|
Assurance Home Inspection Group, LLC InterNACHI Certified Home Inspections in Northwest Florida. Serving the following counties, Jackson, Bay, Calhoun, Gadsen, Gulf, Holmes, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla, Walton, Washington. Experienced, Certified, Professional. Your complete Home Inspection Service. 850.209.4370 or 850.209.4405
|
|
|
The Buyer's Checklist for Risk Management:
Qualify inspectors before you make an offer. Narrow your list to 1 or 2 qualified inspectors. Your first choice may not be available when you need him/her. Hurrying to take what you can get is not the best way to mitigate risk.
1. You are buying an inspection and a huge amount of communication and education. Choose your inspector only after reviewing a copy of a sample report and their contract. Look at a friend's or co-worker's report to give you some perspective. Much of the information exchanged at the time of the inspection can fade away from your mind in the midst of the buying process. If you go back to the report to look for details regarding a problem, you want them to be there. The report is extremely important. Get a great report!
2. Your inspection can involve a large number of activities that are beyond the services of a Home Inspector. Inspections for wood boring insects, mold, radon gas, hazardous materials and chemicals, water quality, sewer and septic systems are usually purchased separately by a buyer and can involve multiple contractors over many days. Ask your inspector what services they offer and which are recommended for this home. Home Inspectors frequently advise buyers to contract additional services when unique risks are apparent.
3. When you make an offer, be aware of the major time constraints (these can be changed as most offer terms are negotiable). Try to get 7-9 days to do the inspection and 1-3 days to review the results before accepting or rejecting the inspection results. This extra time works to your benefit as you get estimates on needed work or confirm warranty coverage on major systems. Time may also be needed to obtain lab results on items such as mold, radon, asbestos et cetera, that can affect your home's safety or value.
4. You should get a copy of the City's Permit History for the property. This is available from the City Planning and Development office or the town hall and will usually reveal details on the builder, major repairs, upgrades etc. Sometimes this may be your only link to warranties on windows and roofs where receipts and paperwork are not available from the owners. A permit history may also identify repairs to unseen systems like the sewer or hidden wiring. Permit histories many times record fire repair or other major repairs even though the sellers fail to disclose them. A permit history should be regarded as a valuable addition to your knowledge base.
5. Attempt to obtain copies of receipts on all major appliances, windows, and repairs from the seller. Receipts for roof work, windows, waterproofing, and furnaces will usually identify the material and labor warranties. This is important especially if warranties are still in effect.
6. Ask if there are any service contracts in effect. For instance, the gas company usually offers a service contract on all the gas appliances that is valid for a year and may be transferable. This may save you money if something breaks after you move in.
7. Find out which way the sewer line runs to the city sewer. Be aware of large trees that might be compromising the sewer line. This is soon to be your responsibility and your home inspector cannot examine this crucial area. Ask the seller when the last snaking of the sewer line occurred. Attempt to find out the cutter size used. The nearer match to pipe size the better. If a one inch cutter was used and it is a four inch line that could indicate a problem. If there is no information forthcoming, and there are large trees nearby, you may want to contact a plumber to run a snake down the sewer line or have a video inspection of the sewer line done. A video inspection will tell you the full condition of the pipes and a snaking will only indicate if they are clear.
8. Try to get the inspection done as early as possible in your inspection period. This may be just the first phase of several other things needed at the home that are advised by your inspector. You may need specialized inspections by qualified service contractors. You don't want to run out of time without quality knowledge of the foundation, furnace/air conditioning, roof, or electrical systems.
9. During the inspection, feel free to ask as many questions as you need. A good inspector will give you all the time you need and answer ALL your questions. After all, you are paying for information.
10. If your inspector advises you to hire an electrician or a roofing contractor for further evaluation of a major concern then please do so. Quite often these added inspections reveal seemingly insignificant concerns are actually much worse and possibly affect your decision to buy the property.
11. Read the whole report. There is a lot of a lot of information in a good report. Some speedy reading on your part may well translate into your being a wiser investor and better homeowner.
12. Don't be in a big rush to sign off on the inspection as completed. This is all about your risk and if there are lingering questions about findings during the inspection, then go get the answers first.
13. Go meet your new neighbors. This is the best time to discover that you might not like them. If you discover disturbing things about the Manson Family next door that you just can't deal with, this is the time to change your mind and find another house.
14. It is an exciting and nerve-racking time. Try to remain calm. Use the experts, that's why you hired them. If at any time, you cannot trust your inspector implicitly, then get a new inspector. This is really about you and your family, your investment, your security and your future. Your home inspector should be helping to relieve a great deal of this stress.
15. Ask lots of questions and get all your answers, preferably in writing.
16. A properly prepared inspection report can serve as a guide to your future home maintenance. It can also be a very valuable record of your home maintenance actions. This can be an important aspect when you decide to sell your home. Make sure you get a great report!
Assurance Home Inspection Group assures you of both a great report and a top shelf inspection. Call us today.
|
|
Assurance Home Inspection Group, LLC. P.O. Box 471 • Greenwood, Florida 32443 850.209.4370 or 850.209.4405 FAX 850.482.3135
|