Transcript HOME INSPECTIONS What really matters ? A presentation for real estate professionals Brought to you by The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors Chicagoland Chapter www.NACHIChicago.org www.NACHI.org America’s Elite.

HOME INSPECTIONS
What really matters ?
A presentation for real estate professionals
Brought to you by
The National Association of
Certified Home Inspectors
Chicagoland Chapter
www.NACHIChicago.org
www.NACHI.org
America’s Elite Home Inspection Organization
Contents of presentation
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The role of your home inspector.
How we can assist you.
Types of inspections.
Our standards of practice.
What are we looking at ?
What are our limitations ?
Our code of ethics.
What do we often find ?
What really matters to your clients ?
All about NACHI.
All about your NACHI inspector.
For further information
The role of your Home Inspector
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To provide an unbiased, written report
based on the condition of the home.
To report the condition of the homes
structure, roof and major systems.
To advise the client as to areas that are,
unsafe, require immediate repairs or
maintenance and sensible safety related
updates.
To help you help the client to make
informed decisions about the home
Different Levels of Defects
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Watch List: An item that is not
currently a problem, but has a
high likelihood of failing in the near
future.
Examples:
– Older Roof
– Older Water Heater or Furnace
– Recommendations for regular
maintenance like window caulking
Different Levels of Defects
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Repair and/or Replace: An item
that is defective and should be
repaired in order to guard against
more damage.
Examples:
– Roof Flashing
– Leaky Pipes
– Damaged Electrical Outlets
Different Levels of Defects
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Significantly Deficient: Defined in
State Law as “Any system of
component that is unsafe of not
functioning”.
“Not Functioning” is easy. It does
not work, i.e., the furnace does not
work.
Unsafe is defined against current
National Standards, not local codes.
Different Levels of Defects
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Unsafe: Defined in State Law as
“A condition in a system or component
that is a significant risk of personal
injury or property damage during
normal, day-to-day use. The risk may
be due to damage, deterioration,
improper installation or a change in
accepted residential construction
standards.
Different Levels of Defects
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Being in accord with local building
codes is not the same as being safe.
Codes are a minimum standard of
required work.
Codes vary from town to town.
National standards do not.
A house can be perfectly compliant with
code, but be perfectly unsafe.
Inspectors are required, by law, to call
out all “Significantly Deficient” items.
What can we do for you ?
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We promise to act professionally towards
you and the client at all times.
We undertake to deliver a comprehensive
and unbiased report to your client in a
timely manner.
We are happy to discuss the findings of our
report with you at your clients request.
We guarantee to perform the inspection
exeeding with industry standards and in full
compliance with any state requirements.
Professional Service + An Informed Buyer
= A quick closing
Types of inspections
Pre-listing inspections:
Give the seller the opportunity to
correct defects prior to listing,
provide a more accurate disclosure,
take nasty surprises out of the
equation and speed up the closing.
Buyers inspections:
Give the potential purchaser and
their Realtor the tools needed to
make an informed decision about
the condition of the home and
reduce liabilities for all involved.
We also offer additional services such as Mold,
Water Quality and Radon testing.
Please call us for more details
Types of inspections
New Construction Inspection:
Even new houses have problems.
With the new paradigm of teardown builders and large
developments, inspection of new
construction is crucial.
Phased Construction Inspection:
Building your own custom home?
Why not have an expert on your
side? A home inspector can be
your eyes and ears on-site.
Types of inspections
Remodeling Consultation:
Home inspectors are experts on all
the newest techniques and
materials. If you are planning a
remodel, why not have an inspector
help you decide the most cost
effective way to do it?
Renter’s Security Deposit
Inspection:
Have a certified home inspector
document the condition of your
rental property before you rent it.
Avoid the hassle of security deposit
disputes with renters.
Our Standards of Practice
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We are required to meet standards of
practice as laid out by our trade
organization or state licensure.
We report on the materials and methods
used in the construction of dwellings and
their systems and report on their overall
condition based on a visual and noninvasive inspection.
For more details about our minimum
standards of practice, please visit:
http://www.nachi.org/sop.htm
What are we looking at ?
The report will contain comments on the
condition of the following systems
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Roof system &
coverings.
Exterior & lot.
Basement,
Foundation,
Crawlspace &
Structure.
Heating systems.
