Busted! Don’t Believe These Home Inspection Myths!
Purchasing your dream home is a major investment, but having it inspected is a minor expense on your part because it prevents a ton of future headaches. A home inspection can reveal problems with your home’s structure and various systems, which can be a great negotiating tool to lower the price. However, you will need to find a reliable home inspector who’s been in the business for a while and understands the importance of being diligent in inspecting each system of the home in detail. They need to have a broad knowledge about homes and systems and be regulated through a reputable organization.
Unfortunately, due to various misconceptions plaguing the real estate industry, most home buyers take it lightly when it comes to hiring a home inspector. This irrelevant information may dissuade you from receiving benefits from a professional home inspector. To help you steer clear of these misconceptions, J-Pro Inspects has debunked three of the most widely believed myths about home inspections.
Myth 1: Home inspectors check everything
There is a belief in the real estate world that when you hire a home inspector, they will find every problem or concern. A home inspection is really a visual assessment of a house’s physical structure and mechanical systems, visual plumbing and electrical, the roof, ceilings, walls, floors, windows, and doors. It is a limited, non-invasive examination of the condition of a home, often in connection with the sale of that home. Moreover, home inspections should be conducted by a home inspector who has the training and certifications to perform such inspections. The inspectors at J-Pro Inspects, LLC have attended Penn Foster School for Home Inspectors as well as training at InterNACHI and have certified as Professional Inspectors. We also continue to learn through ongoing classes and experience.
We believe that this myth exists in part because people believe that we move the furniture around to check every area of the home or that we can see behind walls and under floors, that we know building codes, or that we can predict the future life of components in the home.
For this reason, we let each client know that the inspection is visual, non-invasive, and we do not move the seller’s belongings. We are required to inspect only those things that are visible and accessible.
Myth 2: Home inspection findings are not a big deal
Another myth that floats around is that the “problem” is “no big deal”. This myth could be around because real estate agents or others know how to “fix it” and are not concerned. It’s important to recognize that for some, it may be a big deal. If a person or a family buying a home has the expertise of fixing up houses, it may be no big deal to them but it could be a big deal for others with no experience fixing things up or with no handyman, family, or friends. One way that we, at J-Pro Inspects, handle the “no big deal” statement is to say things like “this is an easy fix” to the clients and explain to them how it can be done. Also, we let them know that there are “how-to” DIY videos available they can watch when they are ready to take care of the smaller problems. But when it is a larger “problem” we advise them to call in an expert.
Myth 3: All home inspectors are alike
That’s not true! For example, buyers are mostly given a list of home inspectors to choose from by their hired real estate agent. Although the agent may know an inspector who does a fantastic job and cares about the people they are serving but cannot share this information due to so many legal issues. So the client chooses a home inspector for themselves. Consequently, these clients usually select an inspector based on price alone, thinking they will receive the same kind of inspection similar to a home inspector charging more.
While this is hardly the case, as a client, you should do your “due diligence” and research on a home inspector. We had a client recently, who did his due diligence by researching companies, tell us, “Skilled labor isn’t cheap and cheap labor isn’t skilled.” He found us on Google, loved our reviews, and checked out our website. He also bypassed the inspection companies with ads and that’s how he found us. He said he didn’t want the cheapest guy, he wanted the one who was going to take his time with the inspection and provide a detailed inspection report.
Checking the inspector’s website, viewing their sample report and reading reviews from past clients is a great way to learn more about a company you wish to work with. We feel that you should know how long they’ve been in business. Do they say their team has an “X” number of years of experience combined or just that their company has been in business for an “X” number of years? The combined experience could mean you’ll get the inspector with six months experience instead of the one with two-three or ten years of experience!
Another piece of advice is to check the amount of time they will spend on your inspection. Is it thirty minutes per thousand square feet? An hour, an hour and a half? How detailed do you want your report? Do you love pictures? Do you want a checklist or an actual report? These are just a few things to follow up on.
When it comes to a home inspector’s license, if a home inspector says they are licensed, they may have a license from another state. In Utah, there is no licensing for a home inspector and no requirements for training. So, find out what kind of training the inspector has. At a minimum, they should be certified through a nationally recognized home inspector company like InterNACHI or others. These companies require on going training every year to maintain a membership in good standing and your inspector is always improving his knowledge.
Do your homework so you will be pleased with the final product and hopefully a “fix-it” list via your home inspection report and instruction from your home inspector.
If you’re looking to steer clear of these myths, reach out to J-Pro Inspects. As certified home inspectors in Utah, we are family-owned and operated since 2011. Our field staff has experienced InterNACHI certified home inspectors who provide high-quality home inspections to help homeowners make an informed decision. We inspect each home as if we were going to for our own family. We make sure to respond to any questions and concerns you may have about your property. We offer a full range of inspection services, and it’s extended to clients across Salt Lake County and the surrounding areas: Davis County, Utah County, Tooele County, Sanpete County, Wasatch County, Summit County, Weber County.
For a complete list of our services, please click here. If you have any questions about home inspection services, we’d love to hear from you, please contact us here.