Home Team inspection Al Petre Walter Zilinsky Sucks
First I am not happy with the home inspection performed by Home Team Inspection. I chose Walter Zilinsky for my home inspection mainly because of the website at hometeaminspection.com. It looked like a professionals website and the sample reports appeared very detailed. I also researched his name on the internet before choosing Walter for my home inspection. The website states all over that a "team" of inspectors is at every inspection. Meaning that two people come to every inspection. That is what is stated any ways only one person was at my inspection and it was not Walter it was Allan Petre. Even worse was that Walter signed the report, even though he was not present. No one notified me that I wouldn't be having a team at my inspection. Now it was partly my fault for not mentioning this during the inspection but I am a nice guy and still thought they would perform a professional job. Well the nice guy always get screwed.
Here is a screenshot from the active rain website with Walter advertising his services:
As you can the inspection I received was not as advertised.
Come a months after I move and this is what I have deal with:
My father immediately noticed that my dryer vent went from the dryer on the first floor through the ceiling to the attic and ended in the attic with no vent outside. Now every time I use my dryer harmful vapors are released into my home causing health concerns and moisture issues. These are the things inspectors SHOULD be looking for. Al even said during the inspection that moisture is the main cause of most home issues. I would of not bought the house had I known this. My health and the structure of my house is important to me. Now I have to go through my Condo Board to get approval to make a vent which could take months and is costly for the repair.
Issue #3 -- Electrical panel. My whole electrical wiring in the house is screwy and nothing was mentioned in the report. My main circuit tripped in three weeks. I had to hire a electrician and he was amazed that the house had even been inspected. He even offered to call the inspector to tell them how bad the problem was.
Here is what he found:
Note clear signs of burning at the connections. This picture was taken after my electrician removed the wire from the main so you could see the poor connection. Nothing was noted about poor electrical wiring in the inspection report. I had to pay to get this fixed by a licensed electrician. I have put a claim in with the warranty company to see if I can get this covered.
I emailed these issues to Walter. Walter said he was sick on the day of the inspection and that is why he did not attend. They still charged me the same rate as normal condo inspection even though I had half the eyes, half the man power, half the experience. Very unacceptable answer. I should have been informed and inspection should have been rescheduled
Walter said the dryer vent was a "normal maintenance" issue (which I guess are not covered by his report?). Walter, a normal maintenance issue does not involve putting holes in your roof and does not involve major health concerns and moisture issues. See Dryer Vents Can be Hazardous to Your Health.
Walter's Info:
Contact #:
914 232-5055
Certifications:
New York State License Numbers: #16000008961
NY WDI License #836323
CT State License #466
NACHI #05020495
NAHI #10-19141
NYS ELAP Lab# 11881
Affiliations
Westchester County Board of Realtors
Monday January 26, 2009 @ 05:07 PM
These guys are not licensed engineers but they are licensed home inspectors and they are part of a large company and you think they would be concerned more about their image then this.
Saturday May 9, 2009 @ 10:51 AM
I'm sorry to hear that you had a bad experience with your home inspection. MOST licensed Inspectors are qualified to perform a professional inspection.
As for your Condo.. Did you purchase a Limited Condo Inspection or a Home Inspection? Most Condo Inspections only cover the interior of the Unit, or Items that are the responsibility of the Unit Owner. This type of inspection will not normally include common elements such as Attics, Garages, Decks, Remote Heating Equipment Etc. This type of inspection also costs less then a full home inspection.
If the main electrical connection is onthe outside it would normally be the Condo's responsibility also. Don't get me wrong...I generally look at these things as a courtesy for my clients anyway but they are excluded from my Condo Contracts. As for not getting Radon and Environmental testing...these things I would guess, are available services for an additional fee ? Did you order a radon test?
There is much confusion in the Home Inspection Industry and not every Inspector is a great inspector, but dont confuse the issue further by suggesting that things were not inspected when maybe they were not included in you contract. You did read your contract didn't you? They did explain the contract to you didn't they? You did read the Scope of work and the Standards of Practice didn't you? My guess is that you did not. I will also assume that the Inspection Company didn't bother to help you understand them either...THAT is the real problem here. I'm sorry you had a bad experience and I hope everything works out for you.
