SCOUT HOME INSPECTION

We cannot say enough good things about Don. He has actually conducted two pre-inspections for us, and in this market we may very well need pre-inspections on additional properties and he is hands-down our first choice. The first house was a flip, and Don pointed out all the corners that had been cut, as well as reassuring us that some of the things we thought might be red flags (no permits pulled for an extensive remodel with additions) were indeed a cause for concern. We still put in an offer, but far lower than we had originally anticipated and we were actually relieved to NOT get the house. The second one was a fixer-upper so we had a lot of concerns, and although we were anxious to get it inspected quickly we had no reservations about waiting a few more days until Don was available rather than call in someone else. As it turned out, a lot of the things we were very worried about weren't immediate concerns and he pointed out a number of things that we had missed. He was also great about talking us through what kinds of repairs we might be able to handle ourselves, and the kinds of things where we would want professional assistance. Don is incredibly thorough, frank, thoughtful, and just all-around a terrific guy. With the last house, we wanted a report but he said we could wait until we found out if the offer gets accepted, which saves us $100 if we don't get the house.

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We had made an offer on a 1970s house in Kirkland and based on our amateur inspection thought we'd found a good deal and a solid home. We scheduled an inspection with Don McFeron of Scout Building Inspection with his wife Joey on short notice right before the Thanksgiving weekend and he was able to perform the inspection the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Don started on the outside and then did a top to bottom inspection that included getting on the roof, testing moisture level in the siding, getting in the crawlspaces/attic etc. All pretty standard stuff, but the attention to detail and keen eye only really became apparent when we got the final report. I noticed that Don was not taking notes or dictating them to a phone or anything. He is a very personable guy and was eager to answer any and all questions and I worried we were distracting him. Not so. The list of things that needed to be addressed started to add up as he worked his way through the house. When he got to the basement and electrical panel, he removed the panel cover (not necessarily a standard procedure for some inspectors) he found aluminum branch wiring had been used throughout the house. This is a major fire hazard that was not disclosed on the Seller's disclosure form. Mitigation certified by the Consumer Product Safety Commission is Copalum copper pigtail retrofitting which Don fully documented in his report. Turns out the seller new about the wiring and didn't think and quot;it was a big dealand quot; and he'd had an electrician out to inspect an outlet that overheated from a tenant space heater. Just the kind of precursor to a fire that aluminum branch wiring is notorious for 00 but the seller could have it and quot;taken care of for $1000and quot;. From Don's report I knew to contact an electrician certified by Tyco/AMP for the Copalum retrofit who quoted $50 per switch/outlet/light fixture/junction box/panel connection. In other words; well in excess of $5000 and probably closer to $10k. We walked on the deal. The electrical issue was major and obvious if you knew where to look and what to look for but Don is a major detective and he found many other reasons that on their own were reason enough to kill the deal. He found things that would be otherwise impossible to find using a Fluke infrared thermal imaging meter, like insulation gaps, moisture in the walls/ceilings. He was able to spot problems with lot drainage, furnace installation, water heater installation code violations, structural concerns, pest infestation etc. etc. We spent $525 which seems like a lot but is very reasonable for a full inspection, but by walking away saved tens of thousands on the proverbial money pit. Definitely get your inspection done. Definitely don't use a service recommended by the Seller/Buyer agent and definitely call Scout Building Inspections. A+++ 2007 Seattle Times article featuring Don: http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2003741835_inspectors10.html

This is the second time we have used Don. He is very knowledgeable about his craft. In addition, he is quite realistic. If something needs repair, he'll tell you, but he'll also tell you why and if it is urgent or not. Other inspectors we have had make everything sound like it's a disaster, even if it's something minor. He doesn't over look things however, he is very thorough, but realistic. He'll also tell you the positives that he sees. He welcomes phone calls and emails after the inspection is done in case questions come up.

THE INSPECTOR FROM SCOUT HOOME INSPECTION, DON MCFERON, WAS FRIENDLY, RESPONSIBLE AND PROFESSIONAL. DON PROVIDED US WITH A DETAILED INSPECTION REPORT SO WE KNEW WHAT TYPE OF REPAIRS TO EXPECT.