Don't Skip Home Inspection Before You Buy
By Mark Nash

These tips are excerpted from my four real estate book: "1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home" by Mark Nash. ISBN: 0324232896 Thomson/South-Western 2004.

37 Know what to expect from a home inspector.
-A home inspector is a qualified professional who performs an inspection of various home systems and structures.
-The home inspector is a generalist, that is, knowledgeable in many areas, but not an expert in all.

41 Know what to expect from a home inspection.
-An examination of the exterior and interior of residential property, including the grounds, the structure, and the mechanical systems, will discover any structural defects; broken or obsolete components; and damage due to water, wear and tear, and other conditions.
-The examination should be summarized in a home inspection report.

50 Determine whether if the main electric panel contains circuit breakers or fuses.

63 Locate a clean out; a pipe fitted with a removable plug to assist in dislodging a pipe obstruction on the main sewer line.

65 Be sure that the water heater is sized properly for number of bathrooms, kitchen, laundry, and special tubs such as a Jacuzzi.

68 See whether all water supply lines to fixtures, such as sinks, toilets, and laundry, have shut-off valves.

87 Always look for worn shingles that have curled edges.

94 Look for roofs that are properly vented with ridge and soffit vents.

101 Understand the meaning of load-bearing.
-It carries an imposed load.
-Exterior and some interior walls of a structure are load-bearing.
-Before removing any wall consult with a structural engineer to determine whether a wall is load bearing.

111 If the house is on a crawl space, make sure a vapor barrier is covered with gravel or poured concrete.

119 Look for carcks and buldges in foundation walls.

124 Look for spalling (the crumbling of brick) and the need for tuckpointing (loose or missing mortar between bricks) on older brick walls and chimneys.

139 Make sure to locate main shut-offs for natural gas, water, and electrical.

144 Request that the property sellers leave all appliance, furnace, hot water heater, and other manuals and warranties in the house or bring them to closing or escrow.

145 Confirm that required smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed and are in the right locations for optimal operation.

147 Identify the additional types of inspections that may be suggested.
-Chimneys and fireplaces.
-Swimming pool.
-Oil and gas tanks.
-Asbestos, radon and mold.

176 Check to see whether the house was built before 1978, in which case lead-based paint is likely to have been used.

188 Look for water stains on walls, floors,and carpets, including carpet over concrete floors. Lift area rugs up to see condition of floors beneath.

192 Make sure all vents lead outdoors and nt into attics or crawl spaces.

194 Hire a professional to inspect the heating and cooling system, including humidifiers, condensing units, evaporators, and vents. Have the inspector check duct lining and insulation for mold growth.

230 Understand that termites are not the only cause of damage to wood structures.
-Other wood-destroying insects are, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and powderpost beetles.

232 For new construction, do not go to closing until a proper Certificate of Occupancy has been granted by the local government authority.

Mark Nash is a nationally recognized consumer advocate for buyers and sellers of residential real estate. Author of four books including the recently released "1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home" Thomson 2005. Mr. Nash has been featured in The New York Times,USA Today, Fidelity Investor's Weekly, CBS The Early Show, Bloomberg TV, Dow Jones Market Watch, MSNBC.com Unique Homes Magazine and The Universal Press Syndicate. His radio show "Real Estate Coast to Coast with Mark Nash" http://www.business.voiceamerica.com on Wednesdays 9AM PST,11AM CST and 12 Noon EST. The show is looking for interesting guests including; real estate journalists, interior designers, home improvement experts, real estate attorney's, appraisers, home inspectors and celebrity's.

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Home Maintenance Tips You Can't Afford to Ignore
By Ian White

Without a doubt, buying a home can be the largest investment you’ll ever make. With the average home costing approximately $190,000, many homeowners take great pains to ensure that all cosmetic and structural repairs are attended to. However, the truth is that many expensive repairs could be avoided by simply sticking to a routine maintenance schedule. Routinely checking your home for emerging problems will prevent larger, more expensive problems that leave homeowners scrambling for a quick repair—rather than a cost-effective one. Clearly, regular home maintenance is something you can’t afford to ignore.

When to Inspect

Spring is a good time to begin assessing your home for any damage or repairs that need attending to. A good rule of thumb is to check your home at the same time you change your fire alarm batteries—at the beginning (spring) and end (fall) of daylight saving’s time. Doing so will ensure that minor repairs don’t turn into major expenses. Some components of your home may require less-frequent monitoring (foundation), and some may require more (changing the furnace filter). However, taking a walkthrough of your home twice yearly is a good rule of thumb to begin with.

Who Should Inspect

If you feel unqualified to asses every crack and unidentified water leak in your home, feel free to hire a handy man. Not only will he be able to spot any problems, but he can also advise on repairs and costs right on the spot. Do you want a thorough evaluation? Hire a home inspector. Do keep in mind, however, that home inspectors cost much more (around $300) and may not necessarily find every problem.

