Transcript

What is involved in a home inspection? | Freilich Law | Michael Freilich | freilichlaw.com | (410) 321-0040

In Maryland, it’s controlled by the Contract of Sale, and typically it’ll call for a home inspection to cover the mechanical systems, plumbing systems, and those types of things. Typically, the home inspector shows up with a checklist and says, “The roof appears to be so many years old. It’s in such and such condition.” And they check off numerous items on a list, then they hand (the checklist) to you. Suppose they find a rusting pipe, they’ll tell you about the rusty pipe. And that’s pretty much it. But the home inspectors usually allow between one and two hours. They only charge a couple of hundred dollars, and then they limit their liability in the contract to whatever you paid to them to do the inspection.

Suppose you paid $500, and suppose they overlook the fact that there were a rodent infestation, and they just didn’t see it although it was obvious to the eye. And suppose it cost you $7,000 to repair it, you may have no regress against the home inspector except for the amount you paid for the inspection. Also, they’re typically chosen by the realtor who knows this inspector goes in with one eye shut. That’s not what you need. You need a real estate attorney who’s independent, who will refer you to somebody who will give you a true analysis and who’ll do a good job and has a very good history.