An Interview With A Top Las Vegas Home Inspector

Today we are talking to Craig Stivale of Alpha Home inspections. He has agreed to answer some questions to give us an inside look at the home inspection business.

Chris: Hi Craig, and thank you for taking time to answer a few questions for my readers. Tell us a little about yourself.

Craig: Hi Chris, I have been raised in the construction business starting at an early age so I guess you could say it's in my blood. When I moved to Las Vegas years ago I took my state test for inspector of structures and passed with high grades, so I went to work for a national franchise and stayed there for a few years and then started my own business. It's been great.

Chris: How did you get into the business?

Craig: My farther owned a construction company and I started as a laborer. So I know the building process from top to bottom.

Chris: Has business slowed down since the market has slowed a little?

Craig: Yes, but I've noticed so has the competition. I think the market is cleansing it's self at this point.

Chris: I have heard listing agents say to their seller, "a home inspector will nit pick and always find
something wrong just to justify getting paid." How would you respond to this?

Craig: I agree - great point and some will. I don't. I approach each inspection like I was buying the home for myself, I am very through yet I do not include cosmetic issues like dirty carpets section... If there is a problem like a cracked roof truss for example, I will take a picture with an arrow pointing to that broken truss.

Chris: Why should a buyer pay for a home inspection?

Craig: To reassure themselves that they are buying a safe home that is up to code and that includes fire safety and to address potential problems.

Chris: If someone purchased a brand spanking new home, they should be OK, right?

Craig: NO!!! By all means have a new home inspected. I have seen plenty of structural defects not to mention plumbing leaks along with HVAC issues. When you do your final walk through with the builders representative they will not be looking for anything but cosmetic. A home inspection will find these issues before you get moved in.

Chris: Take us through an inspection on say a single story home of about 1500 sq feet.

Craig: All the built in appliances, HVAC, plumbing, electrical (breaker box) all outlets including GFCI, attic framing, insulation's, trusses, fire walls of the garage, lot drainage, mold, pests, the list goes on and on.

Chris: Sounds very through. What is the worst thing you have ever found?

Craig: Several broken roof trusses where the entire attic was covered in mold.

Chris: Wow bet the new homeowners were glad you found that. I know mold can have serious affects on your health. Is there a builder in town that consistently has very few things wrong?

Craig: Yes, I would say Pulte and Toll Brothers's are our best builders.

Chris: That is good for buyers looking to buy in the valley. If they are buying resale it would be good to ask their Realtor® to look into these builders and the subdivisions they have built. In my previewing of new homes I was always impressed with Pulte.

Chris: I want to thank you Craig for giving us some insight on the home inspection business. For people moving to Las Vegas and buying a home how may they contact you to get your fine services?

Craig: Feel free to visit my web-site Alpha Home Inspection in Las Vegas . Thank you for the chance to talk with your readers. I hope I can be of service.

What is the hold up with the lenders??

I am really starting to believe that the lenders are sabotaging their own business and in turn is hurting our economy.

Buyers are putting in offers on short sales and it could be six months before the bank or mortgage company comes back with the price they want to see. (Based on a BPO) they had done six months before. In the meantime prices have dropped again because they did not move to give compatibles in the marketplace. Not only that but the agents that they are choosing to give the bank their opinion on the property do not take into account for things that drop property values such as overhead wires and being backed up to the street.

Now the waiting for an answer may be OK for an investor, but what about a family that is moving and needs to get into a home. Six months is too long for them to wait. They move onto another property that they can get into right away.

I have had a listing for over a year, we got an offer on it and based on what was going on with the property and the market, it was a fair offer. Yesterday, over six months later we finally got an answer as to what the bank wanted out of the property. They want $15,000 more than the offer and prices have dropped. This happened to be an investor that made the offer but he now has walked away for the deal with no counter offer. (another 6 months???) So next for this property will be foreclosure and the bank could have sold it.

I am disgusted at this turn of events. Buyers of America Hurry Up and Wait

There is nothing on a cool or cold winter's evening like a nice cozy fire.  How safe is your fireplace and when you go to sell is it going to be in good working order?

Keep furniture, curtains, and other flammables at least three feet away from your fireplace.

Don't let children stand to close.  They might get burned or their clothes might ignite.

Never burn garbage, charcoal or coal.  Also do not burn paper or cardboard as stray embers can cause indoor fires or fires on the roof.  Wrapping paper can cause toxin fumes to come out into the air.

Don't leave the fire unattended and keep a fire extinguisher handy.  Make sure the fires is out before going to bed or leaving the house.

Gas Fireplaces  should be checked by a professional annually they will clean the fan, clear any blocked vents and make any other adjustments that should be done.

Make sure the pipes connected to the fireplace are clear.

Turn the gas off completely when fireplace is not in use.

Keep the Chimney swept and the flue open.

 Wood-Burning Fireplaces  keep your roof clear of branches and anything that could block your chimney.

Always use a sturdy fire screen to keep sparks from coming out of the fireplace.

Open the flue before starting the fire and keep it open until the ashes have cooled.

Burn only properly seasoned hardwood that has dried for at least six months and doesn't appear green.

Don't overload the fireplace.

Use manufacture directions when burning artificial logs.

Soak ashes in water and store them in a tight fitting container. 

I have owned my own home for many years.  I can not imagine renting again and paying for someone else to have cash flow when I have a built in savings account in my home.  Rent is something that will never be seen again.

There are tax breaks to be considered, the US tax code allow us to deduct the interest you pay on your mortgage.  Property taxes and some costs involved in buying your home.

Over a 5 year period an average homeowner will have around $50,000 in equity in their home.  While there is no guarantee typically real estate will appreciate 2-5% a year.

The freedom you feel when you own your own home is something that can not be described.  It is YOURS.  You can paint the walls and decorate anyway you want!!! 

Owning your own home also allows you to put down roots.  Become part of a neighborhood and the community.  If you have children it gives them roots and the joy of having friends for a long time. 

Homeownership is truly part of the American Dream.