Saturday May 9, 2009 @ 06:21 PM
RE: JJ
It nice that you come here and post to try and defend your profession. But did you even read my post??
The inspection was not limited. They went up into the attic and inspected the attic. They clearly should of saw dryer vent ending in the attic. They explained the inspection and what they will be and not doing. The real problem with my inspection is that the inspector performed a bad inspection. He did not report everything he saw because he wanted continued business with the realtor I used. They clearly didn't follow standards of practice or even stick to their scope in performing my inspection. The problem here is is not a misunderstanding it's the fact the my inspectors issued a faulty inspection.
Sunday May 10, 2009 @ 10:06 AM
TJ,
I did read your post and misunderstood that they went into the attic etc. In that case I cant argue with you -ANY Inspector should have seen, and reported that type of defect (I see it all of the time!) I know what you mean about Realtor recommendations - I almot never get any because I provide a very detailed report with lots of pictures. Only the very best agents call me because they know it protects Them also. Others are just looking for a quick payday. (I also had 2 agents call me..one when her Sister was buying a home and the other when her Mom was moving...I guess that is a compliment!)
I still hope things work out for you and that you get the vent problem resolved. Having been a formed Condo President, you might want to take a position that you are trying to protec the Condo from future problems arising from a poorly vented Dryer. Are there other unit owners with the same problem? Dont forget that if your condo has other near by vents (Gable vents, soffit vents) they could at least extend your vent to one of those areas and dramaticaly improve the situation with out going through the roof. Of course the best and approved method is to vent to the outside!
Again, Good Luck and I hope you can resolve the situation to your satisfaction.
PS -from the look of things that main breaker has more then one problem!
Sunday May 10, 2009 @ 09:44 PM
RE: JJ
Thanks for your comments. Your second post made a lot more sense. I have replaced the main circuit and I also got a dryer vented to outside since I moved in. Though I still am quite upset that I was put into the situation.
Thursday May 14, 2009 @ 09:11 AM
TJ,
Life is too short to worry and be upset about past problems. Look at all of the future problems we have to look forward to!
Enjoy life and do good things!
Monday May 18, 2009 @ 09:35 AM
TJ,
Have you considered taking this Inspector, the firm and potentially the franchise to court? You obviously have expensive issues to correct that should have been noted. There are three major issues here:
1. You have obvious proof of a negligent inspection. Yes the eletrical panel and dryer vent should most definitely have been noted. I would expect that the Inspector did not enter the attic or just stuck their head through the access hatch. As for the electrical it is in bad enough shape that even a beginner Inspector should have caught it.
2. The Inspection company is falsely advertising a "Team" of Inspectors and did not provide that. Walter's excuse of being "sick" is an unacceptable reason for not rescheduling, referring it to another company or at least finding another Inspector to accompany the Inspector he sent. Even sick he should have attended and supervised. If you took it to court I would demand to see his business records to ensure he just did not have another inspection scheduled that he went to.
3. Walter signed the report which indicates he at least reviewed the photos provided by his assistant. There is no way he could have missed these things if his assistant even took sufficient pictures. I would expect they took pictures of at least the electrical panel which Walter should have seen.
You obviously have sufficient information to at least file a complaint with the New York licensing board for Inspectors. At the very least I would do that. Once you receive a judgment from the licensing board it can be great support for even a small claims court case.
These type of Inspectors need to be removed from the business for the safety of all!
Monday May 18, 2009 @ 10:36 AM
RE: MS
Thank you for your comments, I agree with you totally.
Although I believe the inspectors were negligent and I did suffer damages I have not considered legal action because of the costs and time concerns.
Tuesday September 22, 2009 @ 05:28 PM
Hire a P.E., getting a home "inspectors" license is the equivalent of three box tops of count chocula and 100 bucks and you too can call yourself the home "inspector." hire an P.E. Period.
Sunday October 5, 2008 @ 10:06 PM
I have always used the services of a licensed professional engineer for home inspections, never had a problem. Those guys are likely not P.E.'s.