BOOK REVIEW : Make Sure Inspection Is Complete, Accurate

“The Home Buyer’s Inspection Guide” by Warren Boroson and Ken Austin (John Wiley & Sons, New York: 1993, 219 pages, $17.95.)

The trend is for most home buyers to make their purchase offers contingent upon a satisfactory professional inspection of the residence. However, as this new book explains, there is more to inspecting a home than just hiring a professional inspector and reading his or her report.

Authors Warren Boroson and Ken Austin emphasize the best way to choose a qualified professional inspector and how to be certain the inspection report is complete and accurate. The authors explain that many so-called professional inspectors are incompetent, as shown by the horror stories included in the book. Incidentally, co-author Ken Austin is president of Home Master of America, the largest home-inspection company, so he speaks with authority.

Although the book’s emphasis is placed on inspecting the components of a house and what problems to anticipate, I found the early chapters on how to select a qualified inspector and what to expect in a well-written inspection report to be the most interesting. Also, the pros and cons of home warranty policies are thoroughly explained.

This is an excellent book to read before starting the search for your perfect dream home. It shows home buyers how to ask the right questions before making a purchase offer. Also, it makes prospective buyers capable of spotting obvious defects. The book is filled with photos, red flag checklists, illustrations and suggestions for proper home maintenance. In summary, it should be required reading for home buyers. On my scale of one to 10, this book rates a 10.

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