00:28: Theodora: Hello, and welcome to 680 Home Video Channel, a web series where we answer all of your real estate questions. I’m your host Theodora and I’m talking to local East Bay real estate broker Doug Buenz.

00:40: Hi Doug, it’s great to see you!

00:42: Doug: Nice to see you, Theodora.

00:44: Theodora: Today’s topic is home inspections. So, Doug, this is a big deal in real estate. Please explain to us a little bit more about what home inspections are.

00:53: Doug: Home inspections are a standard practice in the real estate industry. It’s normal for a buyer to obtain a home inspection as part of the transaction.

01:03: Home inspectors typically look at the major structural and functional components of a property. ASHI or American Society of Home Inspectors is the main body that certifies and sets the standards for what we know as home inspections today. They typically cover heating, air-conditioning, plumbing, electrical, roof, attic, walls, ceilings, walls, windows, floors, foundation, and all the major components of a property.

01:36: There are several things that are not included in a home inspection typically landscape features such as landscape lighting and sprinklers, and irrigation are not included. Spa, pool equipment, and solar equipment usually are outside the realm of a normal home inspection.

01:53: It’s also not really a code compliance inspection. Some people mistakenly believe that home inspectors are looking strictly for code violations and they’re not. They’re looking for structural integrity and operational functionality of all the various systems of the house. That does include some code questions especially electrical and plumbing. So, if there’s an obvious code violation it will be on the report but they don’t specifically look for code violations.

02:23: Another common misperception is that a home inspector inspects for drainage and structural problems. They don’t really typically do that. Home inspectors are not engineers. Typically, they’re not drainage consultants or soil engineers. But they do look for clues and if there is major drainage or structural problems on a property, it doesn’t exist in a vacuum, there are clues. When you bought the house it was nice and level but over time all suddenly you have a step-down living room. That’s a pretty good clue that there are some structural things happening with the house. A well-trained inspector can pick-up that kind of clues. And those clues usually involve severe cracking inside the house and even door frames or window frames if a window doesn’t open. That’s sometimes a clue that the soil is settling and there’s some ground settlement involved.

03:15: So, that usually if an inspector sees some of those clues, they’ll recommend an investigation by a further expert in the field and that’s the typical language you’ll find in a home inspection.

03:28: The other question we get quite a bit is, ‘do they inspect for mold?’ Not specifically, they’re not licensed really to evaluate mold on whether it’s toxic mold or harmless mildew. They do however look for conditions that may lead to that. And if a home inspector sees for instance evidence of a water release on a property or prior flooding, it would be normal for them to recommend further investigation by an expert in mold or toxicology so they can come in and take air samples and see if there’s, in fact, any mold infestation on a property.

04:04: Another question I get asked quite a bit is, ‘should I get a home inspection on a new home?’ The answer there is, “I think it’s a good idea.” Builders are sure they’re supposed to build a home up to code, etc. But cities on their best days can be fairly lax at actually looking at the construction or verifying the construction. I’ve seen roof permit inspectors drive by the house at 20 miles an hour and sign off on it. So it is a good idea to have a home inspection. And one of the main reasons is the builder usually will have a one-year warranty comprehensive on the home. And it’s a good idea to have a home inspector go through as if it were a resale and identify any problems that would be a problem in the resale market and why not have the builder fix it during that period. So it’s just additional peace of mind for my money is well worth it to have a home inspector look at a new home.

05:05: If you have real estate questions or need assistance I do hope you’ll give me a call. I’m worthy of your trust.

**In case you cannot view this video here, please click the link below to view What You Need to Know About Home Inspections When Selling a Home on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/_b8YXXsptZE **