About Inspections

Interviewing Home Inspectors

When interviewing a home inspector, ask the inspector what type of report format he, or she, provides for your new Olympia WA home. There are many styles of reports used by property inspectors, including the checklist, computer generated using inspection programs, and the narrative style. Some reports are delivered on site, and some may take as long as 4 - 6 days for delivery. All reporting systems have pluses, and minuses.The most critical issue with an inspection report is the description given for each item, or component. A report that indicates the condition as "Good", "Fair", or "Poor", without a detailed explanation, is vague, and can be easily misinterpreted. An example of a vague condition would be: Kitchen Sink: Condition - Good, Fair, or Poor. None of these descriptions gives the homeowner an idea what is wrong. Does it simply have a cosmetic problem? Does the  home have a plumbing problem? A good report should supply you with descriptive information on the condition of the Olympia WA real estate site, and home. An example of a descriptive condition is: Kitchen sink: Condition - Heavy wear, minor wear, rust stains, damaged, or chips in enamel finish. Recommend sealing sink at counter top. As you can see, this narrative description includes a recommendation for repair. Narrative reports, without recommendations for repairing deficient items, may be difficult to understand, should your knowledge of construction be limited.

Take the time, and become familiar with your inspection report. Should the report have a legend, symbols, key, or icons, read, and understand, them thoroughly. The more information provided about the Olympia WA site, and home, the easier it will be to understand the overall condition. At the end of the inspection, your inspector may give a summary with a question, and answer period. Use this opportunity to ask questions regarding terms, or conditions, that you may not be familiar with. A good inspector should be able to explain the answers to your questions. If, for some reason, a question cannot be answered at the time of the inspection, the inspector should research the question, and obtain the answer for you.

For instance, if the inspector's report says that the concrete foundation has common cracks, be sure to ask, "Why are they common?" The answer you should receive will be along these lines: common cracks are typically due to normal concrete curing, and/or shrinkage. The inspector's knowledge, and experience, is how the size, and characteristics, of the cracking is determined. We recommend that you accompany your inspector through the entire inspection, if possible. This helps you to understand the condition of the home, and the details of the report. Read the report, thoroughly, and understand the condition of the home you are about to purchase. After all, it is most likely one of the largest investments you will ever make.

Disclaimer Clauses:

Before the inspector inspects the home that you are purchasing, you will be asked to sign an acknowledgment of the scope of the inspection. This document will probably include a disclaimer clause meant to relieve the company of responsibility, if they should miss a defect. What happens if a problem is missed during an inspection? The disclaimer clause may get the inspection company off the hook for a defect, if there is no visual indication of a problem. If the inspector clearly stated that he was not checking for that problem--many inspectors do not check for dry rot, or inspect roofs--then the recourse will be limited. If negligence is involved, or if the defect should have been obvious to a professional inspector, the disclaimer is not likely to protect the inspector. If you find an undiscovered defect, discuss the matter with the inspector. Depending on the situation, the responsibility for remedying the problem may rest with the sellers, you, and/or the inspector.