| Home Inspection And The Facts | | | | even if other obvious problems are not |
| While a home inspector looks for | | | | readily apparent. As an example, old |
| significant issues and deficiencies, | | | | knob and tube wiring (pre-1950's) is a |
| another part of the job consists of | | | | safety concern that makes a home harder |
| providing basic factual information to | | | | or more costly to insure. Old galvanized |
| the client. Often, this factual | | | | steel pipes, used as supply pipes or for |
| information, when put in perspective, | | | | drain systems, are of such an age that |
| provides valuable insight into the | | | | they are currently past their design |
| condition of the home. | | | | lives. Whether these old steel pipes are |
| A home inspector provides facts to the | | | | rusted, leaking or in good condition at |
| client. Sometimes these facts and | | | | the time of the inspection, anyone |
| descriptions disclose obvious | | | | buying a home with pipes of this vintage |
| deficiencies at the lot or the home, | | | | should be told that the plumbing will |
| such as leaking pipes. Other times the | | | | need an upgrade in the not too distant |
| facts might be as basic as describing | | | | future. |
| the materials used in the construction | | | | Any home inspector, who does not provide |
| of the home: the driveway is gravel; the | | | | essential information on the systems, |
| sidewalk is concrete; the furnace is | | | | components and materials found at the |
| new, propane and 80% efficient; the home | | | | home, is not a thorough professional and |
| has a septic tank; the water comes from | | | | is not doing a quality job that serves |
| a well; the shingles are architectural | | | | the best interests of his or her |
| grade composition material and so forth. | | | | clients. |
| On other occasions, the inspector might | | | | This article was produced by the writing |
| provide interpretations of the facts, | | | | team of Eric Badgley & Angee Gardner; |
| such as explaining why a certain | | | | specializing in Glacier Real Estate and |
| deficiency is a significant problem and | | | | Bellingham Real Estate, along with |
| not merely a trivial annoyance. | | | | Skagit County Home Inspector. Making |
| It is not unusual to find that providing | | | | sure buyers are protected. |
| the facts will disclose a deficiency, | | | | |