John Skiba, CHI, CPI
Registered with the state of Colorado
719-391-1532

Don't be taken by surprise.

A property inspection is your window to the functionality of your potential new home.

The decision is yours

A home purchase is a major expense. While you are not obligated to have the house inspected, you should consider the implications of saving an inspection cost of $250 to $300.

If you were to buy a used car, chances are you would take it to a mechanic to ensure there are no major flaws or defects because a mechanic knows what to look for. A house is no different other than you are investing 10 times the money. If it costs you $250 to have a $200,000 house inspected, you have spent 1.25 thousandths of your investment to know that the home is in acceptable condition for your money. That's a small price for peace of mind.

the benefits of an informed decision

The purpose of a home inspection is not to tell you all the reasons you shouldn't buy a house, rather, a well written home inspection report will educate you on the details of your prospective purchase. While the report can be a powerful tool for price negotiation, it is not intended to change your mind.

It happens though; people sometimes read the report and realize there are many more issues with the property that disclosure didn't turn up. Most times, the sellers are surprised at the findings. For this reason, I do not just drop a report in your lap and consider the job done. I stand behind my inspection reports and answer questions for as long as you have them. I realize how long it takes to find the right property and how disappointing it can be to realize your dream isn't as perfect as you would like.

Many items on a home inspection report are not major findings. Some discrepancies such as common cracks in driveways and sidewalks are found at any home that is not brand new but an inspector is obligated to point them out and explain that they are not a major issue. Hence, a report may appear to be rather lengthy