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 New Jersey
Home
inspectors and what you must know before
you hire your Home inspectors in NJ!
Learn
What’s Really Going On
Between Some
Unethical Real Estate Agents And Some Unethical Home
inspectors Won’t Tell You In
A Million Years! Please
read this report all the
way through as it could
easily be the most
important thing you’ve
read in a long time! Discover
How To Avoid Losing
Thousands Of Dollars In The
Purchase
Of Your Next home!
Stay Clear Of The
Biggest Mistake Buyers
Make Today When Purchasing
Home Inspection Services! You
are considering (or in the
process of) buying a new
home!
Congratulations! Purchasing a new home is a very exciting
thing for anyone … and
I’m sure that you are no
exception! Perhaps
you are moving because you
have been promoted and can
afford something bigger and
nicer, or you are planning
to have kids and need more
space, or you are retiring
and want to a new place to
call home that reflects
your new lifestyle.
Or
maybe you just want to be
closer to a relative or
friend or the city.
Whatever
it is … you must be
filled with hopes and
dreams of a very happy
future in the new home
to-be! And
you don’t want anything
to get in the way of
purchasing that perfect
home that will be the
center of your life for at
least the next few years!
To this
end, you have to hire the
right people to guide you
through the purchasing
process so that you
aren’t surprised later by
things that you did not
know about or did not know
enough to ask about!
All
Of Your Hopes And Dreams
For Your New home Can Be Quickly
And FOREVER Squashed If You
Don’t Have The Right
Consultants And Advisors On
Your Side During The
Purchasing Process! Now,
while advisors and
consultants may take many
forms, I urge you to hire
at least two people to help
you through the purchase of
your new home.
Get
A Lawyer! The
first person is a lawyer.
There is really no
way of getting around this.
A good
lawyer will review your
purchase contract and
advise you as to what your
rights and obligations are
before and after the
closing.
In particular, he
will explain to you how you
can get out of the
contract, if necessary, and
try to negotiate better
exit terms if he believes
that they are unfair. And, you
will want to be able to get
out of your contract if too
many problems are found
with the home you are
looking at, right?
So, you don’t want
to mess around with this! The
lawyer will also point out
any unusual things in the
contract or any other
points that may be weighted
too heavily in the
seller’s favor, that
should be the subject of
further discussions.
Believe
me … the few hundred
dollars you spend will be
worth the peace of mind
that you signed a contract
with terms that you truly
understand and agree with! And
Who Else? A Home inspectors! A
home inspector is the other
person that I URGE you to
hire.
And, as a homebuyer,
there really is no way to
get around this either!
(You actually may be
required to
hire an inspectors by your
bank, insurance company or
appraiser!
Check your purchase
documents if you’re not
sure.) After
all, this is likely to be
the largest investment that
you have ever made and
perhaps will ever make …
and you (and your bank,
etc) can’t afford for you
to approach it blindly.
It’s
the home inspectors who will
physically go through the
home and give you feedback
that will help you
negotiate a better purchase
price! No one else will or can do this for you! A
thorough inspection is the
ONLY way that you can
uncover the
less-than-obvious problems
that your new home may have
… those which may
eventually haunt you
(either financially or
personally) down the road.
Only a
properly executed
inspection will provide you
with the most peace of mind
and confidence in your
purchase decision.
But I
think that you know all
this already.
You know that a home
inspection is a necessary
part of the home buying
process … otherwise you
would never have requested
this report.
Right? So
I am not going to try and
convince you that you
should have one done.
I think that we are
beyond that! What I
am going to talk about here
is … How
To Retain A Home inspectors
Who Is Independent
And Qualified! You
absolutely MUST hire a home
inspectors who’s
INDEPENDENT … or you are
opening the doors to being
ripped off!
But
what’s an
“independent” home
inspectors? Well,
consider this.
Would
you ever go to the seller
of the home that you are
interested in and ask for
him to recommend a home
inspectors to represent you
and help you find lots of
problems with his home?
I
don’t think so … unless
you want to get a
recommendation for the
worst inspectors in town.
Why
would the seller want to
help you find reasons for
him to lower the price of
his home? No
way!
You would never go
the seller for help! You
must hire an inspectors who
will look out for YOU …
100% … without any biases
or conflicts with the
seller! Seems
pretty obvious, right? Well,
maybe not! Did
You Know That Over 70% Of
The Buying Public Get Their
Home Inspections Done By A
Person Referred By
A Real Estate Agent? That’s
right!
