Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with homeinspection

What do you wish you would have asked?

elquien — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 04:50:01 -0800

What questions do I NEED to ask during the inspection of the home I just bought? Also, what questions should I ask the seller/seller's agent during the inspection? I have an agent representing me, but I just want to make sure we ask all the important questions.

Looking for a good home inspector in Houston

sebastienbailard — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 01:02:15 -0800

Can anyone recommend a good home inspector in Houston? And more generally, how does one search out a good home inspector - I've heard that real estate agents tend to recommend those who "tend to minimize defects to keep the referring agents happy." (My Houston-based brother is the fellow who needs the home inspector; I'm up in Ottawa and not moving for several months.)

Inspector Gadget

Jaqi — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 21:26:55 -0800

Any recommendations/referrals for the most comprehensive and skilled home inspector or home inspection company in Northern Virginia? My fiance and I are moving to Falls Church City, VA next month and hope to eventually own the home we'll be renting. The current owner welcomes an inspection of the property, which was built in the early 1950's.

We both recognize the importance of a thorough home inspection, and want to make sure that critical spots like the foundation, electrical/plumbing systems, fireplace and roof are checked out by a professional. It seems there are more than enough companies and folks out there willing to take our money... we want to find the best folks to do the job and save us money and headache down the line by pointing out potential costs and providing estimates of the repairs down the road.

Personal experiences (positive or negative) are appreciated! We hope to find an inspector(s) by the end of October at the latest.

Hey, could you have a look at this condo I've been having?

willpie — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 09:48:35 -0800

How necessary is a home inspection when buying a condo? My wife and I are in the process of purchasing a condo. We know a couple of people who live in the condo development (which is about 20 years old) and their overall satisfaction with their condos was a big factor in our decision to purchase in this development.
Never having purchased any sort of house or condo before, my wife and I are a little unclear about the necessity of a home inspection. Our attorney essentially told us not to bother with an inspection beyond a radon inspection, because any structural issues would be the problem of the condo association (which is well-funded). The realtor (who also lives in the development) recommended a few home inspectors and said that it would probably be a good idea to do a full inspection if for no other reason than the inspector could show us how to work the furnace (which struck me as a little lame; $400-500 for furnace lessons?). Closing costs are going to be a bit higher than we'd anticipated, and so if it really is optional, well, we could stand to save the money. What other factors are there here? Why should or shouldn't we skip a full-on home inspection?

Buying & Fixing a House in Portland, Oregon

spacewrench — Mon, 15 May 2006 09:56:02 -0800

Can anyone recommend home inspectors and/or renovation contractors in Portland, Oregon? I just had my offer accepted on a house in SW Portland (Bridlemile area, 97221) so I need to arrange a home inspection. Also, I'll be replacing the kitchen, so I need to find a competent contractor. There were some good suggestions in this thread, but apart from the Housmaster franchise, no names were mentioned.
If you've had a Portland-area house inspected and you were happy with your inspector, or if you had work done and were happy with your contractor, please post their info. (Also, if you were unhappy, tell me whom to avoid!)
Thanks!

Finding a dynamite Seattle home inspector

agropyron — Sun, 01 May 2005 20:03:13 -0800

General question: How do you find a really dynamite home inspector? Specific question: Does anyone know a great home inspector in the Seattle area, or a more specific way to find one here? I'm house hunting in Bellevue. I've read other AskMe questions that advise finding a great home inspector. I figure, maybe I'll even get two home inspections... they're fairly cheap. I'd just like to find a really sharp inspector or two.

Any advice other than 'word of mouth'? Failing that, anyone got some word of mouth?