Butch Femme Planet - View Single Post - Very Special Thread Of Real Estate Randomness

Gayla · 08-22-2010, 12:03 AM

So since it's my very special thread of real estate randomness, I get to tell you random real estate stories!

I've had a number of buyers ask me if they really need to do a home inspection and my answer is always yes. Inspections are paid for by the home buyer. Often buyers are trying to keep their out of pocket costs as low as possible so while they may try to get away without one, I don't recommend it. Up until this week, my advice has always been theoretical but now I have a real, live story of why home inspections are so important!

A few weeks ago, a nice couple came through the ugly wallpaper house during one of my Sunday open houses and, hypnotized by my amazing powers of persuasion, decided that I should help them find the home of their dreams! A few days later, we found one they liked, submitted an offer and the offer was accepted. The next step is a home inspection.

They didn't ask if an inspection was needed because the house had been built in 1945 and could have had some issues. Little did we know the amount of those issues!

A normal inspection on a home of this size takes about 3 hours. The inspector goes through all of the major systems of the house, takes pictures, points out things to the buyers, makes sure stuff works like it should, etc. This inspection took twice that long and the majority of the problems were things that couldn't be seen just by walking through the house.

There were major issues with the electrical systems, the foundation, and water in the crawl space. He found significant damage from termites and carpenter ants. He found old asbestos tiles in the attic, live electrical wires behind the stove in the kitchen and plumbing problems in the downstairs bathroom. Everywhere he looked, that we wouldn't have, there was a problem.

Needless to say, they will not be purchasing this house. The $350 they spent on the inspection may have just saved them tens of thousands of dollars in future repairs.

08-22-2010, 12:03 AM	#11
Gayla Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Kinky Butch Top Preferred Pronoun?: I'm not picky Relationship Status: She makes me dance like a fool and forget how to breathe. Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: SF CA Posts: 3,229 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 877 Thanked 7,077 Times in 1,966 Posts Rep Power: 0	So since it's my very special thread of real estate randomness, I get to tell you random real estate stories! I've had a number of buyers ask me if they really need to do a home inspection and my answer is always yes. Inspections are paid for by the home buyer. Often buyers are trying to keep their out of pocket costs as low as possible so while they may try to get away without one, I don't recommend it. Up until this week, my advice has always been theoretical but now I have a real, live story of why home inspections are so important! A few weeks ago, a nice couple came through the ugly wallpaper house during one of my Sunday open houses and, hypnotized by my amazing powers of persuasion, decided that I should help them find the home of their dreams! A few days later, we found one they liked, submitted an offer and the offer was accepted. The next step is a home inspection. They didn't ask if an inspection was needed because the house had been built in 1945 and could have had some issues. Little did we know the amount of those issues! A normal inspection on a home of this size takes about 3 hours. The inspector goes through all of the major systems of the house, takes pictures, points out things to the buyers, makes sure stuff works like it should, etc. This inspection took twice that long and the majority of the problems were things that couldn't be seen just by walking through the house. There were major issues with the electrical systems, the foundation, and water in the crawl space. He found significant damage from termites and carpenter ants. He found old asbestos tiles in the attic, live electrical wires behind the stove in the kitchen and plumbing problems in the downstairs bathroom. Everywhere he looked, that we wouldn't have, there was a problem. Needless to say, they will not be purchasing this house. The $350 they spent on the inspection may have just saved them tens of thousands of dollars in future repairs.