EP 32 - Home Inspections pt. 2 with David Strunk - a podcast by Brian Cook And Kindra Cox

On Episode 32 of The Brian and Kindra Show, they discussed home inspections with David Strunk of Eagle Eye Home Inspections. Home inspectors in Oklahoma must be licensed and complete 8 hours of continuing education annually.  

David says that a home inspector’s job is to report what they see. They will do their best to find all the issues there might be, but unfortunately, they can’t see everything!!  Obviously, defacing a property is not an option, so parts of the home that are hidden behind walls, under flooring or concrete and wiring, etc. are not inspected.  Things that can be seen and even tested such as the furnace, air conditioner, electric, appliances, paint are inspected and reported to the purchaser of the report.  David encourages buyers to be present for their inspections so that he can easily show them concerns and express which items are serious versus items of lesser concern.  

When checking the heater & air conditioner performance, the inspector will generally run each unit in spite of the season. The central heating and air is an expensive part of your home. As a home inspector, David often finds that the outside condenser is neglected. Just like a car radiator, when the condenser gets dirty it doesn’t allow the proper amount of air to pass through. He suggests buying a box of air filters, so you are reminded to change your filters routinely.  A good way to check the condenser performance is checking to see if the temperature of the outside lines. One should be hot, the other cool and there should be approximately 15 degrees difference. 

Kitchens and bathrooms also are very important in the home inspection.  The biggest issue in the bathroom tends to be blockages or slow drains in the sink and tub. Another issue is the tub diverter, the mechanism that makes the water flow to the tub or shower head. Water deposits can cause the diverter to not work properly. The tub spout can be easily cleaned by a strong cleaning agent and back to properly functioning in a short time.  The inspector checks the following items:  Sink drainage, sink leakage, hot and cold water flow, supply lines on sink, the stability of the sink on the vanity, toilet operation, toilet leakage, shower operation, shower leakage, shower floor if it’s grouted, and tub drainage. The kitchen has a very similar checklist and also includes the appliance performance of the oven, dishwasher, stove, etc.  

There are some systems and amenities that are more specialized and not checked by a general home inspector.  Sprinkler systems are generally checked by someone who specializes in sprinkler systems.  David says he also recommends cleaning the chimney of a fireplace before it is used. Brian and Kindra noted they often have someone in that business complete the inspections for fireplaces due to their specialized nature.  With fireplaces, it is cautioned that the mortar cap be checked for cracks so that water leaks are not accessing the house.  

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.

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