Home inspections are vital to any purchase! I don't care if it is a bank owned property or one that looks like it is in PERFECT condition, nothing can replace having a PROFESSIONAL home inspection.
A perfect example is a home that was inspected recently for a client of mine. It is a beautiful home and looks like you could move right in. It needs a little paint here and there but nothing major.
The home inspector sure surprised us! We were all amazed to find out that critters had taken up residence in the attic! The owner had moved out several months ago, into a new residence in another town. The house in question is NOT a short sale and shows NO visible signs of having 'special inhabitants'. Once the home inspector got into the attic he found that rats and either raccoons or opossums were living there at least part-time! Feces left indicated more than one type of pest. The rat skull he found left little doubt that rats were there. The sheets of insulation in some sections had been pulled down to use for nesting. Imagine moving in and NOT having a home inspection done!
The home inspection also turned up other items, like leaks around a couple of windows, leaking skylights, the moisture meter that home inspectors use identified moisture in the wall under one of the window leaks. Your average home owner does NOT have this equipment, so there would be NO WAY to know about the moisture without a home inspection!
While the saltwater pool has a Diamond Brite finish, the tiles around the pool need some work. That was obvious. But it was the home inspector that identified places where the saltwater was actually doing damage to the grout behind the tiles. I had not noticed it nor had the prospective buyer.
You may want to save on many things when you purchase a home. You may get numerous quotes on your homeowners insurance and go back and forth on the selling price but one area you should NOT attempt to cut corners on is your HOME INSPECTION! It is truly VITAL!
I always provide clients with a list of home inspectors I have used in the past that I think did superior work. WHO the client hires is NOT my choice and I am always specific that my list has several GREAT inspectors on it.
What makes a GREAT home inspector? Someone who FINDS defects like this! My attitude is if my client does not purchase this house, there will be another. I want to develop a lifelong relationship with my client. I want them to refer me to their family and friends. This is NOT just a quick sale, this is the beginning of a relationship and it is built on trust! For that reason, I want my clients to have GREAT home inspectors working for them!
Buying or Selling - - Call Barbara-Jo for all of your real estate needs! - - 727-512-0910
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Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA Charles Rutenberg Realty Serving the Greater Palm Harbor Florida Area, including Crystal Beach, Dunedin & Tarpon Springs Florida Waterfront condos & homes Your Real Estate Specialist 727-512-0910      |
If you are thinking of purchasing in the Palm Harbor, Crystal Beach, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs area or along our pristine Gulf Beaches, give me a call! With years of experience in the local real estate market, I am here to assist you in making one of the most important purchases of your life! Give me a call today! Find out for yourself why living along the Gulf Coast is indeed living in Paradise!
