A comprehensive fixer upper inspection is the most important part of a profitable real estate purchase venture.

My Grandpa used to say, “You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear”. You should always have this thought in mind when looking at a potential real estate purchase because some properties should be avoided at all costs. It’s one thing to look at a nostalgic old house and imagine how beautiful it would be all fixed up and completely another to look at a fixer upper house with profit in mind.

To fully evaluate the worth of fixer upper house, you need a good home inspection by an inspector you can trust and you need to pay him an adequate fee to get a complete written report…not a checklist. Checklists are for drive by inspectors and not at all useful to a property investor. A comprehensive written report will give you an advantage when asking contractors for estimates and calculating your potential repair costs.

Also, find your own independent home inspector…do not under any circumstances use an inspector that a real estate agent recommends…because real estate agents and good home inspectors do not mix. This is not to say that there is any thing underhanded going on, it’s just a situation I would avoid for oblivious reasons.

If you have trouble locating an inspector in your area, check with ASHI (American Society Of Home Inspectors) or NACHI (National Association Of Certified Home Inspectors). These associations have strict guidelines for inspector performance and can guide you to an inspector in your area.

Personally, I took the time and effort to learn how to do my own inspections and actually have a state license though I don’t do inspections for anyone except myself. Your local Vo-Tech school may have classes for real estate inspectors. If they do it would be wise to sign up for classes. Knowledge is precious…so, don’t pass up a chance to expand your expertise. It will make you money in the long run and may save you from disaster.

Also, you can purchase a home inspectors reference guide from Carson, Dunlop & Associates. This reference is about a thousand pages (est.) and very complete but somewhat overwhelming and maybe overkill. This was the reference book I purchased and studied before I took the state licensed home inspectors examination and is probably priced now around a $100.

All in all, fixer upper home inspection is just a matter of common sense. Potential problems are easy to spot if you just apply a few guidelines while looking at a property. Above all, approach a property with a critical attitude…knowing all houses have problems of some sort and it’s up to you or your inspector to do the detective work necessary to find those problems.