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RE: Home inspections

Summer07 — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:14:16 GMT

For us DH is in the home renovations business and what he doesn't know, he has friends who do. We didn't pay for a home inspection, but we went to the house and did our own inspection. If DH didn't know what he was doing, then I would for sure get an inspection done. I don't think they are that much money and can save you from a huge headache in the future.

RE: Home inspections

tobride — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:10:35 GMT

So when hubby and I bought our first home together it was a 50some odd year old home and since Regina has very shifty ground we insisted on a home inspection. The guy came by and did the furnace, roof, etc, etc, etc and we were really impressed, or so we thought. Until we actually got in the house. Knowing that they can't open walls and see what's there I still don't think he did a good job at all. The home owners had a computer desk in front of a plug when we looked at the house, when we went there with the home inspector it was already moved and it was obvious that there had been some kind of damage to the plug (charred black around one plug) and he didn't note that in his inspection. He noted that a couple of the bedroom doors didn't close due to shifting but didn't note that the front door wouldn't close that day (and since it did when we looked at the house the other times were there that raised a lot of question). Also, you think as a home inspector you would try and locate the teleposts and note that THERE WERE NONE VISIBLE. As first time home buyers these were things we didn't think about/notice and we really honestly expected the home inspector to point out (he did on even more minor things than these). and once we got in the house it was pure hell because of the fact the teleposts had been set against code and blocked in so they couldn't adjust. On days that the front doors could close the back couldn't, etc. It was brutal.

So once we bought our second house we had done TONS of renos and more or less knew what to think about. Plus DH dad who's had several rental properties and is of the belief that since home inspection is an unregulated business thinks its useless, we did not get a home inspection done. we just brought in DH, his dad and dad's rental partner and thoroughly went through the house. We did have someone come in for the furnace and chimney inspection though. We have had no unexpected issues on this house and I highly doubt we will ever get a home inspection again because we did feel sooo ripped off on the last house.

I think if you're not overwhelmed with emotion when buying your house adn know what to look for save the $ and do it yourself.

RE: Home inspections

Nik82 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:40:01 GMT

We had a home inspection done by one of the top company's in area. The inspector (and the contract) specifically stated that they were only liable for things that could be seen. ie. if there is faulty wiring, mold in the walls etc. it wouldn't be their problem. Our inspector seemed really good, was on the roof, got up into the attic etc. We pointed out what looked like a water spot in the ceiling of the dinning room, and asked him what he thought. He looked at it and said it looked like they had a light there, and moved it, the spot was just a patch. (the sellers were in the room as well) Well let me tell you, the first time I took a bath I had a waterfall in my dinning room! The spot we had pointed out was in fact a water mark. Luckily my grandfather was a plumber and he was able to fix the problem relatively easily. I was NOT happy with the inspector or the sellers. Grrr.

RE: Home inspections

crysandjim — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:43:28 GMT

never had an inspection done on any of the 4 homes I have purchased. guess I am an idiot

RE: Home inspections

williewonka — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:03:54 GMT

[quote][b]chulie (7/22/2008)[/b][hr][quote][b]sarahandrob2010 (7/22/2008)[/b][hr][quote][b]aotter (7/22/2008)[/b][hr]I don't know why anyone wouldn't get an inspection done, the only trouble is finding a good one I think. But I wouldn't buy a house without getting an inspection done, its well worth it in the long run.[/quote]

Is it still true that there's no formal requirement in Canada for becoming a home inspector? Last I heard, anyone could claim they were a home inspector.[/quote]

Not sure about that but...we used an EXCELLENT home inspector...he climbed up into our attic, took down boxes..flicked every switch, twisted every knob, took the fuse box apart..i mean...this guy spent over 2 hours on a very small townhouse.....but..ive heard some bad things...thats for sure!

if you are looking for qualifications..i got this off our home inspectors website:

Two of the most commonly accepted standards and inspection guidelines are those issued by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI®) and National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI).

In certain regions, HouseMaster inspectors also meet or exceed standards established by other agencies — such as the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI), or the California Real Estate Inspectors Association (CREIA). Follow the links below for more information on standards and home inspections.[/quote]

Honestly with the internet you can research quite easily of good ones. Word of mouth goes a long way. We researched, then talked to them and then said OK we'll hire you. Use your gut instinct, if it sounds too good to be true then chances are it is.

Like Julie we found a great home inspector. We got a big binder full of things they checked, things we need to change now, things that will need to be done soon, and just basic information on what you need to do throughout the year to keep your home in tip top shape (change filters, etc).

