Having an inspection is for your own good...

I just recently had a buyer explain to me that he does not need to do an inspection because his sister's husband's friend is a contractor and he is going to over look the house.  I highly highly - I mean really advise against this.  Even if you are in total agreement with the seller that you are buying the home "as is"  - any home buyer SHOULD get the home inspected by a licensed inspector.  Its really for the buyers benefit - trust me, I make nothing off the deal and to be honest, I have lost a deal or two over a house that had alot of damage that the inspector picked up, which I would rather lose a deal because the house was structural damaged then to find out a buyer had bought the "money pit". 

Now let's put this into perspective here.  Alot of homes in my Whitestone/Bayside area were built in the 20's and sometimes even earlier, so there are bound to be some defects.   Most homes that are older almost always have the ever so famous asbestos wrapped pipes.  These pipes were wrapped for a reason back in the day (flame resistant and insulating).   Even homes that have a brand new boiler have a chance of having asbestos wrapped around the pipes, most boiler men do not remove it.   It's not that I am saying its a great thing - but most sellers won't take the leap to remove it for the new buyers.  Do I suggest it?  Yes.  But see the problem lies when you DO remove it.  You have to have a professional come in and encapsulate it and dispose of it correctly.  I have no experience in ever removing asbestos - so my knowledge will stop there.  But, with that said, I have been told by numerous inspectors that wrapped and encapsulated asbestos is not the problem, its when the asbestos fibers are loose.   

The other problem that I find almost always is termites.  This is because the older homes were built with the foundation being poured over wood forms, with the wood ends still being exposed to the underground termites.  So the termites found their way into the home, by eating through the exposed wood- from the outside in.  Now, keep in mind more and more banks are requiring all new buyers to have a termite inspection - so if there is termites still existing - then yes, it would have to be treated by either the buyer or the seller, prior to the closing.  Most homeowners have had a termite treatment, so as long as the certificate can state when the last time the treatment was completed and if there are any known trace of active termites  or not at the time of closing then the banks are willing to close.   

Every day when I either sign a lease or close a deal I MUST by law, have every buyer, seller, landlord or tenant sign a Lead Paint disclosure.  I have not seen any lead paint, but it was commonly used in majority of homes that were built prior to 1978.   By making all parties aware of the lead paint possibilities is about where my duties lie.  This is another defect that is dangerous in itself, but as long as the paint is not peeling, chipping or falling and your child does not eat it or inhale any of the dust particles then the danger is not evident. 

If you are a buyer and you come in contact with an agent who trys to derail you from having an inspection, then there is probably a reason why and that should be more of a reason TO have an inspection.  Listen, if you are looking to save $300-600, then you are not doing yourself any favors.  Trust me.