John S Trostle
Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-721-5632
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Home Inspectors Articles
We Got 12 Home Inspections and Were Astonished at How Poorly Many of the Inspectors Performed
Given that we received very mixed reviews for home inspection services in our surveys of local consumers, we expected some companies in our test would perform better than others. But what really miffed us was how little work many inspectors bothered to do.
How to Inspect Your Home Inspector
Before hiring an inspector, get feedback from previous customers, ask what he or she will and won’t do, get sample reports, check credentials, and ask what happens if something important is missed.
Don’t Substitute a Pre-sale Inspection for a Full Buyer’s Inspection
Some municipalities in the Twin Cities area require sellers to get truth-in-housing or pre-sale inspections before listing their homes for sale. Because many of these inspections are cursory, don’t skip doing your own buyer’s inspection.
Before an Inspection, Do Your Own Checks and Review Disclosure Statements
Hold off on paying hundreds of dollars for an inspection until you perform your own checks for big problems that might make you run away from the deal. And review disclosures for past problems that might create big headaches down the road.
What You Should Do During Your Home Inspection
During your inspection, pay attention and participate. Make sure all problems found are clearly recorded in your report with pictures and descriptions.
Asking Sellers for Help to Fix Defects
Our advice: Pick and choose your battles, and whenever possible seek middle ground.