Chapter 15: Specialized Inspection Deep Dive

Chapter 15: Specialized Inspection Deep Dive

A Scene from Real Life

A family bought after a “clean” general inspection. First winter: black mold behind the walls. Cost: $12,000. A specialized moisture inspection would have caught it.

Radon: The Silent Killer

Radioactive gas, odorless. Second cause of lung cancer. Test: 48-hour device ($150-250). Above 4.0 = mitigate ($1,200-2,500). Common in the Northeast — don’t skip.

Mold and Moisture

When: musty smell, water stains, damp basement. Cost: $300-600. Widespread toxic mold = $2,000-12,000+ remediation.

Termites

Eat wood from inside, no signs for years. Inspection: $75-150. Treatment: $500-3,000.

Foundation

When: visible cracks, doors won’t close, sloping floors. How: structural engineer ($400-800). Wide horizontal cracks = $10,000-30,000+. Walk away if seller won’t negotiate.

Finding a Good Inspector

Where: ASHI.org, InterNACHI.org. Never use the seller’s suggested inspector. Ensure they don’t offer repairs (conflict of interest).

Action Steps

• After the general inspection, book needed specialists within a week.
• Choose inspectors yourself from ASHI.org.
• Classify: walk away / negotiate hard / accept.

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