I Hired Total Home Inspection to inspect my home. I paid an additional charge for a termite inspection. Among the myriad of problems that have arisen throughout our first two months of home ownership there included obvious evidence of termite damage to the wood floors throughout our home. I immediately contacted Terminex and they confirmed my fears of extensive termite damage all throughout the home. The inspector did not furnish us a copy of his termite report until the day of closing and this report held key information that I needed to make an informed purchase decision on the home.
Total Home Inspection reported no visible termite damage to the home. The report I was initially furnished only said the structure showed evidence of previous treatment. Although this was true, the previous company only treated the garage,and only showed evidence of treatment on one side. This information was never relayed to me in the slightest. The inspector told me that he had never seen termites return to a home that had been previously treated, assuaging my fears.
Up until this point I had been willing to swallow the 20 ft horizontal crack in my foundation that was not found, and the fact I have water leaking in the garage from the roof and foundation. Was accepting the reality of water breaching my kitchen ceiling and three places in the basement wall. I was fine with the fact the the inspector missed the basement toilet was connected using a natural gas line and both my front stoop and back door basically funnel water into my house.
The termites was where I drew the line. I made a phone call to Total Home Inspection and they sent someone out to "re-inspect," because the worker who inspected my home no longer works there. The second inspector basically looked all through the house listing the various reasons the termite inspector might have missed the blatantly obvious damage, took a look at the Terminex report, scoffed that it was insanely high and assured me he would get in contact with me after talking to some of his "friends." I waited 9 days with no response. I then contacted him again and asked him what was going on. He basically tells me the first inspector did everything right and that's that.
Don't use Total Home Inspection. Hire professionals in specific areas to inspect your home AND NEVER USE YOUR REALTOR'S PREFERRED INSPECTOR. I feel like such a fool and have watched what should have been one of the happiest moments of my life turn into a never ending nightmare. I know they won't ever do right by me, but I will do everything I can to spread the word and prevent others from being taken advantage of. read more
