Orlando Home Inspector

Many Real Estate companies have started “Preferred Vendor Lists”.  These are vendors, such as termite inspectors, handymen and in some cases Home Inspectors who have paid to be listed on a “Preferred” list that will be given to home buyers when they sign up with a Realtor from that company.  Sometimes the Real Estate company explains this as vendors that they have vetted to make sure that they will do a good job for their customers.  It sounds good on the surface but there are problems when you look a little closer.

First of all, very rarely is any actual vetting taking place.  The only criteria is that that company has paid a fee to be on the list.  You might say that this is just an advertising expense.  With some this would be a valid argument.  However, it is a big problem when it comes to Home Inspectors. Continue reading Beware of the “Preferred” Home Inspector

If you live in Florida and have not had a Wind Mitigation Inspection, the answer is almost certainly YES!

Most people are not aware that Florida law requires the insurance company to give you a discount on the wind portion of your insurance if your home has certain features that help it withstand high winds.  Nearly all the homes I have inspected qualify for some discounts.

But you might think that this will only apply to newer homes that have been built under tougher building codes.  That is often not the case.  Surprisingly many older homes, especially those that have dimensional lumber for roof decking (individual boards instead of plywood) can meet the highest level of discount under the roof deck attachment category. Continue reading Are you paying too much for your home insurance?

A little maintenance can prevent big problems in the home.  For example, one of the most common problems I find during home inspections is that there are cracks in the grout in the showers with ceramic tile walls.  In fact, it is very unusual to find a ceramic tile shower that does not have at least some cracks.

If these are not promptly repaired, they can lead to serious damage being done to the walls beneath the tile and will lead to the tiles walls needing repaired or replaced.  It can also cause mold to develop in the walls which will cause bigger problems.  Fortunately this is very easy to repair and only takes a few minutes. Continue reading How to take care of your shower

Many states (recently also in Florida) are requiring home inspectors to be licensed to help protect you from dealing with someone that is not experienced.   Does that mean that as long as the inspector has a state license that you can be sure that they are experienced?  In many cases, the answer is NO.

Licensing is supposed to ensure that the license holder meets some level of experience or knowledge.  It is important to keep in mind that this is usually a minimal level.  In many cases, the level of experience required is less that it should be. Continue reading Are you safe with a licensed Home Inspector?

On a recent Tuesday morning, I received a call from a woman asking about a home inspection in the Orlando area.  She had been referred to me by one of my previous customers.  She asked about getting the home inspected in the next few days.  I told her that I could do the inspection and she said she would call back after discussing times with the seller and Real-estate agent.  She called back about an hour later and said that she needed the home inspected that day because they wanted her to close on Thursday (it was a cash deal).  I had planned on working in the office but had the time so I agreed to do the inspection.

I checked online for building permits with the building department in Orlando and Orange County because a lot of the homes in this area have had the roof replaced in the past few years and many people are not aware that they can save a considerable amount on their home insurance if they have a Wind Mitigation Inspection.  Unfortunately the most recent permit for a roof replacement was in 1992 so I was prepared to tell the customer that the roof would need replaced in the near future. Continue reading Do you really need a home inspection?

All too often the first question I get from a prospective customer is “How much does the inspection cost?”  While price is important, that should not be the main consideration when hiring a home inspector.

The most important thing to consider is the inspector’s experience and credentials.  You want to know what experience he has that makes him qualified to inspect your home.  Is he going to know what is going to cause you problems?  Is he going to know what really needs to be corrected right away and what should be done but is not critical?  Too many inspectors make a big deal out of things that are not all that important because they do not really know what they are looking at. Continue reading All home inspectors are not alike