And whom
does the Real Estate agent
represent?
And
there is the problem. You see,
you want to get the home
at the lowest (if not
fairest) price possible …
therefore you need to hire
a good home inspectors to
find as many things wrong
as possible with the home
… to help you negotiate a
better and fairer purchase
price or otherwise convince
you to walk away. But Real
Estate agents and brokers
are in the sales business
… closing deals
determines their level of
success.
Their
commissions will only be
paid if the deal goes
through and will be reduced
if your home inspectors
turns up anything that may
lower the sale price of the
home.
So,many real estate
agents really don’t want
you to hire a good home
inspectors who may get in
their way!
No!
They would be very
happy to know that you have
a lousy inspectors!
And
the big problem here is
that some may go so far as
to help you retain that
lousy inspectors … without
you even knowing it!
There
Is No Better Way For A Unethical Real
Estate Agent To Ensure That
His
Sales Are Not Jeopardized
Than To Feed An
Unsuspecting, Trusting
Homebuyer A Choice Of Poor
inspectors! Now,
I am not saying that all
realtors are incompetent or
dishonest … this is just
not the case.
But there are some
who tend to gravitate
toward home inspectors who
are less likely to threaten
their sale.
And
those are the realtors that
you really have to watch
out for. Some of
the unscrupulous practices
that agents have undertaken
to manipulate the
inspectors-retaining process
include the following: ·
Telling
buyers that, “We’re not
supposed to refer home
inspectors to potential
buyers, but here are 3
names .. you decide.”
(That is, of course,
three inspectors that they
wouldn’t mind you
hiring)!
The list will likely
be long enough to protect
the agent from any referral
liability.
Should you later
have a problem with the
property, the agent can
simply say, “Well, you
chose the home inspectors”
or simply deny ever having
given you the home
inspectors’s name. ·
Making
a bunch of brochures or
cards from their select
group of 3 inspectors
available at the reception
area in their office … in
full view. And brochures and cards of the
inspectors that the agent
is less sympathetic to (and
who probably would
represent you better) are
located in a less obvious
place. ·
Telling
buyers to look up some
names of inspectors in the
Yellow Pages and
then saying, “But a
lot of my clients have used
‘so and so’ and were
very satisfied,” or
“But don’t use that guy
because he’s too picky,
too slow, too expensive, or
he’s a ‘deal killer’ etc..”
(Of course, trying
to steer you to one of
their approved inspectors!)
·
Telling buyers that they should expect a
home inspectors to charge
around $150 or $200.
By advising
homebuyers to expect such
low and unrealistic fees,
agents may steer homebuyers
to search only for
inspectors that will charge
that low, which will likely
be those inspectors
approved by the agent, or
too inexperienced to know
what problems look like. ·
In
the case of particularly
aggressive agents, saying
that, “I’ll look after
the inspection for you.
Don’t worry, I
know just the inspectors to
call..”
(Stay clear of any
inspectors chosen by this
guy!) ·
Pretending
to call a well-qualified
inspectors chosen by the
buyer, and telling the
buyer that they were unable
to reach the inspectors or
say that the inspectors is
unavailable. Pretty scary stuff, huh!
If you see any of
this type of behavior, you should without
hesitation contact your
attorney … and obviously
not take any of their
referrals. The
Culpability Does Not End
With The Agents! There
are many home inspectors
that rely on real estate
agents and brokers for
business.
These inspectors
want to get on (or are on)
the agent’s short list of
preferred inspectors, which
are referred to homebuyers.
But,
to get on (and stay on)
this list, inspectors have
to “play ball.”
And they will not
bite the hand that feeds
them! Now,
you might be thinking …
“No self-respecting
inspectors would
purposefully make a
delinquent report just to
get in good with a real
estate agent or otherwise
to help get the sale
through.
After all, I hired
him!
He is supposed to
represent me.” Well,
you’re right.
No self-respecting
inspectors would do this. But
… what I am trying to
emphasize here is that not
all home inspectors are
self-respecting! There
are inspectors out there
who will do whatever is
necessary to ensure future
referrals from agents …
including doing an inferior
inspection that uncovers
little to affect the
agent’s commission.
