Los Feliz Ledger [real estate]
Inspections By Richard Stanley, Ledger Columnist When buyremoving covers of electrical ing a new home, panels, inspectors do not conthe buyer is duct intrusive evaluations. responsible for How to choose a qualified arranging inspections at their physical inspector? Ask friends own expense, so as to obviate and family. If you trust your any conflict of interest. It is broker’s integrity, ask for at vitally important that the least three recommendations. buyer have at least a general Interview all three and ask “physical” inspection of any for recent inspections. Inspecprospective purchase pertors in California are not yet formed by a qualified, disinlicensed, as such, but every interested inspector. spector should have a current A physical inspection is California contractor’s license, a foundaDVDs and e-mailed reports are tion-to-roof, acceptable, but nothing beats a paper visual inspection of report that you can make notes on major imand that the inspector can doubleprovements check and go over with you while you on the land. are at the property. If possible, the inspector should crawl into which can be checked online. the foundation sub-area, enter Inspector affiliate group acthe attic, inspect all major syscreditations are nice, but not tems of the house such as elecessential. trical, plumbing, roofing and A thorough inspection foundation and check the genshould take at least three hours eral structural condition of the for the average three-bedroom, property. The inspector should 2,000-square foot house. Innote not-to-code items. They ordinately long inspections do can also offer ball-park cost esnot mean better inspections. I timates of repairs, but should once found an inspector, notonot be bidding on work to be rious for his 12-hour inspecperformed later. Other than tions, snoring under a house!
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Su Casa REAL ESTATE
At the end of the inspection, you should receive a written report. DVDs and emailed reports are acceptable, but nothing beats a paper report that you can make notes on and that the inspector can double-check and go over with you while you are at the property (be at the property for the inspection—have the inspector show you issues and explain problems). To put problems in
perspective, ask the inspector to prioritize the report. No house is perfect, and buyers usually uncover issues during inspections that were unknown when they wrote their offers. Informed sellers expect a “round two” of negotiations if the issues are of a health or safety nature or of great magnitude. Whatever ensues, any further negotiations must be concluded within the
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contingency period or any extension thereof. Sellers are free to obtain rebuttal inspections (which must be provided to the buyer), but be advised that another inspection may depict uncovered problems even more harshly! Richard Stanley is a 20-year veteran of local real estate. He can be reached at Coldwell BankerLos Feliz, (323) 906-2417.
February 2008