Sarasota homes (whether foreclosures or new construction) demand a home inspection to avoid 5 potentially costly mistakes.
Whether new construction, pre-owned or distressed foreclosure, PLEASE spend the extra money for a proven home inspector.
For reasons beyond my understanding, many home buyers refuse to cough up $400 for a little peace of mind on what might be the most-expensive purchase of their lives.
Whether first-time or repeat home buyer, you need to get the house inspected. No ifs, ands or buts about it. For around $400, a home inspector and/or main systems’ inspectors will help you make a smart buying decision.
In fact, I believe buyers should consider specific experts – beyond a home inspector.
That is, a “general” inspector (though very helpful in determining “general” health of the property) is no substitute for SPECIFIC:
- HVAC contractor
- Roofing contractor
- Pool contractor (if applicable)
- Termite inspector.
Click Read More below now for the 5 dangerous misconceptions many people have about buying a house and home inspections. At the end, please tell me how you feel about home inspections, good or bad.
HOME INSPECTION HORROR STORY
These 5 misconceptions or flat out stupid mistakes end up costing $1,000s of dollars & years of regret.
Before I jump to these 5 “mistakes,” I realize some people will recall a home inspection or home inspector who missed a huge catastrophe at which time they discovered the truth about a home inspector’s extent of liability.
I also realize some of you believe all you need is a home warranty.
Still others believe they’re qualified enough to inspect a property on their own – and perhaps they are.
What you discover below are potentially costly – and I do mean costly – mistakes:
- Mistake No. 1– Buyers don’t hire a home inspector for new construction! Many new home buyers assume a brand new home passing all county inspections is in good shape.
Important: My wife and I built a house back in 1998. We regret NOT hiring a home inspector to follow construction. We *thought* the County’s building inspectors were monitoring the general constructor and his subs. WRONG! Poor roof installation caused $1,000s in damage. We sued the builder Diamond Homes of Southwest Florida. Naturally, the courts tied it up for MONTHS with our attorney receiving most of the settlement. We didn’t even receive enough to fix the roof problem or any of the other unresolved issues. I could go on with proof (photos as well) proving issues we never should have faced with any construction, new or existing. However, we didn’t pay the money when we should have. The moral of the story: Don’t assume your builder — or the subcontractors — did everything right just because the home passed code.
- Mistake No. 2 — Buyers don’t hire a home inspector or systems inspectors for existing construction. Whether one home inspector or many systems experts such as roofing, HVAC, electrical contractors (for instance), you must get the house inspected. You want to choose a competent, thorough and trustworthy inspector. Unfortunately, too many buyers just go with the cheapest inspection company or the one recommended by their Realtor, if at all.
Important: If you want me (your realtor) to give you a referral to a home inspector, I will. However, I want you to call at least 3. I then want you to interview each one. Find out what specifically the inspector will do for the money. Ask him if <he> actually walks the roof. Most inspectors do NOT. Ask him what separates him from all the other inspectors. What is his liability? Does he carry errors & omissions insurance? What is his training regarding a roof, HVAC, settling issues, plumbing, appliances, electrical, etc. Will he physically get into the attic, regardless of weather?
- Mistake No. 3 — Buyers do not attend the home inspection. The written report you get from the inspector doesn’t give you nearly as clear a picture of the condition of the house as you might think. Buyers who don’t go along on the inspection typically overemphasize minor problems, or worse, not realize how serious a defect is and don’t ask follow-up questions on how things work. Buyers really need to go along with the inspector, ask questions and listen when he gives you his professional opinion on the house.
Important: As a buyer’s agent, I attend EVERY inspection. I realize some buyers (by no fault of their own) cannot attend the inspection. To help, I attend and I videotape the inspector. In that case, I recommend you hire an inspector who will get on the phone with you. I don’t just sit at the dining room table on my laptop or pda. NOPE. I go around with the inspector and YOU. I ask lots of questions…questions many buyers don’t know to ask. I take a home inspection very seriously, as many homes built b/t 2001 and 2006 were thrown up faster than they should have by UNSKILLED laborers not sufficiently supervised. Just wait, in a few years, your inspector will wear a mobile web cam allowing you to see everything he sees and you will talk with him as if you were physically present at the inspection.
- Mistake No. 4 — Buyers do NOT follow up on the inspector’s recommendations during escrow. After you sign that stack of paper at closing, it’s a little too late to pass on the house filled with unpleasant surprises. Certainly, a home inspector might not catch every issue with the house, but you want to be reasonably certain you’re not going to face obvious, costly repairs that a home inspector would have picked up.
Important: Don’t expect to go back on the previous owners for non-disclosure of issues affecting value. It’s possible those previous owners did not know about any “obvious” issues not surfacing.
- Mistake No. 5 — Buyers expect their home inspector to be a psychic. No matter how experienced or skilled your home inspector is, he can’t see behind walls or into an AC system to determine life expectancy for instance. A home inspector can tell you that an air conditioning system like the one in the home you’re buying usually only lasts 10 years, and yours is 11 years old. But he can’t tell you when it will fail. That’s when you need to follow up with people who know more about each specific system about which you have questions. And remember, the home inspector is hired by you. He’s there to give you an honest, straight opinion about the house.
Important: Here’s a controversial point about home inspections I want you to understand: A home inspector is one of the few people in the buying process whose income doesn’t depend on the home closing. He’s paid to inspect, not to sell. You see, a realtor (me included) wants you to close on the house, so the realtor (me included) can get paid. It’s not in my best interest for you not to close. This is truth you need to hear.
Call me now if you are buying or selling in or around Sarasota, FL. I want to help you. Have a comment, horror story or question about home inspections? Please scroll down & share your thought, horror story or question.
Sarasota homes like any other homes need to be inspected. With new construction, I recommend paying an inspector to inspect every phase. for existing construction, I recommend a home inspector at the least. Ideally, I like paying various “systems” experts to report condition and/or issues. Anyone willing and able to buy a new house can afford a home inspection.
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