Home Inspectors

I recently read a great article about home inspectors. Never thought how important it was to get a really great inspection.

Karen Aho of MSN Real Estate writes:

Only a home inspector sees a house for what it really is: an opportunity for countless things to go wrong.

The Chicago couple did as homebuyers sometimes do and opted to pass on a home inspection. They had a longtime tradesman in the family and figured he could spot any serious flaws. Plus, the home had so many upgrades, what could go wrong?
After buying the house, though, they faced repeated problems with the furnace, one of the upgraded items. It would toggle on and off, or moisture would fill the flue. A repairman would come and they would shell out another $400 or $700.
Finally, the couple called home inspector Jack McGraw, who recognized the source of the problem immediately. That new furnace, presumably installed by a professional, did not come with the new chimney liner it required.
A fuel-efficient furnace does not burn as hot as older models. For exhaust to make it to the top of the chimney, a narrow flue is required. Otherwise condensation can occur, causing various kinds of moisture-related damage.
"If they'd had a home inspector, he would have caught that and recommended they put in a chimney liner," McGraw says.
The real irony: That family member in the trades worked in the heating field.
Home inspectors see a home the way no one else does. They don't care how the kitchen will feel for entertaining or whether the bathroom tiles will impress guests. Their judgment is not clouded by emotion.
Nor do they have any interest in whether the home sells, as long as they're not pals with the seller's real-estate agent. To the contrary, they are financially motivated to find flaws — to avoid liability should something go wrong.