PerSpections Home Inspections

At the time, he seemed pleasant and knowledgable. He was responsive, came at the appointed time, answered our questions and gave us what we thought was a thorough report. Looking back on the experience, we now wish we'd known more and that he'd done more. For example, the contractor did not use a ladder to get on top of the house and inspect the roof - which of course needed major repairs later. (We ended up having to get an entirely new rubber bladder and UV reflective coating installed after several enormous cracks were detected by another contractor who does work in our neighborhood got up there to look.) In addition, the chimney is going to need major repairs, and again this is something that he could have noted had he gone to the top of the house to inspect. He did go into the attic crawl space after which he assured us the roof was probably fine. Like rubes, we just took him at his word. In addition, we will now need costly masonry repairs to the exterior brick of our home. The home inspector did look at the brickwork, of course, and told us that it was sound. Perhaps it was at the time (though I doubt it), but Hurricane Irene and the recent heavy downpours have proved otherwise. Water is now seeping through the mortar and causing water damage to the interior walls of our home. The masons who have come so far to provide estimates have all said the mortar is faulty. I feel that this is something a home inspector should be trained to detect. Bottom line - we were ignorant and trusting new homebuyers and didn't ask enough tough questions. However, I do feel that the contractor should have and could have done more to insure that major components of the home were sound or to point out major issues that we could have used to negotiate with the seller. We feel like we were taken for a ride - assured that everything was fine, when it obviously was not. So, ask questions - of this contractor and to competitors - and if they are not willing to do a THOROUGH inspection, go with someone who will.