EP 28 - Home Inspections with Kenny Snider - a podcast by Brian Cook And Kindra Cox

On Episode 28 of The Brian and Kindra show, they discussed Home Inspections with Kenny Snider.  Home Inspectors have been licensed under the Construction and Industry Board since 2003, but oddly enough, started under the Health Department. An Oklahoma home inspectors license is good for the entire State of Oklahoma.

Most home inspectors will have an agreement they share with the customer that details what they will be inspecting versus what they will not inspect.  Brian and Kindra notice that a general home inspector typically doesn’t look at sprinkler systems, swimming pools, hot tubs, etc. They do look at the electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and structural functions of a home. They check-out the outside of the home, roof, paint, siding, driveways, heat & air, etc. Inside they check windows, plug-ins, plumbing, ceilings, steps, chimneys, etc. If there is a problem, the home inspector doesn’t suggest a repair, they put it into their report to call a professional repairman or more specialized contractor to further investigate the issue. 

The home inspector’s report is usually detailed with pictures and a breakdown of the issues. The reports that Brian and Kindra have received from Kenny range from 13 to 60 pages and at the end is a summary. When an inspection is completed for the purpose of a home purchase, the agents and customer will typically review the report particularly focusing on the end summary. They then discuss that summary with the home buyer to verify the buyer is still satisfied with the property or to evaluate if the buyer would like to request some repairs. 

Kindra noted that many of the issues the home inspector finds are deferred maintenance issues, something that wouldn’t become a concern with regular maintenance such as paint damage, water heater drips, and under sink drips. Brian, Kindra, and Kenny agree that they see homeowners get used to something that is wrong, that it starts to feel right. 

Brian and Kindra are proponents of a pre-listing home inspection. Kenny agrees that would be a huge benefit for the seller. You’ll have unbiased, professional feedback on your home and a headstart on any issues that need addressed. This will make both the home inspection that the buyer orders and the appraisal easier. 

A home inspection of a 2,000 square foot home will usually take a couple hours and cost approx $250 locally. The buyer and seller are welcome to attend, but sometimes the seller’s presence may bother the buyer. With the buyer present, the home inspector can discuss any found issues at that time rather than them waiting to see it in the report. Additionally, the tone of a report can come across as scary, so being present makes it more personable.  (This price is based off of Kenny’s charges and can vary from inspector to inspector.)

Brian and Kindra hope these tips have been helpful to you. As always, if you have any questions or need help, please feel free to reach out to your local real estate professional.

Further episodes of The Brian and Kindra Show

Further podcasts by Brian Cook And Kindra Cox

Website of Brian Cook And Kindra Cox