Home Inspections in Seattle: What to Look For

The number of hats a real estate professional wears is endless.  The job is definitely not just opening doors and negotiating offers. On top of managing the dynamics of market conditions and expectations, there are so many tasks, skills, and variables that go into preparing sellers, buyers, and their homes.

One of the things I pride myself on is staying atop of home inspections. Over the years I have developed a love for learning about homes. Their architecture, genres, the different building materials used over decades, the functioning systems, and much more. It didn't take me long in this job to realize that not all inspection reports are created equal. They are a powerful tool in the preparation and in the negotiation of a home, and some inspectors are more thorough than others.  

In fact, it wasn't until I met one inspector duet that everything changed for me and my understanding as to how to judge and use a good inspection report to educate my sellers and buyers. They have become part of my professional team. Their loyalty to the craft, transparency and intentions goes above and beyond anything I have seen so far. 

I make it a point to be present for every inspection because with them I am always learning. I appreciate the time they take to educate me so I can be the best real estate professional at every step, but most importantly empower my clients through data and education to make informed decisions. 

I recently sat down with this duo to talk about all things home inspections- an often overlooked part of the home buying or selling process.

Q: Are all Home Inspections created equal? What should a seller or buyer know about the different types of Home Inspections out there?

A: All home inspections are required to address all the aspects of a home that have been established for a WA state-licensed Home Inspector unless a limited inspection is requested. There are two means the information can be conveyed: Fully Documented and Verbal. Documented inspections are the standard.  Verbal-Only consults are an alternative for buyers who are not in contract, and are a good option when time is of the essence and it’s a competitive situation. It’s also sometimes used when the document itself won’t be useful for negotiation. Verbal-only consult is not something I recommend for first-time buyers, unless it’s the only option. It can be an overwhelming amount of information in a short amount of time, and you don’t get a document that you can review at a later time.

Q: If you are not selling your home, there a benefit to getting a Home Inspection done?

A: Homeowners would benefit from having an inspection done if they have owned their home for a few years or more, especially if they didn’t have an inspection when it was purchased.  Some health and safety concerns could be discovered and cost-saving preventive maintenance recommendations can be made. A Home Inspection is only helpful though if you plan to go through with the recommendations of an inspector! Once you get your initial inspection, I’d recommend getting one every 3-5 years.

Q: What is something that most homeowners should know about their homes?

A: Do not ignore your attic or crawl space. It’s very common to have molds or rodents in attics and crawl spaces, and these can do serious damage. This can go unnoticed for years, making the damage worse. It’s important to review these areas annually even with new homes. 

Q: What is a common misconception of Home Inspections?

A: That a seller-provided inspection is no different than having their own inspection done. Seller-provided inspections are a good tool and "should" give you the basics, but nothing can replace walking through the home with an inspector that you hired. Many times you’ll find things that were initially missed. 

Q: From the inspector's perspective what makes a good realtor?

A: For me; I think an agent learns most when they have the opportunity to walk through the home with me. This gives the agent the opportunity to ask questions and get clarification in-person at the house. Then, they can be an advocate for their client. A good agent will engage during the inspection without overshadowing the time for the client to learn about the home, and won’t use the time allocated for the inspection to review paperwork with the client.