RE: Home inspections

sweetpea61 — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:31:11 GMT

[quote][b]sarahandrob2010 (7/24/2008)[/b][hr][quote][b]sweetpea61 (7/23/2008)[/b][hr]It's true, 20 years ago it was actually NOT the norm to get a home inspection. [/quote]

One of the websites I was looking at said they expected home inspections to increase by 40% within a certain amount of time (which I can't recall off the top fo my head), so obviously not everyone is doing it already.

Though I do agree that it's probably a wise choice :)[/quote]

That's interesting, I thought it was becoming the norm these days and I do agree, if you don't know what to look for, it would definitely be a wise choice - this is probably the single biggest investment you will make and it will be your home, so it would be money well spent.

RE: Home inspections

sarahandrob2010 — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:29:01 GMT

[quote][b]sweetpea61 (7/23/2008)[/b][hr]It's true, 20 years ago it was actually NOT the norm to get a home inspection. [/quote]

Though I do agree that it's probably a wise choice :)

RE: Home inspections

Belram — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:06:05 GMT

We didn't do an inspection as we did a private sale and the seller wanted to move quickly. However, our neighbor and good family friend in a general contractor so he was able to give us a lot of advice!!

RE: Home inspections

sweetpea61 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:59:17 GMT

It's true, 20 years ago it was actually NOT the norm to get a home inspection. I've owned 8 houses and have never had one, but have always been thorough in looking over a home before buying. I've sold 7 houses and only one purchaser ever had any of those houses inspected and that was in 1990.

RE: Home inspections

missdish — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:36:44 GMT

[quote][b]KSG09 (7/23/2008)[/b][hr]Wow ok hot topic. Just to clarify, we aren't seriously considering buying without the inspection. I guess I should have clarified that. The question has been posed to use serveral times. We know quite a few people who bought without and haven't had any major issues. I'm told that 20 years ago, it wasn't common at all to get a home inspection. The only reason that we would even toy with the idea is because the home is not very old, was owned by a decent contractor and we're both handy people. Also, my parents have built three houses (I helped with 2 of them) and my Dad is an electrician. What stops me from seriously considering not getting a home inspection is the unseen factors (mold, asbestoes, covered up leaks...), just as all of you have pointed out. It scares me is that even though the inspector is so thorough, there is no guarantee and there will certainly be things missed or unforseen things happen.

Glad I posed the question here though! Lots of good responeses and points! [/quote]

I don't think age matters, even brand new houses can have problems

RE: Home inspections

KSG09 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:59:26 GMT

Wow ok hot topic. Just to clarify, we aren't seriously considering buying without the inspection. I guess I should have clarified that. The question has been posed to use serveral times. We know quite a few people who bought without and haven't had any major issues. I'm told that 20 years ago, it wasn't common at all to get a home inspection. The only reason that we would even toy with the idea is because the home is not very old, was owned by a decent contractor and we're both handy people. Also, my parents have built three houses (I helped with 2 of them) and my Dad is an electrician. What stops me from seriously considering not getting a home inspection is the unseen factors (mold, asbestoes, covered up leaks...), just as all of you have pointed out. It scares me is that even though the inspector is so thorough, there is no guarantee and there will certainly be things missed or unforseen things happen.

Glad I posed the question here though! Lots of good responeses and points!

RE: Home inspections

mindyb — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:48:19 GMT

FH and I are fortunate in that his father is a carpenter and was able to do the inspection for us. The house we're buying is almost 50 years old so we know going into it that there's going to be things here and there that need to be looked after. But generally speaking the house is in great condition and we didn't hire a professional inspector.

RE: Home inspections

wickedgrl — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:48:29 GMT

We got our home inspectors contact info through our realtor...she directed us to the person she uses whenever asked for a recommended...

The guy was awesome..spent three hrs going over everything and walked my dad and fiance through the minor issues...

RE: Home inspections

sarahandrob2010 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:05:31 GMT

FYI, I just found this info:

In Canada, home inspection remains totally unregulated and hence anyone from any background can basically "hang out a shingle" as a home inspector. Many qualified and trained home inspection professionals are hoping for government intervention, National Standards of Practice and eventual self-regulation to alleviate this problem in the near future.

(http://www.home-inspectors.com/busopp.htm)

Perhaps to become a *registered* home inspector (and join one of the many associations across Canada), you need to take courses. But it seems that you don't actually NEED to have any specific training or skills. :unsure:

RE: Home inspections

BeeBear — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:50:09 GMT

[quote][b]aotter (7/22/2008)[/b][hr][quote][b]BeeBear (7/22/2008)[/b][hr][quote][b]aotter (7/22/2008)[/b][hr][quote][b]sarahandrob2010 (7/22/2008)[/b][hr][quote][b]aotter (7/22/2008)[/b][hr]I don't know why anyone wouldn't get an inspection done, the only trouble is finding a good one I think. But I wouldn't buy a house without getting an inspection done, its well worth it in the long run.[/quote]

