As a buyer once you have an accepted sales contract, you have 10 working days to conduct a building inspection. Of course, you can decline to have the property inspected but most agents will generally strongly urge that you employ the services of a qualified building inspector to review the property. For most buyers who have chosen to have a building inspection, the next question is who do I use. Your agent can provide you with a list of inspectors who belong to ASHI which is a list of licensed building inspectors. Your agent might also inform you of inspectors that he has used in the past. However, is the buyer's responsibility to make the decision. The next question is: How much does it cost? While that will vary depending upon the inspector, the one that I frequently uses charges $225 for homes under 1200 sq. ft. That expense is probably the best expenditure that a buyer will make as I have never had an inspection where the cost of correction of problems hasn't exceeded the cost. The inspection covers the entire structure...from the roof to the lower level (basement) as well as the outside structure. The inspection will also review elements that might also be reviewed during the gas inspection and/or the inspection performed by the municipality for occupancy. The termite inspection is generally conducted at the same time as the building inspector. You should check with your inspector to make certain that he does it. Otherwise, you will need an employ a termite inspector. In the St. Louis area, termites can be a major issue; it is often said that in St. Louis, homes either have or will have termites. Obviously, a buyer needs to be aware of any existing termites or prior damage done that has since been treated. Realtor.org has posted an excellent article that should be required reading and can be seen by clicking here. Another inspection is for Radon which is a subject that most home buyers are not familiar. Radon is a naturally occurring, odorless, colorless inert gas that is produced in soil by the radioactive decay of uranium. Very small amounts of radon are found in all soil and goes thru a radioactive decay process and emits radiation called alpha particles. When these particles strike living tissue, they cause cellular damage that can lead to the development of cancer...primarily lung cancer. To test for radon, a qualified radon mitigatin contractor can install a system that provides a permanent solution. Usually a home that has been mitigated with have a much lower radon level then the EPA's Action Level of 4.0 pCi/L. | | Ron Gorman, Realtor | | Coldwell Banker Gundaker | | St. Louis Office | | 4320 Hampton Ave | | St. Louis, MO 63109 | | Office: (314) 351-6005 | | Cell: (314) 570-5125 | | Fax: (314) 667-3016 | | Email: info@stlcityhomes.com | |
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