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Many towns require municipal inspections as part of the selling of a home or the issuing of an occupancy permit. The best piece of advice that I can offer you here is that if you know that you're going to have to have the inspection done, do it now.
While most of them are only good for a period of 30, 60, 90 or 120 days and you might not have your house ready to close by then, it's still better to be prepared. One exception to this is that once the city inspects your property, you have to be prepared to fix it. This is because they will cite you on whatever deficiency they noted and if you don't get it fixed, they can get nasty!
The other pisser about getting the getting the inspection done early is that you might not get the same inspector back in the event that your first inspection expires. When this happens, particularly in the City of St. Louis, the second inspector might find a completely different laundry list of things to fix. Even with this said, it's still better to get the inspection done ahead of time.
You're On Their Schedule
If you're listed with ValueList, we will schedule the inspection for you. If you're on your own, then you will have to track the inspector down. Most times they only take calls until a certain time in the morning and each inspector makes their own schedule.
Be Nice And Don't Argue
I don't know why it is, but for some reason the folks who gravitate towards the position of being a municipal inspector didn't attend charm school. I'm not sure if it's a power based thing or what, but of all the different folks that have a finger in your pie when it comes to selling your St Louis home, the municipal inspector can be the most difficult to deal with.
That said, be nice. Offer then a cup of coffee or a danish if you have one. Make sure that your house is clean and that if you have any pets that they are put away and won't startle the inspector. If the inspector points something out to you accept what he has to say and don't argue with them. If you argue they can and will find a lot more stuff for you to have to fix.
Stay Out Of Their Way
The quicker the inspector is in and out the better. Don't chit chat with them. As a matter of fact, once you show him where he needs to go to see the basement, etc., stay out of his/her way. You can't help yourself and you can hurt yourself.
I don't mean to be critical of municipal inspectors here, but it's been this way for as long as I can remember and I doubt that it changes any time soon.
Dealing With A Private Home Inspector (Next)
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