No Clues:
These problems may have existed at the time of the inspection, but there were no clues as to their existence. Our inspections are based on the past performance of the house. If there are no clues of a past problem, it is unfair to assume we should foresee a future problem.
We Always Miss Some Minor Things:
Some say we are inconsistent because our reports identify some minor problems, but not others. The minor problems that are identified were discovered while looking for more significant problems. We note them simply as a courtesy. The intent of the inspection is not to find the $200 problems; it is to find the $2,000 problems. These are the things that affect people’s decisions to purchase.
Contractor’s Advice:
A common source of dissatisfaction with home inspectors comes from comments made by contractors. Contractor’s opinions often differ from ours. Don’t be surprised when three roofers all say the roof needs replacement, when we said that the roof would last a few more years with some minor repairs.
Last Man In Theory:
While our advice represents the most prudent thing to do, many contractors are reluctant to undertake these repairs. This is because of the last man in theory. The contractor fears that if he is the last person to work on the roof, he will get blamed if the roof leaks, regardless of whether or not the roof leak is his fault. Consequently, he won’t want to do a minor repair with high liability, when he could re-roof the entire house for more money and reduce the likelihood of a callback. This is understandable.
Most Recent Advice Is Best:
There is more to the last man in theory. It suggests that it is human nature for homeowners to believe the last bit of expert advice they receive, even if it is contrary to previous advice.
As home inspectors, we unfortunately find ourselves in the position of first man in and consequently it is our advice that is often disbelieved.
Why Didn’t We See It?
Contractors often say, I can’t believe you had this house inspected, and the inspector didn’t find this problem. There are several reasons for these apparent oversights:
Most Contractors Have No Clue What’s Inside or Outside The Scope Of A Standard Home Inspection: All of our inspections are conducted in accordance with the Standards of Practice of The American Society of Home Inspectors. The Standards of Practice specifically state what’s included and excluded from the standard home inspection.
Most contractors have no clue this document exists and many of them have a tendency to “blame the Home Inspector” for any issue found, regardless of whether the issue is within the “scope” of the standard home inspection.
Conditions During The Inspection: It is difficult for homeowners to remember the circumstances in the house at the time of the inspection. Homeowners seldom remember that it was snowing, there was storage everywhere or that the furnace could not be turned on because the air conditioning was operating, etc. It’s impossible for contractors to know what the circumstances were when the inspection was performed.
The Wisdom Of Hindsight: When the problem manifests itself, it is very easy to have 20/20 hindsight. Anybody can say that the basement is wet when there is 2 feet of water on the floor. Predicting the problem is a different story.
A Long Look: If we spent half an hour under the kitchen sink or 45 minutes disassembling the furnace, we’d find more problems, too. Unfortunately, the inspection would take several days and would cost considerably more.
We’re Generalists: We are generalists; we are not specialists. The heating contractor may indeed have more heating expertise than we do. This is because we are expected to have heating expertise and plumbing expertise, structural expertise, electrical expertise, etc.
An Invasive Look: Problems often become apparent when carpets or plaster are removed, when fixtures or cabinets are pulled out, and so on. A home inspection is a visual examination. We don’t perform invasive or destructive tests.
Not Insurance: In conclusion, a home inspection is designed to better your odds of not purchasing a “money pit”. It is not designed to eliminate all risk. For that reason, a home inspection should not be considered an insurance policy. The premium that an insurance company would have to charge for a policy with no deductible, no limit and an indefinite policy period would be considerably more than the fee we charge. It would also not include the value added by the inspection.
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