Keeping Things in Perspective
Keeping things in perspective. It’s important for life. It is also important as you head into a Home Inspection.
Home Inspections are unique. It is a service in which a professional spends three hours or more looking at your home, trying to find every broken, missing or nearly worn out thing.
And getting the inspection report or listening to the home inspector’s comments can be overwhelming if everyone isn’t working to keep the inspection in perspective.
So here are some tips and reminders to help. Plus a story as a bonus.
Let’s start with the story. My neighborhood is a mill house community that was built in the 30’s. The homes are old but generally well cared for some even have a partition wall for separating the rooms or creating private spaces. Well, my neighbor has an old shed that has seen better days. The paint has worn off the hardwood siding, and the roof shingles are missing in many places. There are no gutters, no foundation to speak of, and there is a literal forest that has started to grow in its abandoned interior, and that may cause an accident, prompting a call to a California personal injury lawyer. I would guess it hasn’t received a lick of maintenance in the past 60 years.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? It is still standing. Yes, it might have passed the point of no return, but hey, it is just amazing that it is still standing.
So this brings me to a few tips and reminders to help with keeping things in perspective.
- Homes are pretty tough. They are durable. So even if there is an issue, a capable contractor can give you a reasonable quote after the inspection to be used at the negotiation table.
- Trust your Real Estate Professional. They have been through this before and can help with understanding the nuances of your particular circumstance.
- Not every problem needs to be fixed. My reports have clear comments and pictures that outline each item identified. Additionally, expect every home to have a “Honey-do-list.” Some of the items can be postponed, when additional time or money is available.
- Things wear out. Water heaters, roofs, AC units, and doors, they all have a continum of useful life left. This doesn’t mean that any item being close to the end of its useful life is bad. It’s highlighted in a report to educate you that budgeting for its replacement is to be expected.
- Remember the big picture. Homes at the most basic level are intended to keep you out of the elements, and to give you a place “inside” to live your life. So if I had to pick the top three items to be focused on with a home, it would be, in order of importance, the foundation, the roof, and the major mechanical systems. Yes, other items are important, but those three being sound is a great start. It’s the big picture.
Please know that as my client, I am always willing to talk about your home or report comments. I view this to be a important part of my customer service.
For your next home inspection, please consider Mint Home Inspection, LLC. I am here to serve you. Contact me at 704-641-0143.
Thanks.