| Buying a home? The process can be stressful. A home inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind, but it often has the opposite effect. You will be asked to absorb a lot of information over a short time. This often includes a written report, checklist, photographs, environmental reports, and what the inspector himself says during the inspection. All this combined with the seller's disclosure and what you notice yourself make the experience even more overwhelming. What should you do? Relax! Inspectors are professionals, and if yours is a member of InterNACHI, then you can trust that he is among the most highly trained in the industry. Most of your inspection will be related to maintenance recommendations and minor imperfections. These are good to know about. However, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories: Major Defects, such as significant structural failure, non-functioning heating system or a roof covering that is at the end of its useful life… Conditions that will lead to Major Defects such as; water intrusion/leakage, inadequate ventilation, missing vapor barrier and cellulose debris in crawlspaces… Conditions that may hinder your ability to finance or insure the home, such as structural damage caused by WDOs like termites, wood boring beetles or woodrot as well as aluminum wiring or knob and tube wiring… Safety hazards such as; potential electrical shock from missing GFCI receptacles at moisture areas, poor wiring installation and un-reliable distribution panels; Or fall hazards from insufficient/unsafe guard rails, hand rails, stairways and other life safety concerns from unstable or light weight structural framework. Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often, a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property (especially in categories 2 and 4). Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection. Realize that sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the report. No home is perfect. Keep things in perspective. Do not kill your deal over things that do not matter. It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller's disclosure, or nit-picky items. |
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| Mission Home & Pest Inspections LLC Washington State Home Inspector license # 371 WSDA license # 68542 InterNACHI Certified # NACHI09050208 |
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