Home inspectors are hired by the home buyer, or in increasing numbers by the home seller to be a impartial third party, and another set of trained eyes in the real estate transaction. Home inspectors are trained professionals, that can identify deficiencies in the home, its' structure or mechanics, and electrical systems.  A home inspector should never offer to make the needed repairs to a home nor should they provide you with specific referrals for home repairs or renovations. It would be unprofessional to do so, and would probably be against the code of ethics for their affiliations with their respective inspection organizations of which they are a member.  For any necessary repairs, consumers should hire professionals with no connection to the inspector or the other party in the transaction.

Home inspectors need to know the home’s many systems and components and how they work, both independently and together. They should have a working and fluid knowledge in the systems they inspect. In addition, they need to understand why and how the system's) fail. Consumer should expect a written report to describe the actual condition of the home at the time of the inspection and to provide an indication of the need for major repairs.

What Should We NOT Expect From a Home Inspection?

Home inspectors do not do destructive testing, nor can they see behind walls or through concrete. They do not provide detailed blueprints of the home, nor  should you expect their reports to include details of every item in the home.   The home inspector is primarily concerned with pointing out adverse conditions and/or safety-related concerns, rather than small or cosmetic items, which are considered readily apparent to the buyers.  They focus on issues that are related to health, safety, environmental, and that are structurally deficient in nature.

Also, the home buyer or seller should not expect the inspector’s report is a guarantee that the home’s components will never fail or need repair at some point in the future. Nothing is  perfect— all homes need regular maintenance and repair.

HOW TO FIND A QUALIFIED HOME INSPECTOR

Look in the yellow pages and you will see page after page of home inspectors in some areas. So how do you find a qualified home inspector?

Ask Ellen Crawford.  As a full time real estate agent with market knowledge, and experience, he can provided with the names of several accredited home inspectors.

1.

Grading or mulch from contact with siding should be six inches.

.2.

Clean dirty gutters, leaves or debris from the roof.

3.

Divert all water away from the house; i.e. downspouts, condensation drains, and diverters.

4.

Trim trees, roots and bushes back from the foundation, roof, siding and chimney.

5.

Paint all weathered exterior wood and caulk around the trim, chimney, windows and doors.

6.

Seal asphalt driveways, and concrete repair if cracking. 

7.

Seal or point up masonry chimney caps. Install metal flue cap.

8.

Clean or replace HVAC filter. Clean dirty air returns and plenum.

9.

Point up any failing mortar joints in brick or block..

10.

All smoke detectors to ensure they are in safe working order.

11.

Clean chimney, fireplace or wood stove and provide buyer with a copy of the cleaning record.

12.

Seal masonry walls in the basement.

13.

Don’t do quick cheap repairs. You may raise questions that will unfairly cause great concern to buyers and inspectors.

14.

All doors and windows are in operational, including repairing or replacing any cracked windowpanes, an caulking..

15.

Ensure that all plumbing fixtures (toilet, tub, shower, and sinks) are in proper working conditions. Check for and fix any leaks. Caulk around fixtures if necessary.

16.

Install GFCI receptacles near all water sources. Test all present GFCI receptacles for proper operation.

17.

Make sure all house lights , and switches are operational.

18.

Replace any burned out light bulbs.

19.

Remove rotted wood and/or firewood from contact with the house.

20.

Ensure that proper grading is followed under a deck.

21.

Install proper vapor barrier in crawl spaces.

22.

Caulk all exterior wall penetrations, and openings.

23.

Check to ensure that the crawl space is dry and install a proper vapor barrier if necessary

24.

Check that bath vents are properly vented and in working condition.

25.

Remove paints, solvents, gas, and similar materials from crawl space, basement, attic, porch, and so forth.

26.

If windows are at or below grade, install window wells and covers.

27.

 Make accessible: attic, crawl space, heating system, garage and other areas that will need to be inspected.

28.

If the house is vacant, make sure that all utilities are turned on, including water, electric, water heater, furnace, and A/C so that an inspection can be conducted.