That home inspection video I thought was a scare tactic was actually spot on

Last year when I was buying my first house in Columbus, the inspector pointed at a tiny crack in the foundation and started talking about water damage and mold. I figured he was just trying to justify his $400 fee with some dramatic warning. Six months after moving in, we got a heavy rain and I found a puddle in the basement right under that crack. Crawled back there with a flashlight and sure enough, there was black mold growing on the drywall behind some boxes. Cost me $1,200 to get it remediated and another $800 to fix the drainage outside. Now I tell everyone to take those inspection reports seriously, especially the parts that seem overblown. Has anyone else ignored a home inspector's warning and regretted it later?

2 comments

2 Comments

ellis.charles9d ago

Figure out what's really an overreaction and what's just somebody who's seen this stuff happen a hundred times. That inspection video probably saved that guy thousands, and he laughed at it. Tbh I think this applies to a lot of stuff in life, not just home buying. Like when a mechanic tells you to replace a belt that looks fine, or a dentist says to floss more. We hate being told something expensive is coming, but usually the pro is just being honest. Ngl I've learned the hard way to trust the people who do this every single day, even when it sounds like a sales pitch.

riverp379d ago

Have you ever had that moment where you're sure someone's just trying to upsell you? My buddy Mike laughed at his home inspector for flagging a tiny crack in the foundation, said it was nothing. Six months later he found a puddle in his basement and the repair cost him four grand. I think about @ellis.charles point a lot now, especially when my mechanic gives me the side-eye about something on my truck.