Inspections Are Just the Start: Why the Right Agent Matters
Buying a home isn’t just about falling in love with a kitchen or imagining your furniture in the living room, it’s also about doing your due diligence. Inspections are where dreams meet details, and having the right real estate agent by your side can make all the difference.
Whether you’re buying your first home or your fifth, inspections are a crucial step in understanding what you’re investing in and what issues may lie beneath the surface.
It’s More Than a Checklist:
A good inspection goes beyond just checking boxes. Depending on where you’re buying, there are area-specific tests and inspections that might be crucial, here are a few to consider:
Radon Testing – In many parts of the Pacific Northwest and across the country, radon is a naturally occurring gas that can pose serious health risks. It’s often invisible—literally—and overlooked.
Roof & Structural Assessments: With our rainy seasons and varied elevation, roofs and crawl spaces can tell you more about a house’s history than a listing ever could.
Pool Inspections: If you’re lucky enough to be looking at a home with a pool, don’t skip this step. A pool inspection ensures safety, code compliance, and lets you understand the ongoing maintenance costs.
Sewer Scopes: Tree roots, aging pipes, and hidden damage can lead to costly repairs. This one’s especially important in established neighborhoods with mature landscaping.
Mold & Air Quality: Not just about allergies, these can be deal-breakers or negotiating tools if discovered early.
Pest & Dry Rot: The silent damage. This is especially important in wood-framed homes and humid environments.
Floating Homes - the logs and stringers are very important considerations. What is the log rating? Let me help you find the right inspectors for the job.
The Value of Trusted Partners:
As an agent, one of my most important roles is to connect you with trusted professionals, from inspectors and sewer scope specialists to electricians, roofers, and HVAC pros. These relationships mean you’re not just pulling names from a search engine, you’re working with people who show up on time, deliver honest assessments, and care about the work they do. Referrals are powerful and I have great vendors.
Why I Show Up to the Inspection and when I refer I expect them to also:
You shouldn’t be left to figure out the inspection report alone. I attend inspections with my buyers because I want to hear what the inspectors are saying in real-time, ask the right questions, and help you determine what’s a red flag versus what’s a reasonable repair.
Being there matters. It’s how I help my clients feel confident, protected, and well-informed during what is often the most expensive purchase of their lives.
Don’t Hire a Hand-Off Agent:
There are agents who outsource almost everything and that’s not always a bad thing. But when it comes to inspections, negotiations, and understanding the bones of a house, you want someone who is in it with you. Someone who doesn’t just open the door but opens conversations with inspectors, contractors, and you.
I’m proud to work with full-service agents, who walk with you every step of the way from first showing to final signature and beyond.
As a licensed agent I would love to start a conversation about your home buying, selling or renting process. Call me today. 503-998-6406