise your comfort level. The date may also appear on the heater and a/c and water heater. Have fun!outlierZ wrote: ↑Wed Oct 27, 2021 7:58 pm I am a first-time home buyer and have a home inspection Friday and I am planning on being at the house for the entire 3-4 hours along with the inspectors.
Are there any tips or recommendations you have to maximize my time spent in the house? Am I supposed/allowed only to shadow the inspector or can I also take pictures of certain things which may look suspicious? Are there are particular items that you can point out based on your experience which I should point out to the inspector?
Thank you!
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Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
fundseeker wrote: ↑Thu Oct 28, 2021 8:52 pmSo, if you're still with us, one last thing. If interested, the date of manufacture is usually on each appliance just inside of or on the door of each one. The inspector will check the appliances, but knowing the date may raise your comfort level. The date may also appear on the heater and a/c and water heater. Have fun!outlierZ wrote: ↑Wed Oct 27, 2021 7:58 pm I am a first-time home buyer and have a home inspection Friday and I am planning on being at the house for the entire 3-4 hours along with the inspectors.
Are there any tips or recommendations you have to maximize my time spent in the house? Am I supposed/allowed only to shadow the inspector or can I also take pictures of certain things which may look suspicious? Are there are particular items that you can point out based on your experience which I should point out to the inspector?
Thank you!
The underside of a toilet tank lid/cover usually has the date the toilet was manufactured imprinted in the ceramic. If there is pull down attic ladder or stairs it will also be stamped with a manufacture date.
Check the smoke detectors, most inspectors don't check them - test each one but also check the date. Most smoke detectors have a ten year lifespan. They are labeled with a manufacture date on the underside. If the date of the detector is older than 10 years, it must be replaced.
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Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
You have received a lot of good advice. One really important item is the lay of the land and water drainage. You want to make sure water flows away from the house. Ideally, gutter drains will be buried and flow away from house. If there are drainage issues, there are likely to be issues with moisture in crawl/basement and there could be foundation issues. Your home inspector should be well versed on this.
Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
Over the decades, I have bought 7 houses, including small apartment buildings. I have not found inspectors, generally speaking, to work for me. I pay them, but I am one and done. Many are dependent on referrals from realtors and want sales to go through. Be sure to check out your inspector’s background.
Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
Much of the point of the inspection process at least around here is to provide a list of things to be used to reduce the price of the house. Even a new construction home can have a laundry list of inspection items and I would posit the majority of them are complete non-issues.
Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
In my case, the sellers left me, the inspector and a representative from my agent have the house to ourselves for the entire 2 hours. One thing I did that I didn't ask permission for, was to photograph common areas for furniture placement and even opened up the cupboards to photograph how and where they stored kitchen stuff, pots/pans, cleaning supplies, vacuum cleansers etc....that was most helpful during the move in process to figure out where to place our things...even the palcement of the TV. We then fine tuned storage things later. (No, I didn't violate private areas like medicine cabinets etc!)
That being said, we had a very agreeable sale and actually developed a friendship during the closing process. They were even planning an estate sale as they wear moving into a much smaller living space and gave us a chance to buy some indoor and outdoor furniture before the sale got underway. YMMV.
That being said, we had a very agreeable sale and actually developed a friendship during the closing process. They were even planning an estate sale as they wear moving into a much smaller living space and gave us a chance to buy some indoor and outdoor furniture before the sale got underway. YMMV.
Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
To this I would add a camera inspection of the sewer from the house to the street.psteinx wrote: ↑Wed Oct 27, 2021 8:49 pm I'd put the house info in the original post, where it's easier for folks to see.
Built 42 years ago, so, circa 1980. If that's accurate, I think you're at low risk for lead paint and aluminum wiring, but it's close (the date cut-off). The inspector should know better. Not sure about asbestos... Not sure what the radon situation typically is in NJ.
Some other things of note:
Pests (esp. termites, rodents)
Water (penetration into basement, signs of roof damage/leakage, interior pipe leakage, hurricane damage, general mold).
Roof will be key
HVAC system, hot water heater, appliances
Electrical system quality and capacity, versus preferred modern norms...
