Professional Property Inspections
SCOPE of AVAILABLE SERVICES from PPI
Because “you get what you inspect, not what you expect”, a privately-retained property inspection gives the client critical information necessary to help determine whether or not a good price is also a good value.
There are several advantages to the seller in having a pre-listing inspection:
1. The seller is advised or reminded of the “issues” in the home that
have likely come to be overlooked simply because of familiarity, but will
certainly be visible to the potential buyer and to their inspector.
2. The pre-listing inspection lends itself to giving the potential buyer the sense that the seller is not trying to hide or to veil something about the home. While the buyer should not rely on the pre-listing inspection alone, the issues of disclosure and trust-building have begun with the pre-listing inspection report.
3. The seller may also be advised of material defects in the home which may be better resolved by adjusting the offering price accordingly, rather than having the corrections made prior to close of escrow.
There are several advantages to the buyer in having a pre-purchase inspection:
1. Though the property inspection is a visual inspection, there are often signs or indications that suggest the need for further inspection by a licensed contractor in that area of specialization (e.g. electrical, roofing, plumbing, HVAC, foundations, etc.)
2. The buyer is able to know what they might expect in the area of repairs or upgrades, and consider those facts in negotiating the purchase price.
3. The buyer can have peace of mind in knowing that their “dream house” has been inspected by a professional, who functions with objectivity, comprehensive training, and broad experience. The inspector is committed to giving the client an evaluation of the entire home, from stem wall to spark arrestor.
As in the saying, “Love is blind, but marriage is an eye-opener”, so house hunters are sometimes blinded by the desirability of the home, but ownership can be an eye-opener!
There are significant advantages to course of construction inspections for the homeowner:
1. Though the City or County Inspector does their best at inspecting the property for Code compliance, that inspector does not concern himself/herself with quality of workmanship. Not only is their daily workload too great for scrutiny of the project at that level, their primary interest is in the safety of the structure – not quality of workmanship.
2. Codes [e.g. Building, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, Structural Steel, Structural Masonry, Fireproofing Application, etc.] represent the MINIMUM safety standards in construction. However, the client is expecting, and is paying for, far more than that.
3. The privately-retained phase or course of construction inspector has a primary duty to
confirm that the home is being built according to the approved plans, with the materials specified in the plans, in the exact location as delineated in the plans, to the satisfaction of the client. The inspector’s job is not finished until the final walk-through is satisfactorily completed.
4. Most reputable general contractors welcome the additional scrutiny of a private inspector, since it reduces the headache and liability that comes with an unhappy or discontented homeowner. Course of construction inspections provide for a win-win experience, as well as significantly diminishing the likelihood of needing arbitration or litigation as a remedy. The potential problem areas are typically identified early and are rectified with a minimum of stress to all parties involved.
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- Inspection services are available 6 days per week,in the four County area of
Lassen, Plumas, Sierra, and Modoc Counties. Exceptions may be made for an urgent Sunday afternoon inspection.
- The turn-around time from the completion of the property inspection to the Inspection Report being emailed to the client and their agent is typically within 12 hours.
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