Denver Contractor / Home Inspector?

Question

Any good reccomendations for a home inspector who is also a contractor? I'm not looking to steal "your guy" (not investing locally), but we're looking at buying the house right next door to my folks, which has been recently rehabbed, but the rehabbers concentrated on a few specific items and not on a number of other things that obviously need updated or fixed. I want someone who can go in and identify these items, spot the things that I have missed (I am an ungifted amateur at best, but at least observant :) ) and quote out the things to be fixed as well as a list of updates we want done.

Any pointers much appreciated!

Thanks,

Robert

Any pointers much appreciated!

Thanks,

Robert

Bill S. · Answer

@Robert Blake no really "easy" button here. If someone is an inspector, they aren't likely to have a viable contracting business. If they are a contractor, they won't be too well versed in all the inspection issues. Many contractors bid the work and then let the City inspectors pick apart the project and they charge the owners for changes. Granted after a while they get to know what might come up but it's not really the same as an inspection.

Break the task apart and hire the inspection. They take that list to contractors to give you prices. If you are looking to beat the sellers up on price use contractors that advertise heavily in the area for your prices. If you want to know what it costs then find someone that specializes in that item and get the price from them. If you want low headache, find someone that is a GC and let them get the prices from their subs. Generally this costs more than finding your own guys.

The problem is there really is no short cut of getting 3-5 bids if you  really want to know what it costs without having those trusted people already on board. Even someone I trust might not be trustworthy for you. You might want it done a certain way and that way is different from me. Certainly referrals are a great place to start.