Wallpaper is hard to get off, and/or may have been painted over
Foundation shifting/cracking. Some may be normal/acceptable, but then, maybe not.
Anything that's weather exposed on the outside - wood decks, patios, driveways - condition of these.
Plumbing - water pressure, any obvious off-taste or color
Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
I borrowed and read several home inspection books from the library prior to mine. In fact I'm buying one of them as a guide to future maintenance and what to keep an eye on.
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Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
Especially since you’re a first time home buyer, but for anyone really:
1. Yes, follow the inspector (not on the roof, you’re not allowed, obviously, for liability reasons). Ask questions. They can only inspect what they can see.
2. A good inspector will teach you about the house - here is the gas shut off, you have this type of foundation/basement which is typical for the area, here is the water main shut off, keep an eye on this...such and such might be an issue there’s an easy fix of xyz for abc...
3. For a good savvy inspector, there will be more verbally than what is in writing (again, for liability and sue-happy people reasons).
4. Expect to see loads of red, disclaimers, and “recommend inspection by certified professional” for basically everything. Liability is beyond absurd these days, and so standard inspections have this language. Do not be spooked. Be rational try to anyway- it’s a house purchase, which can be stressful !
Also expect to see “xyz may be at or beyond the end of it’s expected useful life span” on various items. It does not mean that all are about to fail next week, Tuesday. Could be, but not necessarily.
5. Usually, a seller is only “expected” to fix or correct safety issues or items misrepresented: loose railing, broken electrical outlets...or maybe the kitchen stove doesn’t actually work...the Reply To Inspection (or whatever it’s called in your state) is a negotiation, in any case. You can ask for anything you want, however either party can decide to walk away or say no thank you (various pros and cons for everyone).
P.S. major or unexplained water damage, basement flooding, needing (truly NEEDing, not just nice to have) major expenses (roof, hvac, windows) are some of your big ticket items to pay attention to.
Congratulations and hope all goes well!!
1. Yes, follow the inspector (not on the roof, you’re not allowed, obviously, for liability reasons). Ask questions. They can only inspect what they can see.
2. A good inspector will teach you about the house - here is the gas shut off, you have this type of foundation/basement which is typical for the area, here is the water main shut off, keep an eye on this...such and such might be an issue there’s an easy fix of xyz for abc...
3. For a good savvy inspector, there will be more verbally than what is in writing (again, for liability and sue-happy people reasons).
4. Expect to see loads of red, disclaimers, and “recommend inspection by certified professional” for basically everything. Liability is beyond absurd these days, and so standard inspections have this language. Do not be spooked. Be rational try to anyway- it’s a house purchase, which can be stressful !
Also expect to see “xyz may be at or beyond the end of it’s expected useful life span” on various items. It does not mean that all are about to fail next week, Tuesday. Could be, but not necessarily.
5. Usually, a seller is only “expected” to fix or correct safety issues or items misrepresented: loose railing, broken electrical outlets...or maybe the kitchen stove doesn’t actually work...the Reply To Inspection (or whatever it’s called in your state) is a negotiation, in any case. You can ask for anything you want, however either party can decide to walk away or say no thank you (various pros and cons for everyone).
P.S. major or unexplained water damage, basement flooding, needing (truly NEEDing, not just nice to have) major expenses (roof, hvac, windows) are some of your big ticket items to pay attention to.
Congratulations and hope all goes well!!
Please spell out new acronyms. Thank you.
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Re: Home Inspection Friday - Any Tips For a Buyer
So...it'd be nice to know how it went if you don't mind sharing. Thanks.outlierZ wrote: ↑Wed Oct 27, 2021 7:58 pm I am a first-time home buyer and have a home inspection Friday and I am planning on being at the house for the entire 3-4 hours along with the inspectors.
Are there any tips or recommendations you have to maximize my time spent in the house? Am I supposed/allowed only to shadow the inspector or can I also take pictures of certain things which may look suspicious? Are there are particular items that you can point out based on your experience which I should point out to the inspector?
Thank you!