Pests
Home Inspections – Is Your Inspector a Structural Pest Inspector?
Before the recent law requiring the licensure of home inspectors with the Department of Licensing, home inspectors were required to be Structural Pest Inspectors, SPI’s, licensed through the Washington State Department of Agriculture. In addition, a complete wood destroying organism, WDO, inspection was performed as part of the home inspection. The scope of this inspection…
Read MoreThe Changing Face of Home Inspections
It wasn’t that long ago it seems that home inspections were an unheard of thing. In fact when I bought my first old home in 1974, it wasn’t even brought up in conversation. Back then if someone was interested in the condition of a home they were going to buy, they would just have a…
Read MoreHome Inspections – Seven Golden Rules
Don’t go it alone. Working with a professional real estate broker is absolutely paramount to a smooth transaction and will help you avoid possible future legal issues, or challenges with documentation. They have intensive training in the real estate process, the forms, the legalities and the art of negotiation. Even if you think you have…
Read MoreNavigating Through the Home Inspection Report
For inspectors, there are many different reporting formats to choose from which operate on a variety of data collection methods. These may range from a simple written checklist to a sophisticated computer generated report where information is entered on a PDA. Regardless, there are some basic components to look for in any professionally prepared report:…
Read MoreBe realistic about old home inspection findings.
One of the most difficult things buyers face as they sift through the myriad of inspection findings on an older home is trying to decide what’s important. Personally, I like to use what I call the “70-20-10” approach. Simply put, 70% of the inspection findings document extraneous data, 20% report minor conditions and 10% are…
Read MoreHome Inspection FAQ’s
How do I find a good inspector? Start with a web search through a nationally recognized home inspector association. ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors, is the oldest and most respected. Go to www.ashi.org, where you can find a local inspector, check out their experience and background and get a link to their website.…
Read MoreThe legal side of home inspection reports.
With today’s technology, most home inspection reports are high quality computer generated documents filled with color photographs and impressive detail. However, beyond that are some important legal considerations: The first relates to ownership of the report: Technically, the inspector has rights to the report much like a copyright and the buyer paying for the inspection…
Read MoreWood Boring Beetles Can Cause Serious Damage
There are a number of species of beetles which are known to attack wood, although for the home inspector wood damage from the ominously named deathwatch beetle (family Anobiidae) is probably the most commonly seen. Those in the construction trades and Real Estate community have likely heard of these beetles referred to as powderpost beetles,…
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