brentsid

Selling my home and buyers want a home inspection. Wondering if anyone knows where to get a copy of a home inspection checklist I can go over to button up any details before the inspection process. The home is in MN but any list will help out. Thanks.
Brent

concretemasonry

If you are in Minneapolis or St. Paul, these cities have their own forms. You can Google and print out a copy of the St. Paul inspection form an inspector must use for city purposes. I beleive the Minneapolis form is similar.

Home inspectors can also use one of the many prepared forms with 3 to 5 attached copies. This is generally a more comprehensive inspection and is the norm for the industry. Because of the cost, I doubt you will find an inspector willing to give one away.

A pre-purchase inspection is not the same as a code inspection, although some cities have specific code items in their required forms. Usually the inspection (2 to 3 hours) is limited to the things an inspector can see. The purpose it to point out major future cost expenditures, the general conditions and safety issues. Because safety goes beyond codes, there can be items noted as safety issues even though they technically comply with the code. - It has to do with the situation in that particular home. Since it is a very general inspection, in the case of major items (structural, obvious handyman wiring, knob and tube, furnace, etc.) it may be noted that a specialist be contacted.

A growing number of sellers are getting a pre-sale inspection before listing in an effort to speed the sales process and not getting caught in a poor negotiating situation after the offer and inspection.

A home inspection report is between the inspector and the person
having the inspection done (paying), unless there is something written into in the purchase agreement.

If you have an inspection, make sure the inspector is certified and insured.

Dick

JamesNLA

umm, usually if they are serious buyers and they make an offer, THEY will then get their own inspector to come out and have a look. If you hire the inspector there may be a bit of a bias, at least in the minds of the buyers. If they don't want to pay for the inspector, tell them once the house goes into escrow, than escrow can pay for the inspection and they can choose to use whom ever they like. Here is a brief list of things to go over be fore he shows:

electrical:
ALL GFCI's are wired correctly and they trip. Go to Bum Depot and geta tester for 10 bucks.
If you have a jetted bath tub, make sure it's on its own protected circuit. Also make sure the motor is bonded. Lable all the breakers in your panel/sub panels. Make sure all switch/recept plates are on. Make sure all your recepts are live and polarity is correct.

Plumbing:
No leaking drains, no loose drains. No rust or corrosion on the outside of your disposer. No leaks from angle stops (look for the green crud).
Toilets...God help me if they don't stick their heads in the bowl to see the rinse holes.....sorry, I got issues with these guys. Make sure your toilets are working properly. If they are the slightest bit old, go buy a new rebuild kit for 8 bucks each. Remember, even if it is an easy fix, potential buyers don't like to see 10 pages from the inspectors report.

Garage door opener. Make sure the eye beems are no more than 6" above the garage floor.

Furnice, make sure the (gas) supply line does NOT go into the furnice to make its connection. Usually a 1/2" nipple that goes to the outside of the unit, THAN the supply connects from that to the valve-gas line.

Asbestos insulating the furnice/hot water heater vent will get written up. If your old, remove it yourself, if your young pay a company to take care of it correctly

No broken outdoor lighting, they need to work, or remove them and put an approved outdoor cover plate over the JB.

Make sure all your outdoor recepts have outdoor approved covers.
Same with switches.

Sliding door latches properly. Not sure if you need straps on your HWH, but in CA we do. Maybe you have some sort of anti freeze system to look over...I dunno much about freezing. It's 55 degrees outside and I'm freezing come 5 P.M.

What else........Here's the deal with them. If you point something out to them that turns out not to be correct, then they have to mark it down. I say go through the house with him, and keep your mouth shut. The last home I bought, I walked with my inspector and pointed out so many things that he by law did not have to look for. But because I mentioned it, he had to include it into his report. Got me a few extra grand in escrow.

Hope that helps.

doubleaction

Whats your e-mail ill send you a inspection form.

doubleaction

I sent it to americandreamsceo@charter.net let me know if you recived it.

brentsid

Thanks for all the input and especially the form. I know about the inspections and who arranges them, I just want to tidy up the house for the new owner is all and can't find a copy of the checklist as once they are filled out they are confidential. I appreciate the help. Have a great holiday season.

Nathan

Moved this to the inspectors forum. Hope you don't mind.

__________________
Nathan

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

#1 Inspector

JamesNAL
You are well informed on the inspection process that's great. It is hard to find informed people. We as inspectors are trying hard to get out the message.

Dockrammer

What qualifications do home inspectors need to have, to do said reports.

Is it a two week course here in California or what???

concretemasonry

To do home inspections you must be observant and be familiar with all aspects of a home (a generalist and not a specialist). A home inspection is not necessarily a code inspection, but an over-all review of visual items and an alert for safety, major future expenditures and major problems that a specialist (structural, HVAC, electrician) may be called in later if necessary.

Many states require certification. This usually requires a certain amount of classroom instruction, some inspection experience (amount varies) and passing a written exam (usually a nationally accredited test). Normally, continuing education credits are required for certification renewal.

Education can be obtained by one of the organizations geared for training that also sells supplies. Some of the schools are very good and professional, while some just want your money and attendance. A good school has a duration of at least 5 or 6 days (8 hours/day) and offers additional specialized classes after that. Specialized classes cover, business basics, marketing, mold investigation and other subjects.

If your state does not require certification and continuing education, you can be guanteed to be competing with out of work construction people that reduce the quality level of the inspections and the cost of inspections. Usually insurance or bonding is required.

It is not a get rich quick business because of the relatively low inspection fees and difficulty to perform inspections within the time schedule established by the customers. Once you get established and have a good reputation for seeing things that are important and not making "mountains out of mole hills" it can be very rewarding.

Dick

Dockrammer

Good read, Thanks for that.

I questioned it because I'm selling my house right now and the buyers had a inspector go through the place and the report was hysterical to me.

georgia dawg

If your state does not certify private home inspectors (like mine), then put a clause in your contract that you'll only recognize inspectors certified by ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or other well recognized professional associations (in GA, we also have GAHI). That keeps them from hiring thier "cousin" or "joe six pack" from coming up with something ridiculous to knock down the price.

__________________
"How much per sq.ft? Well.. gimme $1K and I can build a shed. Gimme $1M and I can build the same size shed with gold plating and encrusted diamonds."

Dustball

This goes with what he was saying. The St. Paul Truth-In-Sale Housing guidelines-

http://www.stpaul.gov/depts/code_enf...tPaulGuide.pdf

kmiller1

You might want to hire an ASHI or NACHI inspector yourself to do a pre-listing inspection. In some cases, if you present an inspection report from a reputable inspector, many buyers will waive the inspection clause. If nothing else, you can see what the inspectors find, and repair the items yourself, usually less expensive than lowering the asking price, or decide in advance how much you are willing to take off the asking prce.
I recommend either NACHI or ASHI inspectors. I belong to NACHI, but ASHI and NACHI have very similiar requirments, Standards of Practice, and Code of Ethics. I would be leary of using a NAHI inspector if the buying agent is from Coldwell Banker. They have a program that you can pay to get on a list of reccomended inspectors. Both NACHI and ASHI view this as an ethical violation. As inspectors, we are supposed to be looking out for the interest of our client. If an inspector is paying a company to be reccomended, I question whether that inspector is only looking out for the buyer, or is he going to overlook things so as to not be labeled a "Deal-Killer" by the company, and lose work.

Kenneth Miller
Jordan Hill Home Services, LLC
248-398-2438