Before you hire an inspector, ask what exactly they’ll do and how long it will take them to do it. Already have a concern about the home? Make sure your inspector will check it.
Consumers’ Checkbook
Homebuyers hire inspectors to learn about needed or soon-to-be-needed expensive repairs. But how thorough and helpful are the inspections?
Undercover shoppers from Puget Sound Consumers’ Checkbook, an independent nonprofit consumer-advocacy group, rented a typical three-bedroom, three-bath, two-story, single-family house and — posing as prospective buyers — scheduled home inspections with 12 companies to put inspectors to the test.
Highlights from the report
Checkbook’s undercover shoppers were astonished by how often many of the inspectors they hired missed obvious defects. Prior to the inspections, Checkbook staff identified or created 28 problems they thought any inspector should catch — from a big leak under the kitchen sink to inactive electrical outlets to roof damage to signs of a rodent infestation. As a group, inspectors caught these problems only half the time.
But what really surprised Checkbook’s staff was how little work many inspectors bothered to do for their average fee of $540. Few performed up-close inspections of the roof; several didn’t test all the windows, outlets, appliances or fixtures; and the reports supplied by some were meager. For example:
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Only three inspectors raised ladders to inspect the roof, which was significantly damaged. Many of the nonclimbers failed to report its broken shingles and missing drip edges.
Only about half bothered to test the windows by opening and shutting all of them.
Several did only cursory inspections of the furnace and water heater.
Five didn’t inspect all the window A/C units. Only three checked the filters, which were filthy.
Seven didn’t check every light fixture.
Four didn’t bother to test every indoor electrical outlet.
An astounding four inspectors failed to record obvious water damage to the living-room ceiling. All they had to do was look up to see discoloration and peeling paint.
While many home-inspection companies disavow responsibility for inspecting chimneys, it was still surprising that four failed to spot that the damper was missing.
Three inspectors were in and out in 90 minutes, compared to 2.5 hours or longer for a few others.
The written reports supplied by several inspectors were very short, some filled with uninterpretable codes. One handed off a 10-pager with no pictures. Another provided a way-too-brief 14-page report that noted only 20 problems.
One inspector recorded no information about the plumbing system, noting that he “Can’t evaluate plumbing because the home is not presently inhabited.”
A major reason for superficial inspections is many inspectors explicitly deny responsibility for checking lots of major home components. Many companies refuse to check chimneys, climb ladders or enter crawl spaces. Citing “industry standards,” some firms test only some electrical outlets, light fixtures and windows. Some inspectors won’t run HVAC equipment, remove panels on circuit-breaker boxes or test water heaters. Checkbook’s staffers kept wondering, “Well then, if they won’t do all those checks, then what are they doing for their fees?”
Before you hire an inspector, ask what exactly they’ll do and how long it will take them to do it. You can often determine the thoroughness of inspectors’ work by looking at sample reports they should readily supply, if requested. Already have a concern about the home? Make sure your inspector will check it.
Often, real-estate agents recommend home inspectors. But the interests of the best (pickiest) home inspectors work against those of even trustworthy real-estate agents, who want to avoid trouble and close sales. Your agent might refrain from recommending a zealous inspector who might delay or even kill the deal — but you want that picky inspector.
Worse, inspectors who get a lot of referrals from your real-estate agent might shy away from pointing out lots of problems or major flaws for fear of losing that business. Checkbook recommends finding your own inspector to get an expert who is loyal to you, not your real-estate agent.
Ask prospective inspectors about certifications they hold and inquire about their backgrounds. This is a field where experience matters. And because Checkbook found big price differences among companies, and little relationship between work quality and fees, make sure you don’t overpay for an inspection.
If you’re buying a newly built home, definitely get an inspection. Inspectors and real-estate agents we spoke with repeatedly warned that builders (and DIY remodelers) frequently create lots of defects.
Before your inspection, carefully review the seller’s disclosures and thoroughly check the property on your own. Although in Washington sellers must disclose problems they know about, don’t substitute disclosures for your own inspection — they might not know about defects you discover.
You’ll learn a lot about your potential abode during the inspection. In addition to looking for and pointing out problems, most inspectors use the session to educate their clients on basic maintenance tasks.
Try some things yourself — switches, operation of window treatments, doors, etc. — and speak up if you see something that doesn’t look right. Act as an extra set of eyes, but don’t disrupt your inspector’s workflow.
Make sure all problems found are recorded in your report with pictures and descriptions. If you later find something was omitted from the report, ask for an amendment, especially if you want the sellers to help pay for the fix.
Most general home inspectors don’t check for many problems, including some that might generate major expense — such as asbestos, urea-formaldehyde-foam insulation, radon gas, mold, termites and defective drywall or stucco. If you or your inspector suspect a problem with any of these — or a major issue with roofing, plumbing, electrical or drainage — bring in a specialist for a second opinion. The ratings available at Checkbook.org will help you identify the best service providers and inspectors.
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Puget Sound Consumers’ Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help consumers get the best service and lowest prices. We are supported by consumers and take no money from the service providers we evaluate. You can access all of Checkbook’s ratings, including those for area home inspectors, free of charge until Oct. 30 at checkbook.org/SeattleTimes/HomeInspectors.