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WHY HAVE A MECHANICAL AND STRUCTURAL INSPECTION?
Every year thousands of homes are bought and sold. Many of these homes are in excellent condition. But what about those that have problems? The seller may not
be aware of existing or potential problems when his property is put on the market. The principle purpose of mechanical and structural inspections is to make sure that both the buyer and the seller are
aware of the soundness of the property under consideration.
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WHO ORDERS AN INSPECTION?
An inspection may be requested by the lending institution or the buyer. Usually the buyer makes the final decision of the firm or inspector who is to make the actual
inspections. The inspections are performed for nominal fees and are usually paid by the buyer at the time of the inspection.
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WHAT DOES THE INSPECTION ENTAIL?
A qualified licensed inspector should perform the inspections. On the mechanical inspection, he should check the electrical system, air conditioning and heating systems,
plumbing, and built-in appliances. If applicable, septic tank systems and wells will also be checked. On the structural inspection, the foundations or slabs should be carefully checked. Also  the load bearing, walls, ceilings, and the roof should be thoroughly examined to be
sure that there are no problems of water penetration, settling, rot, or termite damage. Other areas of inspection may include heat loss and insulation, pool, pool pump
and filters, inside and outside sprinkler systems, and landscaping may be inspected if requested.
The inspections are visual inspections. The inspector cannot disassemble air conditioners, stoves, furnaces or other such items. He can check for visual defects
or for functional problems. Also, the inspector cannot see behind walls or paneling, or under slabs. He cannot remove carpeting or major items of furniture.
In spite of these limitations, there are usually many clues to warn the inspector of hidden problems. When these clues are spotted a qualified inspector will be able to
follow them and come to a solid understanding of what the hidden problems may be. It is my own personal preference to have both buyer and seller present at the time
of inspections so any problems may be discussed and thoroughly understood by them. While I prefer to have
both present, I feel very strongly that at least the buyer should be present when the inspection is made.
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WHAT HAPPENS IF DAMAGE OR PROBLEMS ARE FOUND?
"Damage" is an alarming term. Damage may be superficial or very extensive. Mechanical systems may be very
old and on the verge of failure. Even new systems may exhibit damage due to bad handling or poor maintenance.
The purpose of the inspection is to advise the buyer and seller the extent of any damages and just what may be
required to repair such damages or problems. Frequently many of the problems fall into the category of "do-it
-yourself". If so, some inspectors try to explain very carefully the steps which must be taken to make these corrections.
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DOES A GOOD REPORT GUARANTEE THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS?
NO! The reports give the findings of a trained inspector. However, the inspection report is a report and not a
warranty. The inspection report solely certifies to the condition of the items inspected on the date of the
inspection. The inspectors can assume no responsibility for performance or condition following the time of
inspection. Also, the estimated cost of repairs are based on visible inspection and cannot cover any additional
parts or labor which may be required after the work has been started. Particularly this is true if additional defects are discovered which were not visible or evident at the time of inspection.
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HOW DO YOU SELECT AN INSPECTOR?
Recommendations from people who have had satisfactory experiences with an inspector in the past is one
method. We, your REALTOR® may be able to give you references about inspectors with whom they have had positive relationships. The final selection, however, is the choice of the buyer.
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