In most instances, though, simply paying attention to your home is all it takes to spot any emerging problems. For example, if your toilet runs all the time, chances are it needs to be repaired. Have you noticed that your doors don’t shut properly anymore? That could be a sign of foundation settling or warping. Simply making a list of things around your home that seem “off” can make your inspection process much easier. No matter what your plans, the following items are a good place to start when evaluating the condition of your home:

Exterior Items

Home Inspections are for the Wise
By Martin Lukac

There are a lot of myths about home inspections out there. People often don't understand when a home inspection is necessary, who should perform it and how it should be conducted. These misconceptions can cost a buyer a lot of money.

Basically, a professional home inspector looks over a home from the foundation to the rafters. He or she prepares a report that gives the condition of all the home's major components.

However, the inspector will not rip into the walls, take apart any appliances or inspect the swimming pool. The inspector gives the home a close look with a professionally trained eye.

Keep in mind that an inspection isn't the same as an appraisal. The appraisal gives the value of the home, the inspection gives the condition.

The first myth is that a home inspection isn't required as long as you can see the condition of the property is good. This isn't true. You should always have your home inspected by a professional inspector, complete with certifications and licenses. You will receive a report that gives the condition of the inspected items. Many reports will include a list of items that need attention and photos of the findings. This is a written report of the home's condition of the home on the day it was inspected. What is in writing is more important than any spoken claims you get from an agent or seller.

Don't confuse a termite inspection, electrical inspection or a chimney inspection with a home inspection. These are important, but will not provide a complete picture of the home's elements. A termite inspection only checks for termites, he won't check the heating and air units.

General contractors cannot provide home inspections. In fact, many states forbid it, due to the potential for conflict of interest. A general contractor has a good background in becoming a home inspector, but you shouldn't have your home inspected by anyone who isn't a licensed home inspector.

The inspection is not a seller's repair list. While the seller can use the inspection as a repair list, unless it is a contingency in the contract, there is no obligation for repairs. The exception is if the home inspection finds conditions that are require by law to be fixed before the home is sold. The inspection tells you what you are getting for your money. Some people even have inspections performed before signing a purchase agreement -- to save time and money.

Even if you are buying a home "as-is," you should have it inspected. While the seller is not responsible for any repairs or improvements, the inspection lets you know what you are getting into. It is better to know before you live in the home.

And finally, new homes should be inspected as well. They should be inspected before the walls are closed in and after the building is complete. A study a few years back revealed that 15% of new homes sell with a serious defect. Other studies indicate that 41% of new homes sell with serious problems, including mold. Thirty-four percent can have structural problems, including missing connections.

Some builders will not allow you an inspection, but you should try your hardest to get it inspected before it is too far along. Many conditions will not show up once the home is complete until it is too late. You should definitely have it inspected by your professional once it is complete.

There is absolutely no reason not to have a home you are purchasing inspected. It protects you and your investment.

Martin Lukac represents http://www.RateEmpire.com and http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate and mortgage rates. We specialize in daily updates, mortgage news, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies!

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Selecting a Home Inspector
By Joseph Pescatello

Buying a home may be the largest investment you make in your lifetime. Hiring a good home inspector will increase the odds that you’ll make a good investment. Follow these tips to help select a qualified and trustworthy inspector. (For a detailed discussion on selecting a home inspector, see Kenneth Edward’s Home Buyer’s Survival Guide. Dearborn Financial Publishing, Inc. 1995)

• Get recommendations from people you know who have purchased homes in your area. The realtor who is selling the home shouldn’t recommend an inspector.

• Avoid inspectors who also do contracting or renovation work. They have a vested interest in finding problems with a home.

• Most states don’t license home inspectors, so try to find someone who has a long-term affiliation with a professional home inspector’s association. The American Society of Home Inspectors is one such organization. They require their members to pass an extensive entrance exam and take continuing education credits every year. Also ask for letters of recommendation, certifications or other credentials. Many universities offer certificate programs in home inspection.

• Look for someone who has errors and omissions insurance. Be sure to request a copy of their policy.

• Ask to see a sample of their final report. Many inspectors issue a simple form with checkboxes for the major systems that say Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. You’re better off with a detailed report that gives specific recommendations. You want to know if the 30-year-old furnace is satisfactory today, but can be expected to fail in the near future.

• Look for someone with a long-term record in your area who can provide VA and FHA inspections, and who uses certified EPA labs for chemical testing. These inspectors won’t necessarily cost more, but they will almost certainly provide a complete and professional analysis.

Joe Pescatello is an author, a real estate investor and commercial software developer. Visit http://UncleBobsAttic.com for a sample of his work.

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