Cooling systems.
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Plumbing fittings &
fixtures.
Electrical supply &
distribution.
Fireplace &
chimney.
Attic & Insulation.
Doors, Windows &
Interior.
For more information on the above please visit:
http://www.nachi.org/sop.htm
What are our limitations ?
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A home inspection is NOT a warranty and
implies no guarantee of the future condition
of the home or its systems.
The inspector can only report on systems
that they can see based on reasonable
access.
The report should only be considered “a
snapshot in time” and can only represent
conditions viewed on the day and time of
the inspection.
An inspection is not technically exhaustive.
When necessary the inspector will defer to
a specialist contractor or other professional
for further evaluation.
What do we often find ?
Perhaps the most
commonly reported
problem is with
unsafe wiring issues,
in this case the
exposed live wires
could easily
electrocute the
occupants,
Another common
electrical problem
with an ungrounded
outlet having been
placed inside the
shower area.
SHOCKING !!
Obviously a little
extreme, but the
home inspector will
frequently find
unknown problems
with the roof and
roof coverings.
But weedwacking
the roof ?
All pictures courtesy of various NACHI members copyright NACHI 2000-2004
What do we often find ?
Unfortunately not all Inspectors will often Would most people
chimney problems
see materials that
realize that this
are this easy to
have been known to water heater is in a
spot. The home
present problems, in
dangerous
inspector is trained
this case a type of
condition, and as
to recognize visual
siding that was
well as the fire issue
deficiencies in many
subject to a class
is not venting
different systems.
action suit.
properly and could
kill the occupants.
All pictures courtesy of various NACHI members copyright NACHI 2000-2004
What really matters to your
clients ?
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We provide an easy to understand inspection
report, complete with color photos and diagrams,
pointing out to the potential buyer the overall
condition of the home and the areas that may need
repair or maintenance.
We will educate the buyer, by giving them an
impartial evaluation of the visible structure and
systems.
We are not concerned with the cosmetic condition
of the home unless that is indicative of deeper lying
problems
We are not here to “kill the deal” but we have all
inspected a few homes that have committed suicide
in front of us !!
What really matters ?
The following article was written by NACHI Founder Nick
Gromicko to help educate consumers about the home
inspection process.
Buying a home? The process can be stressful. A home inspection
is supposed to give you peace of mind, but often has the
opposite effect.
You will be asked to absorb a lot of information in a short time.
This often includes a written report, checklist, photographs,
environmental reports, and what the inspector himself says
during the inspection. All this combined with the seller's
disclosure and what you notice yourself makes the experience
even more overwhelming.
What should you do? Relax. Most of your inspection will be
maintenance recommendations, life expectancies and minor
imperfections. These are nice to know about. However, the issues
that really matter will fall into four categories:
1. Major defects. An example of this would be a structural
failure.
2. Things that lead to major defects. A small roof-flashing
leak, for example.
3. Things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally
occupy, or insure the home.
4. Safety hazards, such as an exposed, live buss bar at the
electric panel.
Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often a
serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both
life and property (especially in categories 2 and 4). Most sellers
are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered
during an inspection. Realize that sellers are under no obligation
to repair everything mentioned in the report. No home is
perfect. Keep things in perspective. Don't kill your deal over
things that don't matter. It is inappropriate to demand that a
seller address deferred maintenance, conditions already listed
on the seller's disclosure, or nit-picky items.
Our code of ethics (abridged)
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The Inspector shall be fair, honest, impartial,
and act in good faith in dealing with the public.
The Inspector will have no undisclosed conflict
of interest with the client, nor will the Inspector
accept or offer any undisclosed commissions,
rebates, profits, or other benefit
The inspector shall not perform or offer to
perform, for an additional fee, any repairs or
associated services to structure on which the
inspector or inspector's company has prepared
a home inspection report, for a period of 12
months
For more details about your inspectors ethical
obligations please visit:
www.nachi.org/code_of_ethics.htm
All about NACHI
The National Association of
Certified Home Inspectors
Home of Americas elite home
inspectors.
 Over 10,000 Certified Home
Inspectors across the US and Canada.
 Our members meet the highest
standards of practice, ethics and
continuing education.
 The best inspectors can be found at
www.findaninspector.us
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For more information on NACHI go to
www.nachi.org