Knoxville News Sentinel® article; dated January 5, 2003
It's the week before Christmas, and a nervous, excited Michelle Gilliam is pacing around the red brick house in Farragut she and her husband, David, expect to close on the next day.
Donnie Bentley, her home inspector, is making a punch list of items the builder needs to fix before the closing.
"For the most part, he's got a lot of work to do in the next 24 hours," Gilliam says of the builder, "and the inspector is the one who makes sure it's done right."
A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems from the roof to the foundation when a potential buyer hones in on an attractive residence.
Bentley, who owns Bentley's Home Inspection Co. of Lenoir City, says the pre-closing check is unusual for him.
"This is not the norm," he says. "She wants in the house by Christmas."
So Bentley is helping the Gilliams tie up loose ends, noting tile counters that need more support, a loose toilet and areas crying for touch-up paint. He walks through what he calls a "2000 model" house - traditional exterior and contemporary interior - taking notes on his hand-held computer.
Michelle Gilliam says her Realtor, Deborah Wellborn of Realty Executives Associates, recommended Bentley, along with two other home inspectors. The new homeowner liked his reputation for standing behind his inspections and even swallowing a cost if he feels responsible for it.
"Contractors are trying to save money. We're trying to save money. The inspector's the guy in between making sure no corners are being cut," says Gilliam, a registered nurse, standing on the front porch of her new four bedroom, 2,600-square-foot home in Sedgefield.
A home inspection pays for itself, she believes. "There is no price on it. It's just invaluable what it can save you as far as headaches. It saves me time, so therefore it saves me money."
Bentley, who has a remodeling background and has served as a fire inspector at Oak Ridge National Lab for 17 years, charges an average of $250 to $350 for a home inspection.
Costs are for a typical one-family house can vary according to size of the house, location and possible additional services, such as septic and well testing.
Considering that a house represents the largest investment many people make, an inspection pays off with a wealth of knowledge.
"Even the most experienced homeowner lacks the knowledge and expertise of a professional," according to the American Society of Home Inspectors Web site, noting that buyers also lack objectivity, which can skew their judgment about a potential purchase.
Home inspectors poke through every nook and cranny. They look at roofs and range burners; faucets and flue liners; plumbing and patios; electrical outlets and exposed ductwork; gutters and garage doors; walls, windows and whirlpool jets; sills, sashes and scuttle holes; decks, driveways, dishwasher motors and drywall nail pops, and everything in between.
Larry Fowler, owner of Guardian Home Inspection Specialist, prowls through basements and crawl spaces and ambles onto roofs.
"Usually I try to walk a roof if it's not dangerous," he says, adding, however, "Usually with a roof you're going to be able to tell more from the inside of the house than the outside."
A certified master home inspector through the Home Inspectors of Tennessee Association, he sees mold detection as the wave of the future.
"There have been so many lawsuits because of mold," says Fowler, who is working on his certification as a mold inspector.
Allergic reactions to mold have grown common. They include hay fever symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and skin rashes. Mold also can induce asthma attacks.
Part of the natural environment, mold may grow indoors when spores land on wet surfaces, such as in a basement or crawl space. Fowler checks both for dampness and proper ventilation.
Another wave of the future, he and Bentley hope, is the licensing of home inspectors in Tennessee. Such a law doesn't exist yet, although a bill is awaiting passage by the state House of Representatives.
To select a home inspector, Bentley recommends checking out members of ASHI, the oldest and largest organization of home inspectors in North America. Call 800-743-2744 or visit the Web site http://www.ashi.org
Good sources of referrals include friends, business associates and Realtors who have been satisfied with a home inspector's work.
