ALL CHECK HOME INSPECTION LLC

Home inspection was done by one of their representatives. I thought it would be done in as thorough a manner as the home inspection that was performed for the buyer of my home (in retrospect, guess I should have gotten the name of the company my buyer used) I knew the home I was purchasing needed work -- I could see that there were cracks in basement that would need fixing, and knew that the kitchen cabinets were in bad shape and the much of the home was outdated and would need some plumbing updates - but since it did have a new roof, new windows, new HVAC and was in a great location - I was willing to put in the extra to fix it up -- but -- had All Check performed their work properly, I would have known to borrow more on the mortgage for repairs -- they failed to tell me that the house had an electrical box that was a fire hazard and that the supply box to the meter was rusted through. The electrician AND the guy from the electric company who came to shut off power during replacement were both totally amazed that the home had been inspected -- they said anyone who knew anything would know that a Federal Pacific box was a total fire hazard. The electrician said he had a pair of klein pliers that were totally fried when cutting a wire on one of these boxes that had not been cut off -- it fried his pliers - but the breaker never tripped. Both these electrical professionals referred to the Federal Pacific box as being nothing more than a "welder". Another friend said her entire condo had to have all these boxes replaced due to them being fire hazards. When I spoke with the owner of All Check, he was very sarcastic and stated that he felt they did an excellent job because the report said I should have the house checked by an electrician (but did not say anything about the dangers involved) I feel that I would have been better off having an electrician and a plumber and a chimney sweep (who's coming this week) come out and check the house -- All Check did not point out any items I was not already aware of. I thought the purpose of a home inspection was to obtain more information from someone knowledgeable about homes. As far as I can see -- I need to be employed as a home inspector -- I would have done just as thorough of a job and this company. The inspector that the buyer of my home used actually checked all the registers to verify that the temperatures coming out were correct, check temperature of water, and they noticed GFI's (which this house has NONE of and All Check failed to point out). When I mentioned this to the owner of All Check, Ron Berry (sp?), he said that when a home is being sold as is, they don't do as thorough of an inspection -- I told him, just because it is being sold "as is" does not mean that someone is going to buy the house if what it "is" is a money pit. I am VERY dissatisfied with this company - they not only put my life at risk, but also that of my 88 year old mother who lives with me. They also caused me to go in debt on a charge card to cover this unexpected cost that could have easily been covered by borrowing more on my mortgage at a low interest rate. I would not recommend this company to my worst enemy. I just hope they did not miss any more items of this magnitude. Addition: since this posting I have learned of a few more items missed by this "so called" home inspector. When the Chimney Sweep (who gets an "A" rating) was up on the roof, he brought me down pictures - there is no chimney cap, which All Check did not mention, the cleanout door does not latch, which also was not mentioned, and the chimney is missing a brick which someone filled with expandable foam spray. THEN, when the plumbers arrived to fix the backed up sewer, I learned that in the basement, right over the washer, was a gas line that someone had just taped the end with masking tape. Fortunately the plumber was able to tell me that the line had a cutoff valve, but, if anyone were to flip the lever, gas would be coming out the end. He was nice enough to put a metal cap on the end (which is the proper way of sealing this line) I plan to contact the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General on this company. They do not need to be out there putting lives in danger.