Advantage Inspection Service, was on HGTV’s “My First Place”. A young couple was moving to Phoenix, Arizona and purchasing their first home. Watch David Swartz from Advantage Inspection Service give this young couple the run down on their first home.

When President Obama signs the major financial reform bill, consumers and home inspectors will benefit from the section on HUD home inspection counseling that will add home inspection to the HUD housing counseling program, in a big way.

HUD will be enlisted to do the following:

• Actively advise homebuyers across the country to obtain home inspections as a key element of buying a house

• Tell buyers that obtaining a home inspection is a decision they need to make, and should make

• Tell buyers what professional characteristics to look for in a home inspector, and where and how to find one

• Ensure that homebuyers reached by the HUD counseling programs consider obtaining a home inspection as early as possible in the process  — when home inspections have the greatest utility to homebuyers.

• Develop new documents and training materials both for training HUD counselors and for distribution to the buyers they counsel

• Make all of these messages available to all homebuyers regardless of whether they finance using government-backed programs or private sector lending.

• This national de facto marketing effort will occur at no cost to ASHI members, and will be conducted under the authority, funding and staffing resources of HUD.

For an in depth review of the home inspection-related section from Randal G. Pence, Esq. ASHI’s advocate in Washington D.C., click here.

David Swartz from Advantage Inspection Service in Phoenix, AZ was called upon by these first time home buyers on HGTV’s show, My First Place.

What’s all the fuss about home inspections? For starters, it’s the opening statement the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Federal Housing Administration, (FHA) makes before any documents will be considered when purchasing a HUD home or considering financing with FHA. What does HUD say about obtaining a home inspection? Let’s quote.

Why a buyer needs a home inspection. A home inspection gives the buyer more detailed information about the overall condition of the home prior to purchase. In a home inspection, a qualified inspector takes an in-depth, unbiased look at your potential new home to:

• Evaluate the physical condition: structure, construction, and mechanical systems;

• Identify items that need to be repaired or replaced; and

• Estimate the remaining useful life of the major systems, equipment, structure, and finishes.

HUD continues on by telling us home inspections are not appraisals. Appraisals are for lenders, inspections are for buyers. Inspections evaluate, identify, and estimate. Appraisals estimate the market value of a house. Why would we want this information? So we can make an informed decision. The best surprise is no surprise, especially after we have closed on the sale and moved in.

What are some examples of structural issues we should inspect and consider? Obviously the foundation. Is it on a slab or on a crawl space with foundation walls? Is there settling or cracking? Are the floors properly supported or sagging with warped or rotten boards? Does the roof leak? What is the remaining life of the roofing shingles? Are there cracks in the walls or ceilings which appear excessive? Will the doors open and close without pushing and pulling? Are there broken windows? What about breaker panels and wiring; are there GFI outlets in the kitchen and bath. Are electrical outlets of the grounded type or not? It may make a difference if you need a grounded outlet for electrical components like stereo, computer and TV. Has the home been tested for termites? Is there active infestation? If so, repair the damage and kill the bugs.

Read the rest of this article at Dalton Daily Citizen. 

By Problem Solvers Kristin Samuelson and Jon Yates

Buying a house isn’t cheap, even in today’s depressed market.

For most of us, it is the single most expensive purchase we will ever make.

The last thing any of us need is a money pit — a seemingly solid home that is riddled with unseen (and potentially expensive) problems.

To protect yourself, it is absolutely essential to have the house inspected before you buy it, no matter if the house is brand new, a century old or distressed. Although home inspections are not required by law, they are often required by banks before they will approve a mortgage.“Absolutely, you’ve got to have your home inspected, even if your lender doesn’t require it,” said Brian Sullivan, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “A good home inspection will protect your investment and your bank’s.”

To find a good home inspector, ask friends for recommendations or search online. The American Society of Home Inspectors has a searchable database of certified home inspectors, available at ashi.org.

In most cases, you’ll want to contact a home inspector after you sign a contract or purchase agreement. Make sure the contract includes a home inspection clause, which makes the pending sale contingent on the inspection — and changes suggested by the inspector. Include language that allows you to walk away from the sale if the inspection identifies costly flaws that are unfixable.

Depending on the size of the house, an inspection likely will cost you $300-$500, with larger properties costing more. Although there are cheaper options available (say, a brother-in-law who works in construction) experts say a home inspection is one place it’s best not to skimp.

A thorough inspection should take three hours or more.

If an inspector tells you he or she will be done in less than an hour, that should be a red flag, said Jack McGraw of ASHI.

“If they say they can do it in 45 minutes, that should tell you,” he said. “Ask for references. It doesn’t hurt to call somebody.”

If possible, avoid inspectors that have ties to the seller, or the real estate agents — anyone who stands to profit if the sale goes through.

“You need someone with an unbiased opinion on the property,” McGraw said.

You should also ask a prospective inspector for his or her license number, and a list of items he or she plans to check. At the very least, an inspector should check the roof, the foundation, the electrical system, the plumbing, heating and cooling systems and appliances. A good one will also check for signs of pests, and identify where utilities enter and exit the house.

If possible, try to attend the inspection, so you can see exactly what the inspector is referring to in the subsequent report.

Read the rest of this article at Chicagotribune.com.