Couple May Sue Former Home Owner

[Billy Boerner]

Originally Posted by prussell

Very interesting.

Why is knowing the condition of the home so important?

The condition of the home can have a huge financial impact on the home purchase decision. Home prices have risen substantially over the years and so has the cost of home repairs. Today's home buyer must consider not only the cost of buying the home, but also the cost of owning the home. Nothing can be more devastating, both emotionally and financially, than to have a family move into their new home only to face thousands of dollars in unexpected repair costs.
What does a home inspector do?

A professional, well-trained inspector can provide you with the information you need to make an informed purchase decision and a good investment! A written home inspection report will detail the home's condition including the heating and cooling systems, the plumbing and electrical systems, the roof and siding, as well as the framing and foundation. In addition, many home inspectors will provide or can arrange for additional environmental services that may be required or desired.
Once I have a home inspection, then what do I do?

Armed with this valuable information, you can then factor the needed repair costs into the home purchase equation. After the inspection, you can complete the purchase with confidence. In the end, a professional well-trained home inspector can provide you with peace of mind that you've made a sound and intelligent investment decision.
In my area, home inspectors have to be licensed. Will that guarantee that I will get a good inspector?

Not necessarily. Unfortunately licensing often gives consumers a false sense of security. Licensing does not differentiate between professional inspectors with experience and those who are less prepared and trained. While licensing is a good first step in the screening of inspectors, you should still carefully evaluate the credentials of the inspector that you are about to hire.

Peter we have to be careful in my opinion as to what we say to the general public. A home inspection does NOT detail a homes true condition because we can't see what's hidden unless we prod and poke and then we can only do that in some areas where we don't destroy stuff. A home inspection gives a detailed description of the condition of items that is visible only plain and simple. I truly believe we as HI's have done a bang up job with all our promotional literture leading consumers to believe we are able to give the true condition of the entire home. Once hired then we put it in fine print on a contract that we're not superman and we can't see behind walls. When I'm hired I immediately stress the fact that A. we are generalist and if we suspect or find a defect we will refer to the pro's and B. We can't see what's hidden and C. We won't destroy to see what's hidden. My clients have a clear understanding way before i get there.

[Peter C. Russell]

Originally Posted by bboerner

Peter we have to be careful in my opinion as to what we say to the general public. A home inspection does NOT detail a homes true condition because we can't see what's hidden unless we prod and poke and then we can only do that in some areas where we don't destroy stuff. A home inspection gives a detailed description of the condition of items that is visible only plain and simple. I truly believe we as HI's have done a bang up job with all our promotional literture leading consumers to believe we are able to give the true condition of the entire home. Once hired then we put it in fine print on a contract that we're not superman and we can't see behind walls. When I'm hired I immediately stress the fact that A. we are generalist and if we suspect or find a defect we will refer to the pro's and B. We can't see what's hidden and C. We won't destroy to see what's hidden. My clients have a clear understanding way before i get there.

Billy, this was taken from the web site that the inspector in question on this thread belongs to. I agree with everything you said but there seems to be more to this case. I just don't understand how someone can inspect a home and two months later it's condemned.

[Billy Boerner]

Originally Posted by prussell

Billy, this was taken from the web site that the inspector in question on this thread belongs to. I agree with everything you said but there seems to be more to this case. I just don't understand how someone can inspect a home and two months later it's condemned.

Peter I don't understand either. There had to be alot this guy missed IMO. In your opinion do you honestly think you would of caught this destruction?

[Peter C. Russell]

Yes I do. If you look at the video the last picture of the house, look at the roof lines. All that water has to go somewhere. Also, the basement walls where only covered in plastic, so, as I said in previous posts I would have used my probe to look for rot. Again, as I've said in previous posts I've been repairing this kind of rot for 25 years and we get a lot of it up here, especially since we have had abnormal rainfall for the last 3 years.

OH, and I also own a thermal imaging camera which more than likely would have detected it. There's just to many problems there not to have red flagged something.