5 home inspection mistakes to avoid

Buyers and sellers have a lot of details to consider when deciding to purchase or sell a home. Hiring the wrong home inspector, or opting out of the inspection altogether, are just two of the mistakes they can make, according to an April 13 article on Bankrate.com.

“A home inspection isn’t just about identifying problems with the house. A thorough inspector considers the appointment a master class in your new home,” Dana Dratch wrote in “5 mistakes buyers and sellers make with home inspections.”

Here are the five mistakes home buyers and sellers should avoid, as suggested by home inspection professionals.

Not researching the inspector — Clients should find out as much as possible about a potential inspector. Ask them how long they’ve been inspecting homes; how many inspections they’ve performed; what kind of training, qualifications and certifications they possess; and whether or not they have contracting or building experience, according to Troy Bloxom, president of the National Association of Home Inspectors and owner of Home Inspections Plus, near Anchorage, Alaska.

Not attending the inspection — It’s a good idea that clients attend the inspection to see firsthand what’s going on, according to Dratch. Alden E. Gibson, ACI and RHI, president of the American Society of Home Inspectors, agreed.

“Just reading that inspection report isn’t enough for most homeowners to get the full picture,” Gibson said.

Not reading the inspection report — Once the report is complete, clients should give it the once over. The report should be written in clear and concise language, Kurt Mitenbuler, owner of Kurt Mitenbuler & Associates, said in the article.

“A knowledgeable pro will state simply what’s wrong with the house and what it will take to fix,” he said.

Not getting a pre-sale inspection — Not getting a home inspection prior to listing the home is a mistake, according to Bloxom.

“…if sellers have the home inspected before putting it on the market, they have more time to get repairs done,” he said in the article. “With the extra time, they can shop around and control costs.”

Not prepping the home — As other home inspection professionals have noted, ensuring crawl spaces and basements are accessible is necessary for inspectors to do their jobs. Home inspectors can’t make assumptions when performing a home inspection.”Inspectors are peeved when homeowners don’t prepare the house,” Dratch wrote.