Is it still true that there's no formal requirement in Canada for becoming a home inspector? Last I heard, anyone could claim they were a home inspector.[/quote]

I'm not sure, i think you take a course or something but I really don't think that should qualify you. You should have lots of experience and knowledge in all the trades I think to be a basic inspector. But I do think its crap that if your home inspector says everything is all good, and then you discover a huge problem after you purchased the house, they should be held accountable. Mainly b/c you are paying for this person to look for things that you dont' think of, not everyone is knowlegeable in this area (I know I'm not) and not everyone has someone in their family thats in the trades to help you out. You are paying them for a service and they should be held accountable for their decision. I think that's why alot of ppl go into it b/c you can make good cash and you really don't have to be truthfull as they can get away with declaring a house safe or whatever even if its not.[/quote]

You have to go through LOTS of courses to be a home inspector. Not only that, you must continually take more courses in order to keep your licence. My Dad is a home inspector, he's forever taking courses and upgrades in order to keep his job.

Secondly, I would never buy a car without a test drive....therefore, I would never even consider buying a house without an inspection. For the amount of money you are investing, a $500 inspection is peanuts to save you thousands in problems that could arise should you opt not to.[/quote]

well thats good to know, but still...they should be held accountable for their decision.[/quote]

You could go after the company that employs them. However, you must keep in mind that just like in ANY field, individuals always have their own set ways.....it's very rare to find numerous people in the same field that do their jobs exactly the same. Your best bet is to contact the Better Business Bureau.

RE: Home inspections

beccak — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:43:12 GMT

I would never, ever, ever buy a place without an inspection. I don't care if its a brand new place either. That is a huge investment to not pay for an inspection on.

RE: Home inspections

aotter — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:06:13 GMT

[quote][b]BeeBear (7/22/2008)[/b][hr][quote][b]aotter (7/22/2008)[/b][hr][quote][b]sarahandrob2010 (7/22/2008)[/b][hr][quote][b]aotter (7/22/2008)[/b][hr]I don't know why anyone wouldn't get an inspection done, the only trouble is finding a good one I think. But I wouldn't buy a house without getting an inspection done, its well worth it in the long run.[/quote]

Is it still true that there's no formal requirement in Canada for becoming a home inspector? Last I heard, anyone could claim they were a home inspector.[/quote]

well thats good to know, but still...they should be held accountable for their decision.

RE: Home inspections

BeeBear — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:58:07 GMT

[quote][b]aotter (7/22/2008)[/b][hr][quote][b]sarahandrob2010 (7/22/2008)[/b][hr][quote][b]aotter (7/22/2008)[/b][hr]I don't know why anyone wouldn't get an inspection done, the only trouble is finding a good one I think. But I wouldn't buy a house without getting an inspection done, its well worth it in the long run.[/quote]

Is it still true that there's no formal requirement in Canada for becoming a home inspector? Last I heard, anyone could claim they were a home inspector.[/quote]

RE: Home inspections

chulie — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:09:14 GMT

[quote][b]sarahandrob2010 (7/22/2008)[/b][hr][quote][b]aotter (7/22/2008)[/b][hr]I don't know why anyone wouldn't get an inspection done, the only trouble is finding a good one I think. But I wouldn't buy a house without getting an inspection done, its well worth it in the long run.[/quote]

Is it still true that there's no formal requirement in Canada for becoming a home inspector? Last I heard, anyone could claim they were a home inspector.[/quote]

if you are looking for qualifications..i got this off our home inspectors website:

Two of the most commonly accepted standards and inspection guidelines are those issued by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI®) and National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI).

RE: Home inspections

aotter — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:57:00 GMT

Is it still true that there's no formal requirement in Canada for becoming a home inspector? Last I heard, anyone could claim they were a home inspector.[/quote]

RE: Home inspections

MrsSofaQueen — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:54:17 GMT

[quote][b]aotter (7/22/2008)[/b][hr]I don't know why anyone wouldn't get an inspection done, the only trouble is finding a good one I think. But I wouldn't buy a house without getting an inspection done, its well worth it in the long run.[/quote]

Look in the Yellow Pages. My FH found a good inspector in the Yellow Pages. He picked the one with the most consumer awards and they had some other aspects about them he liked. That was his job to find the inspector and follow the inspector around the house and get the details b/c he understands that stuff.

RE: Home inspections

sarahandrob2010 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:51:34 GMT

Is it still true that there's no formal requirement in Canada for becoming a home inspector? Last I heard, anyone could claim they were a home inspector.

RE: Home inspections

2007bride — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:37:29 GMT

Well I guess that I will be the first one to say that I didn't get an inspection done on my most recent purchase and it was a power of sale! Actually, most times, I don't get one done!

