7 Ways to Use a Home Inspection Report

7 Ways to Use a Home Inspection Report
Posted on December 22, 2010 by Jim Bushart

In random order, I present to you seven different ways in which a home inspection report can be used by parties to a real estate transaction for mutual advantage and benefit.

1.Buyers can consider the reported conditions of the home’s systems to determine their ability to afford and maintain the property. A home with a 12-year-old water heater, an 18-year-old furnace, and a 25-year-old composite-shingle roof is going to need some costly investments in the near future.

2.Buyers can sometimes use information regarding undisclosed defects to negotiate the seller’s action to repair the defect(s) or adjust the asking price for the home.

3.Sellers can obtain a home inspection and use the report to disclose known defects to potential buyers.

4.Sellers can obtain a home inspection and use the report to identify and correct significant defects that could interfere with a buyer’s desire to submit a contract to buy the property.

5.Buyers can use the inspection report as a punch list (or to-do list) for maintaining the property after purchase.

6.Buyers/Sellers can use the report to communicate to contractors the nature of the defect(s) to obtain estimates for repair or to arrange for repairs or replacements.

7.Buyers can sometimes use the inspection report as a means to withdraw from the contracted agreement to purchase the home when certain types of undisclosed defects are reported.

Buyers and sellers should consider obtaining inspection reports only from professional, full-time home inspectors. Builders and contractors who generate inspection reports often use them as marketing tools and as a means to generate business for maintenance and repairs. Doing so is a conflict of interest, so their reports do not always represent the actual conditions of the property. Always use home inspectors who abide by a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, and who continually upgrade their knowledge and skills with regular Continuing Education courses.



Potential fire hazard--do you see it? There are clearances for different vents coming out of your water heaters and heating units. If not properly installed, they can start a fire with nearby combustibles. Keep your home safe. Hire a home inspector.

Railing dryrot prevention tip

Tip: If you have posts anchored to the side of your deck, be sure there is sufficient space between the deck and post to allow water to pass by and dry. Trapped water causes rot. This picture shows what happens over time when a post is fastened up against the deck (facia) board. One way to avoid this is placing large washers (2-3) between the posts and the facia board.

Is your siding or stucco too close to the ground? What is a safe distance?

Ballusters can be dangerous for children if not properly spaced, such as these shown here.

Some things you can do before My San Diego Home Inspector comes to inspect your home

Home Buying / Selling



The following article from About.com was forwarded to you by Jim Stringer.

Get Ready for a Home Inspection

http://homebuying.about.com/od/homeshopping/tp/PrepHomeInspect.htm?r=et




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Posted By My San Diego Home Inspector to My San Diego Home Inspector at 3/19/2010 12:40:00 PM

Just inspected a home the other day, and I run into this way too often here in San Diego....Rain gutter installation. We see the sun shine so much, I think we forget which way water flows. This gutter appears to be actually going away from the downspout.