Park City Property Guide - Park City and Deer Valley Real Estate News

Park City & Deer Valley Real Estate-- Getting a Home Inspection

We always suggest that our clients that are either buying a home or condominium in Park City or Deer Valley obtain a professional home inspection.   Once you’ve put your real estate purchase under contract, we’ll work together to commence your due diligence efforts, and getting a home inspection scheduled and completed will be a critical part of those efforts.  Below are some questions that our Park City and Deer Valley real estate clients frequently ask:

Do you provide names of inspectors that work in the Park City or Deer Valley areas?

Yes, once you’re under contract, we provide the names of some qualified, professional home inspectors.  In addition to the names we provide, there are many that work in the area, and we encourage you to do some research on your own.   You can contact them directly, and select the inspector that you feel most comfortable hiring- we can then assist you in scheduling the inspection with the Listing Agent and or owner of the property.

Do we need to be or should we be present for the inspection? 

For out of state purchasers:  You certainly can schedule a visit to attend the inspection, but it’s not required.  We have many second homeowner purchasers, and the inspectors are used to providing information via email and discussing their reports over the phone.  Doug Farmer, an inspector with Pillar to Post Home Inspections in Park City said this:  “Not every client is local, or available to meet. Sending the report same day gives them the opportunity to review it on their time, and then I can follow-up with them via a phone conversation.”

If you are available to be present for the inspection, Doug added this advice:  “It can be a valuable experience to the buyer to be there at the end of the inspection for the inspector to present the report. This gives everyone an opportunity to address and answer questions and concerns right there. Part of my business model is that I offer to meet the client at the end of the inspection. I can print the report on-site, that way we can have the report in hand, and really review the property. This is most beneficial to first time buyers, or anyone with a bit of trepidation in the home buying process. Being there for the whole inspection is not necessary, as all the information will be available at the end.” 

How long does it take to get the inspection report back? 

Most inspectors understand that time is of the essence, and make an effort to deliver the report to you promptly.   Doug says that he makes it a priority to provide the reports quickly: “My commitment is to always have the report emailed the same day as the inspection.  Time is limited in the transaction process, so a sense of urgency is important to me.”

I’m buying a home or condominium in Park City or Deer Valley - will the inspector make sure all items are up to code?

Building codes change frequently, and it would be impossible to bring existing property into compliance with all building codes- even if the property is only a few years old.  Doug explains this carefully to his clients:   “Citing code, commenting on deficiencies, or any issue should be presented in proper context. A home inspection is not a code inspection, and if one is going to point out a ‘code issue’, there should be a supporting reason to do so. For example, if the ‘code issue’ is presenting an immediate health/safety concern, then frame the conversation by pointing out the safety issue first and then support it with the code. A property built before a code was in place is required to be updated to the current code when both of these two things have taken place:

1.       The state and/or local municipality has adopted the current code, AND

2.       The home is being repaired or added onto. At this point a licensed contractor is required to adhere to the current and most stringent code.

A home is not required to be updated to current code just because a new code has been written and adopted.

Please contact Quinn Eichner at 435-640-1854 for real estate information in Park City or Deer Valley.  It's our goal to make every real estate purchase easy and stress free.