Home inspection Horror stories

[Jon Graham]

We recently had a home inspection where the inspector was a hack (not suprising). I used to have a boss that said inspectors are failed contractors, and I've found that to be often correct. Not to say there aren't some really good ones, I know a few, but they are the minority. 

This property was especially bad. Here are just a few of the items he screwed up.

1. He said our BRAND NEW furnace was 'nearing the end of it's useful life, approx 15-20 years, and needs replaced' and took pictures of it. In the picture was the card of the contractor who replaced it. 

2. Said the roof was 3-layers (not allowed by code in our area) when it was only two. Prompting the buyers to ask for a re-roof of the roof we had just done. 

3. Suggested the buyers replace ALL the insulation in the attic because he found a spot of mice droppings. (One spot). Who doesn't have mice droppings somewhere in their attic? He called it a rat infestation. I'm not exaggerating the condition of the attic, I've been in construction a long time. There were no 'rats'. 

4. Suggested the entire basement showed signs of water issues because of some rust at the bottom of a steel column. Suggested the buyers have the entire basement waterproofed. (It was a finished basement, no signs of water anywhere else, just the old steel column)

Anyone else have an inspector horror story? 

[Matthew Paul]

About 12 years ago , prior to home inspectors being licensed in Md , I had a customer who had a home inspection from hell . Must have been 50 things the " inspector" called for repair or replacement .  I met the owner , buyer , seller , inspector , and both agents at the house .  I am there to counter the inspector .  First stop was the cracked heat exchanger on the furnace , I get the home inspector to show me the crack .........................  he said you can tell by the operation .  I have ti inform him , ITS A HEAT PUMP , there is no heat exchanger .  Next was the electrical panel , Inspector calls there is no ground .  Right there in plain view  is a bare copper wire clamped to a ground rod driven thru the floor .  He says thats not code ,  I tell him show me the code ............... I get my book and YES its code . So in order to save time , I ask the " inspector for a copy of his license ,  He tells me he is certified . I ask by what part of the State government  or county . He says neither , I took a course and was certified  by the national inspector assoc , or something like that . I look at all the parties involved , I pull out my State issued home improvement licence .  Well I am Licensed , and since this inspector cant tell the difference between a heat pump and a gas furnace , should we waste another 2 hours ?  We did and out of a 3 page list we found 1 thing that needed attention , the sump pump didnt work .