Do you want to ensure that the seller made the repairs that you requested? Maybe an inspection was conducted before a sale fell through, and now it’s your turn to inspect the property. Whatever the case, a second inspection is a great way to ensure that you’re getting a structurally sound property.
If you’re working with a reputable and experienced inspector, second inspections are much like the first. They’ll try to be as thorough as possible while remaining impartial. If it’s needed, an inspector will recommend specialists afterward.
Read on to learn all about the process of a second inspection and how you can benefit from one in Northeast Ohio!
What is a Second Inspection?
A second inspection is also known as a follow-up inspection. Once the seller is finished making repairs, you may request a second home inspection in order to ensure that they fixed everything correctly. Second inspections may also be necessary if a sale fell through and time has passed between buyers.
Even though home repairs were already made, an inspection is still necessary to ensure that all issues were taken care of the first go around. An inspector may find that additional, serious repairs are still needed, saving the buyer lots of money and heartache.
What Does a Second Inspection Include?
Now that you know a little bit about why second inspections are necessary, what do they include? It’s important to remember that it’s an ethical violation for an inspector to show the new buyer a copy of the previous report. Instead, a new inspection needs to be conducted.
Discounts are typically not included with second inspections, because the inspector needs to treat the property as if it’s a brand new property that they know nothing about. This way, they won’t cut corners when it comes to inspecting areas after repairs were done. This also helps them discover new issues that may have occurred in-between the inspections.
When Should You Get a Second Inspection?
Sometimes, it may not be obvious that you need a second inspection. For instance, if the seller seems to be agreeable to making repairs, you may want to put your trust in them and expect the work to get done. However, there are a few other signs that should be telling you it’s time to get another:
Inspector Isn’t Thorough
A quality home inspection will take several hours because the inspector is looking at details in the exterior as well as the interior of your home. They’ll also take time to test your plumbing, outlets, appliances, and more. If they don’t seem to be doing any of this and are instead quickly glancing over the home’s features, this is a good indication that you should hire someone else.
These inspectors may also give you a rosy report that everything is fine. However, this isn’t often the case!
Inspector is Inexperienced
Inspector should be willing and able to answer any questions you may have about the process. If they can’t answer your questions, you may be dealing with an inexperienced inspector. It’s important that you’re working with someone who won’t miss any details that could lead to dangerous situations.
You Need a Specialist
When it comes to issues with your roof, foundation, HVAC, or more, your inspector may find signs of issues that need to be looked at by a specialist. Home inspectors are only licensed for general home inspections, so it’s important that you follow their recommendations and schedule specialists to come out.
For instance, small signs of termite damage may lead to a pest control expert revealing that the entire house needs to be tented. A rusting HVAC unit may also require thousands of dollars to repair or replace.
Issues With Initial Inspection
If you’re aware of small issues that are already present in the property, make sure that your inspector flags those issues as well. If they manage to ignore small issues, this is a good indication that they may not be catching larger issues that can cost you thousands. If this is the case, it’s important that you hire another inspector that’s able to do a more thorough job.
You may also find that your inspector isn’t up-to-date with building codes. For instance, they may be putting out violations in building codes that aren’t actually violations in your state. Worse, they may be ignoring new code violations because they’re not being kept up-to-date.
Providing Referrals
Last but not least, you need to be wary of inspectors that discover random small issues in the home. Afterward, they’ll try to convince you to contact a certain company for repair work. This may mean that your inspector is trying to drum up work for a company that’s paying him for referrals.
This kind of relationship means that your inspector isn’t completely impartial. This conflict of interest is most likely against their code of ethics in your state. Some codes state that inspectors aren’t allowed to do repairs on a client’s house for up to 12 months after the inspection.
Investing in Inspections for Your New Home
Investing in a second inspection may seem like a waste of time, especially if you’re confident that the seller made the repairs you requested. However, it’s important that you’re thorough, as a bad first inspection may lead to issues that were never caught.
Your initial inspector may have been inexperienced. Worse, they may not have been impartial if they were recommending repair services for minor issues that they exaggerate.
Lastly, it’s important to follow-up with specialists if your inspector recommends them. Since they’re licensed only for general home inspections, specialists are able to take a look at the issues they discovered and make a determination about the next best steps.
Ready to protect your investment in the Northeast Ohio area? Schedule an inspection with us today!