What's in it for you?
Learning as much about the house
as we can reasonably determine within the time frame allotted (which
is typically 2-4 hours for a regular house, however, many of the
larger houses we inspect can be 3-6 hours or so. Then, when we are
done, we advise you as to the condition of the house and its various
systems.
Having a better understanding of the
present need for repairs and / or corrective action for various items.
Having a better understanding of
future repairs.
$$$ you spend.
The cost of the inspection is based on many factors, we can give you
an estimate when you call in. We are not the least expensive, if you
want the least expensive, we can make some recommendations. We feel
you get what your pay for, or, more accurately stated, you don't get
what you don't pay for. There are many run-of-the-mill inspectors
available for whenever you want a run-of-the-mill inspection.
$$$ you get back.
As a side benefit, most contracts cover certain repairs up to a
specified $$ amount or % of the sales price. Usually there is a
financial payback through the inspection clause, through
re-negotiation of the price or credits at closing.
The best thing a seller can do is to provide a straightforward and
honest Seller Disclosure prior to your first offer. Things not
disclosed, but which the seller knew about, or should have known
about, are usually the items which cause problems with
deals.
While we have been called "deal killers". We do not "kill deals", the
house may have already committed suicide or previous owners may have
hacked it to death. In such cases, we are not afraid to pronounce it
DOA (Dead on Our Arrival).
We cannot guarantee that we will find a certain $$ amount of repairs,
that is not our purpose. However, we typically find more than you had
anticipated.
Instead of wondering if the inspection fee is worth it, you will
realize the inspection fee was worth its weight in gold, now you are
deciding if it would be in your best interest to take a credit at
closing, re-negotiate the price, have some of the repairs made, or, in
some cases, whether to run.
The time to worry is when you decide not to use us
because: "You don't really want to know what's wrong." Yes, believe it
or not, we have been told that before.
Is everything covered by the sales contracts?
Many repairs are covered, some are not, that depends on how aggressive
your sales contract is. Most contracts require every "covered item" to be in
"working condition" or "functioning", most sellers and real estate
agents don't realize to what extent "covered items" covers most items.
We apply the only true test there can be: Is it working as it was
intended to work? Was it ever intended to work or be used the way it
is / is not working or being used now?
What is the purpose of the inspection?
We believe the purpose of the inspection is to advise you as to the
condition of the house as we see it. We do not pass or fail a house.
We just provide information to help you in making your decision on
whether to call, raise, or fold and run. If a house appears to be, in
our opinion, a money pit or a tear down, we will not hesitate to tell
you that either.
