I get a lot of questions about the same things all the time. Here are some of those questions.
01
What forms of payment do you take?
Making payment for my services has never been easier. I accept all forms of payment, including phone apps like Venmo, Zelle, and CashApp, as well as checks and credit cards. While I am happy to accept credit card payment, please keep in mind that credit card companies charge processing fees of up to 3.5%, making it the least preferred method of payment. Thank you for your understanding and for choosing me for your service needs.
02
Do I need to be at the inspection?
While you do not need to attend the entire inspection please consider attending at least the end of the inspection. Understand that the entire inspection may take 3-4 hours depending on the size and condition of the home and it would be helpful for me to go over my findings with you in person. However, if you are unable to attend in person, we can schedule a Zoom meeting or conference call to discuss the detailed report and photos.
03
Why would I get a pre-listing inspection?
There are several reasons for inspecting a home before listing.
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Knowing the condition of your home is part of responsible home ownership. Not knowing is neglectful and that will be evident when any home inspector shows up.
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Pre-listing inspections are the ultimate tool for building confidence for a buyer. This type of inspection lets the buyer know that you're not trying to hide anything.
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You'll know the big ticket items or major concerns before settling on a price. Why negotiate down thousands off your asking price only to have to spend thousands more on repairs. Give yourself the opportunity to either account for this in your asking price and disclose it, or fix the issue and let the buyer know you already took care of it. Win-win!
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Know what the next inspector is going to say in advance.
04
What if you miss something?
I make every effort to find all reportable conditions as required by the Oregon Standards of Practice. Remember that some items are subjective though and where one inspector may call something out another may not. I try to be objective and call out legitimate concerns. There are instances where there are just too many smaller items that the customer and I agree to focus on more significant concerns such as health, safety or bigger ticket items. EXAMPLE: Cosmetic items are not reportable but functional damage is. This is sometimes subjective. Exterior paint is both cosmetic and functional whereas interior wall paint is cosmetic.
05
Do you provide bids, quotes, or repairs?
The short answer is NO. While home inspectors in Oregon are first licensed and bonded contractors, we are prohibited from working on homes that we inspect for one year. Some inspectors can help with ballpark numbers as we may have experience in certain areas but in general, we do not provide quotes and never bids or repairs