Now,
Is This A Risk That You
Really Want To Take? Given
this artificial marketplace
of inept inspectors created
by Real Estate agents, do
you really want to rely on
them for advice on good
inspectors? If
a real problem is
discovered with the home
after the sale … a
problem that the inspectors
should or could have
caught, but missed due to
his conflicts or because he
really is a lousy inspectors
… you will be left high
and dry!
Only one
state, thus far, has
enacted a law prohibiting
this kind of behavior. Others
have used the courts to
crack down on it.
(I have attached a
recent New Jersey case that
ruled against such
unscrupulous tactics by a
home inspectors … so that
you can see for yourself
what I’m talking about.
It’s pretty
interesting!) You
Don’t Need To End Up In
Court!
You
Can Easily Avoid This Risk
By Just Seeking
Out
Your Own Independent Home
inspectors!
The
obvious thing to do to
avoid becoming a victim is
just not to retain a home
inspectors through a Real
Estate agent.
That’s the easiest
way to avoid hiring a less
than independent inspectors. To be
clear … if you do hire an
inspectors through an agent,
it does not mean that you
are necessarily going to
have a problem.
But you really do
open yourself up to the
risk! I
market my inspection
services to homebuyers
directly … and not
through any of my real
estate agents, brokers,
etc. so as to avoid this
conflict of interest
problem.
It
is really the only ethical
way for me to perform my
job. And any home inspectors that you hire
should do the same! But
you may be asking, “If I
have to go out on my own
and find a home inspectors,
how can I be sure that he
is independent … or even
qualified?” Well,
after telling you some of
the horrible things that go
on with home inspectors and
Real Estate agents, I’m
not going to leave you
stranded now!
The
rest of this report
outlines the steps
necessary for hiring a
qualified, independent home
inspectors.
It also identifies
things that you should do
on the date of the
inspection and afterwards.
I
hope you find this helpful!
Should you have any
questions about this or
wish to obtain additional
information, please do not
hesitate to call me.
I feel very
passionate about this
problem and am happy to
talk to you about it and
your new home purchase. How
To Get Your Home Inspected
The Right Way In 10 Easy Steps! Hiring
An Independent &
Qualified inspectors 1)
Find names of home
inspectors with sources
that do NOT have a vested
interest in the sale! You
can find a bunch of home
inspectors on your own by
asking your attorney, going
through the Yellow Pages or
based on referrals from
your friends or family …
basically any source that
does not have a vested
interest in the sale!
Now,
just because you get the
name from an
“independent” source
does not necessarily mean
that the inspectors is truly
independent!
One
way to protect yourself is
to ask the Real Estate
agent for a list of home
inspectors and see if the
name referred to you is on
it.
Then you’ll know
that he plays on both
teams! 2)
Once you have gathered some
names and checked them for
independence, you should
then get on the phone and
“interview” them! The
following questions are
those that I think are good
gauges for determining
whether the inspectors is
qualified and should be
someone worth considering. These
questions could be asked
over the phone. Now, if
an inspectors refuses to be
“interviewed,” drop him
like an old shoe! And I
mean this!
Good home inspectors
like to help new homebuyers
through this process and
are very open to
discussions about
themselves, their
abilities, their
certifications, their
services, etc.
Refusal
to want to be interviewed
is likely indicative of you
having found an inspectors
who really does not have
much backing up his ads! CAUTION:
Because many
inspectors are
“one-man” operations,
don’t mistake a comment
like “I don’t have time
now” with a refusal to
answer your questions over
the phone.
Just ask him when
would be a good time to
call and schedule an
appointment for the
“interview.”
Now,
following each question, I
have provided answers that
reflect the home inspection
services that I provide
which you can use as a
basis for comparing
services offered by other
home inspectors.
You can ask the
questions in any order. a)
What kind of formal
INSPECTION training have
you had? You
should never assume that a
background in construction
trades, engineering or
other building fields is a
substitute for training as
a home inspectors. But, you shouldn’t completely rule out
an inspectors who doesn't
belong to a professional
association, if you know
that the inspectors has a
good reputation and has
been in business for a
number of years. I
have been a full time home
inspectors since 1993. I
have been certified by and
a Member of the American
Society of Home inspectors
(ASHI). In order to become a Member of ASHI, I
had to pass
the National Home inspectors
Examination and ASHI's
Standards of Practice and
Ethics Examination.
I also had my
inspection reports
successfully verified for
compliance with ASHI's
Standards of Practice and
submitted valid proof of
performance to demonstrate
that my home inspections
and reports meet or exceed
the ASHI Standards of
Practice. My
ASHI Membership number is
102273.
