Positive Real Estate Professionals

So many times I hear people mention that Home Inspections are only good when you are purchasing a home. This cannot be further from the truth. To shed some light on this subject, I decided to turn to the professionals that live the life of home inspectors. In a couple of instances, I just turned to the wives of the home inspectors. With that said, let me introduce you to the team of home inspectors on our real estate network.

First off, we have David and Bonnie Lelak of IHI Home Inspections out of the North Metro Atlanta area. Next, there is William and Sherri Troutman of Certainty Home Inspections out of Salem, Indiana. We also have Dave Boyd of Powder Valley Inspections out of Powder Valley, Oregon. Our most recent Home Inspector is James Brantley of Magnolia Home Inspections out of Brandon, Mississippi. Now that you have met our team of Home Inspectors from different parts of the country, let’s turn back to the subject at hand, home inspections.

When preparing to write this article, I decide to reach out to each of our inspectors and ask for their input on home inspections. I asked them for reasons why anyone would have home inspections done. But before I get into what they said, I want to interject my own thoughts here. Prior to ever putting a home on the market to sell, I think it would be a wise investment to have it checked out by a professional. In doing this, you can be aware of any major issues that might arise and tackle them head on before putting your home on the market. Other reasons that you might want a home inspection done is to search for Radon or Mold. Both of these issues can be harmful to you and early detection could be a huge difference to your well being.

When I asked Bonnie about some of the reasons that people in North Metro Atlanta order inspections through IHI Home Inspections, she opened up.

When you get a home inspection done, this is a great way to have your own professional punch list of the things that need to be done to help maintain the value of your home.  As new home owners, especially first time new home owners, figuring out where to start with the maintenance on your home can be overwhelming, so whether you’re a seasoned home owner or a new home owner a maintenance home inspection can provide you with a road map to successful home maintenance.

Have you experienced hail damage and had a roofing contractor repair or replace your roof, our suggestion before you ever release final payment is to get a second opinion on the quality of work from a professional home inspector.  Too many times we have been called by home owners to come do a roof inspection and the quality of work is less than satisfactory.  Make sure you have someone on your side.

Radon is another instance where you would want a home inspector to come out, especially when you’re not selling your home.  The question is not “if my home has radon’” every home has radon, what matters is if your home has elevated amounts of radon gas.  The way to find out is to have a radon test performed.

Sherri Troutman of Certainty Home Inspections added:

The majority of the time home inspections are for the home buyer, however home inspections can be ordered for many reasons.  A homebuyer may decide they would like a pre-listing inspection on their home prior to  putting it  on the market.  A pre-listing inspection will tell a home owner many things, such as, what condition the major components are in, such as the furnace and air conditioner unit.  They will have the choice to fix the minor problems that may be found in the home like GFCI’s defaults and leaky faucets or drains.  By getting a pre-listing inspection this allows the home owner the opportunity to fix the repairs that are needed, giving them the right to select their asking price accordingly based on the true condition of their property.  Having a pre-listing inspection done usually lets the home owner get top dollar out of their home.  Home warranties are another type of inspection that can be performed.   Home warranties are inspections done on the home towards the end of their home warranty, prior to it expiring.  This lets the home owner know of any defects that may have occurred over the last year with their home and allows them to turn them into their home builder so they can be fixed before the home warranty runs out.  A home warranty inspection should be done with a one year home warranty in approximately the tenth month of owning the home.  Lenders in Indiana also order home inspections for government loan programs.  The Indiana Housing Community Development Association uses their own forms for the inspector to fill out.  They ask several questions about the home such as the number of bedrooms, baths, and other areas of the home.  Their main concern is that the home is safe, sound and secure.  Having an IHCDA inspection done is in no way to the extent of  a complete home inspection.  A complete home inspection report goes into much more depth on the condition of the home and its components.  The USDA offers a loan program that also has its own form to fill out by the inspector.  The USDA, like the IHCDA, wants to make sure the home you’re buying is safe, sound and secure but fails to report with the thoroughness of a complete home inspection.  They ask such questions like is there 5 years of life left in the roof and is there running water with no plumbing leaks,  what size is the electric panel box and is there room in the crawl space to make repairs to the home if needed. Other reasons for inspections may include the concern for mold in the home.  If your having allergy like symptoms, headaches, or congestion problems, it could be due to mold in your home.  Mold is a plant that grows in conditions where moisture is present.  By eliminating the moisture problem, you help to eliminate the mold problem.  Radon gas is yet another concern with any home but is more likely with a basement home.  Radon is a radioactive,  colorless, odorless gas that as uranium decays in the ground it puts off  this lazy gas.  It is the second leading cause of cancer in the United States.  All homes should be tested for radon gas but especially basement homes because they are more susceptible due to the fact that  they set closer to the bedrock.    As you can see, there are many different reasons why everyone should have a home inspection done but the most important one is to make sure that the home your living in is safe for you and your family, structural sound for your family to live in for many years to come and secure from any hazards that are present at the time of inspection.

Dave Boyd of Powder Valley Inspections added:

I have performed home inspections for folks who have lived in their home for many years (decades) and are heading into retirement.  To avoid any surprises when living on limited financial resources, they order an inspection for a home tuneup before taking the retirement “plunge”.  Also, after natural disasters such as earth quakes or severe wind storms you would want to get an inspection to ascertain the condition of your home.  And, finally, there is always the gratifying wisdom of a second opinion after having had a contractor perform remodels or constructing additions to the home. This is a very economical way to make sure the work was performed according to current standards, given the alternatives.

James Brantley of Magnolia Home Inspections out of Brandon, Mississippi finished us off by adding:

We all know that buying a home is one of the largest investments we will make in our life time. Buying a home provides us with a sense of achievement and brings great joy to the family. During the home buying process there are so many decisions to be made such as finding a reputable real estate agent, calculating budgets, getting loan approvals, and picking out furniture just to name a few. However, choosing the right home inspection firm could possibly be the most important decision you’ll ever make. Often times, home buyers will simply pull the name of an inspection firm right out of a hat and place all their trust in that firm alone while doing little home work. Professional home inspection firms should be able to provide you with prior client testimonies and references.

Once the inspection is completed and the report is delivered, you the client, should feel well educated about the current condition of the home. Good home inspectors always take the necessary time to show you unique aspects of the home as well as basic home maintenance tips. Do a little home work and choose the right home inspection firm to help educate you and protect your families investment.

I know that I have laid out a lot of information here, but I think it is important to understand the purposes behind home inspections and how they can protect you and your investment. If you are in any of the areas that these 4 home inspectors operate in, then I highly recommend that you contact them for your next home inspection. If you own a home, there is no need to wait till you are ready to sell. Today is a great day to get your home inspected.