To home inspect or not - that is the question?

Question

So this morning my husband tells me that if our new mortgage company doesn't require us to have a home inspection on the home we're purchasing, he doesn't want to waste the money on a home inspection. I argue that we should because it's important and they might find something. He said that he knows what to look for (he's in construction) and that his uncle knows about plumbing, electrical, and pest issues and we can have him look at it too for free. I have faith in my husband that he knows his stuff, but at the same time... lol.. I'd feel safer just having a home inspector check it out. What do you think?

Just wanted to add that the house is As Is (foreclosed property), so we couldn't ask the seller to fix anything anyway

Answer 1

if its listed as a "as is" property an your not looking to resale it for a profit soon, why pay for a inspector everything he finds the seller is not going to fix, it will become a to do list for you, if you buy the house. the only thing he might find is a major problem that you might miss. like a soft spot under the shingles from rotted wood. but i would have the house check for termites an mold by a qualified person before i bought a house

Answer 2

I'm voting for hubby. If he's in construction, he probably has forgotten more than most home inspectors will ever know. A great many home inspectors do the work because the inspection procedure is so very simple. Many have no background in construction at all. It really is the kind of job you get from the "back of a matchbook."

That said, your instincts about "important" are right. The benefit of an inspector is that he/she is -in theory- not biased. So, if something IS wrong with the place, it is the observation of a "third party," not an argument with the buyer.

Here's the compromise: See if your husband will agree to the inspection IF he (your husband) or the uncle find something wrong. If they DO, then the inspector's report will show it, and you're loaded for bear with an "independent" report. The seller will either fix the problem or knock a few bucks off the price. If your husband and the uncle find nothing wrong, then you DON'T get the inspector -you don't need the inspection.

Been there, done that, LOTS of times -TRUST me on this. By the way, what kind of wine can I bring for house-warming?

PS: Just saw the stuff about specialized equipment, sophisticated, etc. Let's see what it really is: The only "sophisticated" thing is a moisture sensor that you can hold up against a basement wall which appears dry but has moisture behind it. Your husband or Uncle already knows someone who has one of those gadets, so borrow it.

The other piece of "high tech" gear is a current probe that you hold against an outlet or other device to detect power or a ground fault. Big deal -Uncle has that on his tool belt. Otherwise, some inspectors MIGHT carry a current sensing device that reads out how much current (amperage) is flowing through a wire WITH the device being powered turned on. Uncle has that puppy, too.

Oh! And that "detailed report." Gag me. It is pre-printed paragraphs bound up in a binder to look big. Boiler-plate. No one slaves over a word processor makijg it all up for you.

Specialized, schmessalized.

Answer 3

I inspect homes all the time and always pre-inspect a house before writing an offer for my clients. I then can tell them with the highest confidence whether the home is a safe investment. I also make them pay for a ASHA approved home inspection after mutual acceptance so they can use it as an escape tool if necessary. I do not charge for my pre-inspections and often find more items than the official inspector does. I consider a home inspection as the cheapest form of equity insurance that exists. Unlike most northwest realtors that are inept and knowledge challenged ( we have one that answers a few dozen questions a day on here ) I prefer my clients to know what they are really getting into before it becomes their problem. Being in construction does not mean a person can automatically spot defects, thats like assuming an auto worker from Detriot can repair any vehicle made. The home buying process when utilizing a good agent is a educational, fun, and smooth process regardless of the issues the agent has to solve behind the scenes. Anything less just shows the lack of competency which has became the status quo within the industry. Get the inspection and use a ASHI approved and well referred inspector. Do not trust an inspector recommended by the agent unless you and your husband can agree he is truly competent. Compromise there but not on the issue of having an inspection. Many agents recommend poor inspectors as they make the deal easier for the agent by not performing a professional level service.

Answer 4

ALWAYS get a home inspection.

Did I mention you should always get a home inspection?

Even on new construction where the house should be perfect, you should always get a home inspection.

ALWAYS.

Reason? Not for crap like a garage door return not working properly, but for health and safety issues you need to know about. I recently saw a home inspection where the house looked beautiful on the outside, but had so much dry rot it wasn't funny. Another one I saw had some Mickey Mouse wiring to the ceiling fan that blew the circuit breaker when it was turned it on with the light on. One inspector showed me a fairly new construction house picture (less than one year old) that the shower drained right into the crawl space as that plumbing hadn't been finished. They were wondering why they had a moisture problem and had the inspector out. Hang around with some home inspectors, they will tell your stories that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, ask nice, and they'll show you the pictures too.

It's about $400 - $500, how much is your piece of mind worth?

Answer 5

I'd do your own inspection first, with your husband and uncle together. You go with and look at your own stuff. Depending on what is found (or unable to determine), you should have a better understanding of the property.

At that point, you can discuss again whether you feel there is anything an inspector could do that you weren't able to determine on your own.

Diplomatically, probably the best solution. Tell your husband this is how you want to do it upfront, so you don't sound like you're second-guessing him later. He should readily agree, and you'll look good for putting your trust in him first.

Answer 6

Have the property inspected. The answers so far are right on target, however; The company that does the inspection, check their guarantee. Most often the guarantee is a return of inspection report fee. Try to find one that actually stands behind the inspection, and will correct the oversite.
P.S. Don't be fooled by technology, IE A device that can see through walls is only as good as the wall to be seen through. You can't typically see through ceramic tile or concrete. Guess what material the wall you're going to want to see into is made of?

Answer 7

If your husband is in construction, he'll know what to look for. Do it yourselves and save some money.

Anything you find can be added to your contract just as if you'd paid someone else to do the inspection for you, and it's still all negotiable. Just make sure that your contract has an inspection clause. Nothing says the inspection has to be done by a certified home inspector, if you and the seller both agree to you doing it yourselves.

There are several books on "do it yourself home inspections" and on information that home inspectors look for. Check out your local library and see what they have.

Here's one online at amazon:

Answer 8

Tell your hunny to swallow his pride and write the darned check. Inspectors do FAR more than 'look'. They have sophisticated testing equipment to check for gas leaks, carbon monoxide emissions, moisture content in framing (important in attics) and many other things.

A quality home inspector spends about three hours analyzing a property for all these issues. You will get a detailed report of the condition of all aspects of the home, at least as much as can be inspected and tested without causing damage.

I recommend them even on NEW construction. You'd be surprised what sometimes gets overlooked during the construction process.

Answer 9

A home inspection at this point would only be to comfort your fears.

Since the seller will make no repairs, I would skip the inspection.

You better be getting it at a reduced price to compensate for any surprises that pop up after the close.

In my opinion Foreclosures are NOT the great deal the general public thinks they are.

Their just is not enough pain (YET) on the part of the lenders that they want to negotiate to where the risk equals the reward.

Terry S.

Answer 10

Here are a couple of old sayings:
1. He who represents himself has a fool for a client.
2. The cobbler's child has no shoes.

Now. put the two together and what you get is a man who thinks too much of his own abilities and his own priorities. Working on his own house brings no money - and just because he's in construction, doesn't mean he has the time/resources to correct problems that happen in the middle of the night - because of shoddy workmanship.

If I were in your position, I'd quietly call the new mortgage company and suggest they insist on a home inspection. Of course, that's lying to your husband, but better a big fight now - than living in a tumble-down mess later.