You can call ASHI
and verify this or go to
their website. Their phone number is (800) 743-ASHI and
their website address is
www.ashi.org. I
hold State of New Jersey
Home inspectors License #
GI0121. It is very
important that you
determine if the inspectors
is licensed in New Jersey,
many inspectors do not even
meet the
minimal
qualifications necessary to
have a home inspectors
license.
Ask to see the
inspectors License and
State Issued Home
inspectors Identification
Card at the inspection.
If you want to know
if an inspectors is licensed
go to:
http://accurateinspections.com/listoflicensedhomeinspectors.htm My outstanding qualifications allow me
to serve as an instructor
for the State of New Jersey
Home inspectors Licensing
class … where I train
students, to prepare for
the National Home inspectors
Licensing Examination, in
all areas of home
inspection, including
roofing, air conditioning,
heating, plumbing,
structure, electric,
interior, exterior,
reporting, professional
ethics, standards of
practice and New Jersey
State Regulations.
I am licensed to perform wood-destroying
insect inspections and
radon testing.
I am bonded
and insured for your
protection.
For
more information about my
inspection training and
background, please visit:
http://www.accurateinspections.com
to see my resume. b) How long have you performed inspections and how many inspections have you completed? The
more inspections that the
inspectors has performed,
the better.
Inspections in
excess of 1,000 are a
pretty good indication that
he has been around the
block bit. I started Accurate Inspections Inc. over 10 years ago (1993), and have completed over 6,500 inspections during that time. Before 1993, I was a construction project manager for 7 years.
I
cover all of Bergen and
Passaic counties and
portions of Essex and
Morris counties in New
Jersey.
I limit my coverage
to these areas so that I
can provide my clients with
better services.
I also typically
limit my inspection
services to residential
properties representing
homebuyers in home
purchases, but also have
experience with commercial
buildings. Watch
out for inspectors that
cover too large of an area,
like an entire state.
There is no way that
these inspectors could have
a feel for the community
that you are trying to move
into and the local codes or
ordinances that the
property may be subject to. d)
What do you charge?
Do you offer any
other services besides home
inspection services?
The
costs are an obvious
question that you have to
ask.
But remember … the
cheapest is not necessarily
the best deal.
Consider costs along
with the other factors
identified in this report. If you want a cheap inspection, we do
not offer one!
We used to when we
were trying to gain
experience, now we offer
the best value for your
money!
Short term we cost
more, amortized over the
time you are in your home,
the extra cost will be
perceived as a great value.
Some homebuyers will also need a PWTA
well test, which costs
about $500, and an open pit
septic inspection, which
costs about $ 425. In
addition to the traditional
home inspection services, I
also can perform radon
measurement, carbon
monoxide measurement,
well-water testing in
conformance with PWTA
requirements, wood
destroying insect
inspections and schedule
asbestos, septic and lead
testing. e)
Can you make repairs if
they are needed? If
the inspectors says
"yes" -- LOOK
OUT!
This raises the same
conflict of interest
problems that I talked
about before.
If he can make money
on you after the sale
transaction is closed, he
will have a vested interest
in the outcome of his
report and may overestimate
the problems with the
home.
I
don't do any repairs and I
refuse to make estimates.
In fact, I am bound
by ASHI’s Code of Ethics,
which forbids any actions
by me that could be viewed
as a conflict of interest. f)
How long does your
inspection take? You
should be careful if the
inspectors sets any fixed
time limit on the
inspection.
An inspection can
only be considered complete
when you are fully informed
as to what the inspectors
has found. I
will take whatever time is
necessary to tell you all
there is to know about the
home … and only at that
point will my inspection be
done. But,
to provide you with a
general estimate, my
inspections usually take
about 2 hours to complete,
depending on the size, age
and components of the home.
This is consistent
with the standards required
by State of New Jersey law
as well as ASHI and
ensures that you will
receive a thorough and
high-quality inspection
from me. g)
Can I walk with you through
and ask questions during
the inspection? Some
inspectors may not permit
this.
It is really a
question of style.
It’s
no problem with me!
I want you to see
what I see and discuss it
as we go! I am proud of the
service I provide and I
insist you tag along and
ask me anything that’s on
your mind! h)
Will you go over the report
in person with me? Be
skeptical of any inspectors
who will not the time and
discuss his report with
you! I always go over the entire inspec |