Most people will think I am crazy, but as a real estate agent and a husband & family in the trades...to me it was pointless.

An inspector can only see what any other person can see. They can not dig behind walls or get any more into it than anyone else. However, it is all a matter of knowing what to look for! If you don't have someone that knows what to look for, a home inspector can be great to point out potential problems!

However, one thing to keep in mind is that an inspection comes with no warranty/guarantee. If the home inspector says everything is great and the day after closing the roof caves in (which actually happened to my father), you can not go after the inspector!

I just consider myself lucky to have family in the trades :)

Despite the fact that I don't personally use actual inspectors, I honestly believe that if you are going to spend $200,000+ on a house... $200 for an inspection is probably well worth it!

RE: Home inspections

aotter — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:22:19 GMT

I don't know why anyone wouldn't get an inspection done, the only trouble is finding a good one I think. But I wouldn't buy a house without getting an inspection done, its well worth it in the long run.

RE: Home inspections

chulie — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:12:46 GMT

[quote][b]SofaQueen (7/22/2008)[/b][hr][quote][b]KSG09 (7/22/2008)[/b][hr]FH and I have been looking at homes with a realtor lately. We had put an offer in on one and it was accepted, conditional on home inspection. After the inspection, we just turned it down flat. It needed too many big things right away (like a new roof IMMEDIATLY).

I was wondering what everyone else's experience was like with their home inspection. We got thrown off by a lot of the little things too. We're now considering a house that needs a lot of cosmetic repair, but has a new roof, newer furnace etc etc.

Did anyone buy without a home inspection? What are your thoughts here?[/quote]

Anyone buying without a home inspection is a, let's try to put this lightly, a little daft. I would pay between $300 - $800 to have an inspection done so I know if the place is worth purchasing and for bargaining power. If this place you are looking at needs a new roof you can always put in an offer for about $30,000 less than your original offer to cover the cost of a new roof.[/quote]

You really love to insult people dont you??????? do you know how to post without putting people down so harshly????? i did have a home inspection soo...your comment doesnt apply to me but...i just cant help but notice you love to sling the insults at people in your posts...does using really negative words to describe people help you feel better????

RE: Home inspections

saraht76 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:44:49 GMT

I would never even consider buying without an inspection. Houses can look fine from the outside but who knows what is happening in the walls, underground or on the roof??

RE: Home inspections

chulie — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:02:58 GMT

Our house was only 5 years old when we bought...so...we werent expecting to find anything major in our home inspection....but..i would say anyone buying a home should have one done..i mean..whats 300 bucks for something that cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars? our house passed with flying colours but our home inspector was amazing and gave us some great advice on how to extend the life of our house...because the house was new..a lot was still done by the builder so he showed us how to extend a few drains and stuff and help with runoff to protect our foundation...that the builder wouldnt care about...as a new homeowner he also showed us things in our house we would need to know....about the circuits and breakers and our filters for the house and stuff...it was pretty cool!! we learned a lot..

RE: Home inspections

MrsSofaQueen — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:40:29 GMT

[quote][b]KSG09 (7/22/2008)[/b][hr]FH and I have been looking at homes with a realtor lately. We had put an offer in on one and it was accepted, conditional on home inspection. After the inspection, we just turned it down flat. It needed too many big things right away (like a new roof IMMEDIATLY).

Did anyone buy without a home inspection? What are your thoughts here?[/quote]

RE: Home inspections

Beltsie — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:19:44 GMT

In parts of 2006 and 2007, the housing market was so crazy here in Edmonton that some people were buying houses with NO conditions at all. So no inspections. A lot of people were burned by hidden problems. The worst one I heard was a house that was sold for over $300 000, and was then declared condemed due to toxic mold. There was nothing the buyers could do about it, since they hadn't done an inspection.

I agree with the PP, it would be silly to not do an inspection. Too many things that can go unnoticed that could cause serious problems and lots of $$$$ to fix.

RE: Home inspections

missdish — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:31:15 GMT

Personally I think you would be stupid to buy without having an inspection. You see many horror stories of people who did.

Here's our reasons we were glad we got them:

House #1 - The house had been lifted and they used wood, the wood was rotting and the house would fall down. It would be $20,000 to fix........

House #2 - Needed a new $20,000 septic system that there might not be enough land for now. Foudation cracks costing $5000, new facia on the roof $3000........and so on............

Inspections are important and worth the money! Also make sure you get someone good. For house #1 a different buyer had one done and didn't find the problem with the wood

Home inspections

KSG09 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:59:27 GMT

FH and I have been looking at homes with a realtor lately. We had put an offer in on one and it was accepted, conditional on home inspection. After the inspection, we just turned it down flat. It needed too many big things right away (like a new roof IMMEDIATLY).

Did anyone buy without a home inspection? What are your thoughts here?