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3 where it shouldn’t, including under the sink. He doesn’t limit himself to the roof. He climbs into the attic looking for signs of leaks and mold. “It’s a fairly long and intense process,” says Oregon home inspector Jim Katen, owner of Associated Master Inspectors. “We look at as much stuff as we can possibly get to.” To think like a home inspector, spend time evaluating the home. A quick walk through to determine that everything looks “OK” won’t cut it. FOCUS ON WATER, ROOF AND FOUNDATION If you want to find the major problems with a house, focus on standing water, the roof and the foundation. “A large portion of a home inspection is defined as looking for water where it shouldn’t be,” says Katen. Watch for standing water next to the house and under sinks, two of the most common places to find it. Also, be on the lookout for mold on walls, in the attic and elsewhere—a clear indication of un- wanted moisture. Put your nose to good work, too. Musty odors could also point to mold and moisture. Next, turn to the roof. Home inspector Scott Brown, who owns Brightside Home Inspections in New York, cautions that the roof can be a bit deceiving if you limit yourself to an exterior inspection. The only way to really tell if the roof is doing its job—keeping the elements from getting inside the house—is to get into the attic and look for signs of water damage and mold. Just as important is foundation damage. Note cracks in the walls, doors
CANYOUDO ITYOURSELF?
hat depends. An experienced investor who has bought and sold many properties can probably detect the big issues, according to home inspector Jim Katen, but it takes a level of expertise to really do a thorough inspection. Josh Rosenthal, an investor from Maryland, agrees. There’s some degree of risk to doing your own inspection, he says, but if you know your limits, you should be OK. For example, he brought in an expert to look at the electrical for several homes he recently purchased. You can find resources online to get started. Rosenthal’s own site, MoveIn.Space, has photographs and information to help you walk through an inspection. Katen recommends that after you do your own in- T
spection, you hire someone to do a professional inspec- tion and compare your findings to those. As you learn, you’ll become more confident in your ability to assess properties on your own. “I think a lot of home inspectors would be open to that kind of relationship,” he says, pointing out that there would still be times you’d want the reassurance of a professional.
5 always trumps code for any specific year,” Mullins says. He explains that while a home may meet code for the year it was built, it may not be safe or as safe as it could be, and he would note that in a home inspec- tion. For example, code requirements for ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) have changed over time. Mullins would evaluate GFCI based on the latest requirements to ensure safety, not what is permissible according to code. You don’t have to be well-versed on code to think like a home inspector, but you should be able to recognize outdated systems and components and be pre- pared to replace them. Also, watch for shoddy repairs made by the homeowner There’s no way to predict the life span of an air conditioner, the water heater or similar components. Statistical data can give you a ballpark idea, but other factors, such as climate, can come into play. Sisson likens it to your car tires— that could be potential hazards. DITCH THE CRYSTAL BALL
4 and windows that won’t shut and cracks in vinyl or ceramic tile. Brown says problems with the foundation can be an opportunity for the right investor since most home buyers will avoid these prop- erties “like the plague.” REMEMBER SAFETY FIRST Safety is a major component of a home inspection. It’s not enough that some- thing functions or even meets building code; it has to be safe. “As a home inspector, I don’t quote code, but I understand code require- ments and stress to my clients that safety
TO THINK LIKE A HOME INSPECTOR, SPEND TIME EVALUATING THE HOME. A QUICK WALK THROUGH TO DETERMINE THAT EVERYTHING LOOKS “OK” WON’T CUT IT.
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