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May 10, 2006
"Home Buyers should consider getting a house inspection ” An inspector can often find hidden problems. By Genevre Poirier/The Star The lawn might be green and thick. The walls might have a fresh coat of paint and the floors might be shiny clean. But that doesn't mean the house isn't full of hidden problems. Would you be able to tell if the water pipes need replacing or the bathroom vent doesn't lead outside? Probably not, that's why home buyers should always get the house examined by a certified inspector, said John D'Aigle, a certified home Inspector with Home-AIyze. Whether the Inspector finds a faulty light socket or a leaky roof, It's better to know before signing the final contract. Working in the Oceanside area, he bas seen his share of 'hidden problems,' even with new homes, and said the $295 cost of a home inspection is worth it when you're going to spend $300,000 or more on a house. "I'll never tell someone whether or not they should buy the house," said D'Aigle. "But If I hand them a huge list of problems, I'll bet you they'll think twice." A home inspection usually takes between two to four hours. D'Aigle encourages the potential buyer to accompany him, while he checks the structure, exterior, heating/ventilation, plumbing, electrical, interior (cabinets and finishings), and roof surface. COMMON PROBLEMS In the bathroom, the most common problems are ventilation and plugs that aren't ground fault protected. "You would be surprised how many bathroom fan vents don't lead outside," said D'Aigle. "Many go the attic, where it causes mold. I even see it in new houses." Plumping can also be a problem in older houses, said D'Aigle. If the house was built before 1965, it most likely has galvanized pipes, and most insurance companies will not cover you if the pipes burst. With our west coast rainy weather, mould is another common problem. D'Aigle often finds mouId in the crawl space or attic. Even new homes need to be inspected, said D'Aigle. He was recently at a new house where the door from the garage to the crawl space wasn't weather stripped and it wasn't an exterior-style door with a self-closer. If a car was left running, the fumes could seep into the crawl space and into the house. "There are of course varying degrees of trouble or concern," said D'Aigle. "I can't take a wall apart. I can just identify safety issues that I see or things that need to be repaired." If something needs repair, D'Aigle will never suggest a particular trades person or company. He doesn't want to seem as if he's working for his buddies. A home inspection is supposed to be an impartial assessment of the house. What it does include is a maintenance guide and a life-cycle and cost-of-replacement chart for the home's various components. For example, it will tell you how long your water tank should last with proper maintenance and estimate how much it costs to replace it. "First-timers are always amazed at how much we cover and what the inspection includes." said D'Aigle. "I also suggest that people find their own inspector rather than going with the one recommended by their realtor. B.C. does not have regulations regarding certification, so it's buyer beware. People need to make sure the inspector is certified with the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors."
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