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Contact Nancy Comenitz Real Estate

If you have any questions or need more detailed information, please feel free to contact me via phone at 617.232.4186 or fill out the form to let us know how we can help with your real estate needs.

Office Location 77 Pond Avenue,
Brookline, MA
Phone: (617) 232-4186
Fax: (617) 232-7954

You Get What You Pay For

Posted by Nancy Comenitz on Monday, May 4th, 2009 at 4:38pm.

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 The average home inspector does a visual inspection of the.property.  The inspector gives an analysis of the physical structure and the mechanical components. They explain the operation of the home to the buyer and point out any defects or areas of maintenance they find.


 The structure of the building, its foundation and siding are usually the first items an inspector looks at. A good inspector will take off the cover of the electrical panel to check the wiring, check inside the heating unit; close all the doors, inspect all the plugs, and check the plumbing. They will go into the attic to see the ventilation, insulation, and check for leaks, inspect the roof with high powered binoculars, and check the chimneys. The foundation and grounds are looked at for proper drainage as well as the gutters. The basement is thoroughly checked for any signs of mold, mildew, or water penetration. The plumbing in the kitchen and bath as well as its ventilation, ground faults, and appliances are inspected. The decks, steps and railings are checked for safety, sturdiness and building code. For extra money the inspector will do a termite inspection, radon testing and lead paint testing.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     At At the end of the inspection a lot of buyer receive a report in a chart format with a rating system. Each item has a check mark under its’ rating with a short explanation if it is rated poor.
                                                                                                                                                              
Then there is what I call the inspector’s, inspector. For more money there are a small group of inspectors that make you feel you know every inch of the home you are about to purchase when you leave the inspection. You are blown away at the things the inspector has found and the areas he has found them, because you thought no one in their right mind would go in that area. He climbs, crawls, and worms his way into places that most inspectors call inaccessible. There is absolutely no stone left unturned- and you are so thankful for that fact. Years ago this inspector found an underground oil tank in a finished basement behind built-in seating and paneled walls. We just stood there in awe saying “How did you do that?”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
This inspector will not only tell you how many roof dams you have but what it causing them. He takes pictures of all the problems he sees and builds a scrap book for the buyer at the end.  His report is a thirty page detailed commentary of each section of the home where he also describes all the positive aspects of the property. There is a description of every defect, issue and area of concern, suggestions to remedy the situation, and recommendations of tradesman the buyer can contact. Along with the report came 60 photographs of areas he saw needing work with a written description on each picture, and a disk of the pictures. (There were multiple photographs per area.)                                                   
                                                                                                                                                                                                        On my recent inspection last Sunday he moved a bookcase to open a locked door and found what was the bulkhead structurally damaged and filled with black mold. Any other inspector would have just walked by that bookcase.                                                                                                                  
 

In the thirty-one foot crawlspace he came out with pictures of mold, water damage, sill damage, friable insulation, and a fireplace box that had been lined with wood.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                      He opened up the storm drain in the driveway and dug in with a pick to see why it was not draining correctly.       

                                                                                                                                 
My first- time homebuyers still love the home and are so grateful for the knowledge they gained through Jake. They have a clear understanding of what has to be taken care of immediately, what can be postponed until the near future, and what items are in their long term plan.                                      

 

These methodical inspections are not for everyone because you have to be able to discern the difference between what is information being given verses what is a potential problem.  These inspectors are dinosaurs in their profession giving you even more than you paid for.

 

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