Most buyers, especially the first-timers, often need explanation regarding the difference between all these inspections everyone is telling them they need. To many they all seem the same and a little redundant, but they are in fact all different. Following is a short explanation of each highlighting their differences.
1. Home Inspection (also known as a general property inspection): This is an inspection completed by a qualified professional. Notice how I didn’t say licensed? That’s because there is no licensing/regulatory body in California for home inspectors. There are trade organizations they can choose to belong to, but essentially anyone can call themselves a ’home inspector’. Aside from all that, a home inspector will give a general inspection of the property- but not usually go on the roof. Most will go in attics and crawl spaces to look for anomalies such as leaks or other damage. They will test electrical outlets and appliances including the heater and air conditioner. They will look at the water heater and evaluate the home for general safety issues such as holes in fire walls or improper electrical wiring. They will look at sinks, toilets, showers and tubs for current or potential leakage issues. Sometimes they can give tips and pointers as to how to remedy or repair an issue and let you know realistically how severe an issue actually is. If you are my buyer I strongly encourage you to attend your home inspection. The information you receive from the inspector is valuable in understanding what he will end up putting in his report.
2. Pest Inspection (also knows as a structural pest report): The most common misconception that I hear about pest reports is that they are meant to look for rats, mice, cockroaches, spiders and other nuisances. And yes, while those are all technically “pests” that is not exactly what we are referring to. We are referring to wood destroying pests which include termites, mold, dry rot and fungus, and issues that can lead up to wood destroying pest infestation. A pest inspector will run the sinks, toilets and showers and look for leaks- as well as go into the crawlspace (if there is one) to see any stains on the sub floor from previous leaks or termites under the house. They have a long stick they take with them around the outside of the house poking at various locations (mostly in the eaves along the roof line) looking for areas of damaged wood. They DO NOT look at the roof or test appliances or look at the heater, air conditioner or electrical system.
3. FHA appraisal: The appraisal done for an FHA loan is more in-depth than a regular appraisal, but not as in-depth as a home inspection. The appraiser not only evaluates the home from a valuation standpoint but they also look at potential health and safety issues such as broken windows, missing flooring, electrical problems, missing appliances, etc. They will do a “head and shoulders” inspection of the attic looking for any obvious roof leaks or holes. Compared to a home inspection it is more of a “summary” and should not, in my opinion, be relied upon as a substitute for a home inspection.
There are more inspections that buyers can choose- but I will explore those in a future post, as well has how to choose the right people to conduct your inspections.
No comments:
Post a Comment