Coast Guard veteran runs home-inspection business

When Andrew Lynam moved to Las Vegas in 1995 after serving in the Coast Guard as a boarding officer, the housing market in the valley was booming and he worked alongside his father as a contractor, building 1,200 to 1,500 houses a month.

Lynam knew that eventually the boom would slow, so he decided to open a business. After looking into multiple possibilities, including owning a coffee franchise, Lynam decided to become a home inspector because he knew that his contracting background would come in handy.

Since 2005, Lynam has owned a franchise of WIN Home Inspection, an Alabama-based company, in Henderson and has performed thousands of home inspections for potential buyers and those selling their home.

Question: What was it like transitioning into a career after your time in the Coast Guard?

Answer: It was pretty easy for me because I’m able to adapt well and it was neat learning something new. I’ve always had a focus on general contracting and homebuilding, so it wasn’t hard to transition out of the Coast Guard. My time in the Coast Guard taught me how to talk to people and deal with the public as well as a strong work ethic. I personally think everyone should serve at least two years in the military so they’ll have a better appreciation for their country, what we stand for and what our country was founded on. (The U.S. Coast Guard marked it 224th anniversary on Aug. 4.)

Question: What exactly does a home inspector do?

Answer: Our job is to be the eyes and ears for buyers and sellers on status of their home.

For a buyer, a home inspection is a great opportunity to understand what’s going on with a house so they can make an educated decision whether or not to purchase a home.

We make sure the structure is in good standing and if not, we see what the issues are and the repairs that are needed.

For sellers, a lot of the time they don’t even know what’s going on with their home, so it’s our job to give them all the information and details of that structure.

Everything can be fixed, it’s just a matter of who’s going to pay for it.

Our report gives detailed points, primarily for homebuyers, which includes information about the roof, foundation, electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, as well as other interior components such as doors, sinks and toilets. It’s pretty thorough, and we have a checklist .

The inspection for a 2,000-square-foot home usually takes two hours to complete.

However, if there are more issues, it could take longer.

Question: What are common issues you see during a home inspection?

Answer: We see exterior stucco damage, roof tiles that slid out of place, and minor maintenance issues like leaky faucets. A majority of the homes only have minor maintenance issues, but with leaks, there could be mold or mildew issues.

We’ve also seen trees that have uplifted concrete slabs and decks because some people don’t realize that when you plant a little 10-foot tree 10 years ago, it turns into a 40-foot tree. The roots have to go somewhere.

A lot of people don’t realize that a home inspector’s main focus is the integrity of the structure, not if a blind is out of place.

That’s why it’s important to be a qualified individual, and unfortunately, like any business, there are a lot of people out there who aren’t.

Question: What kind of training are you required to complete before becoming a qualified home inspector?

Answer: The state requires us to go through two inspector of structure classes, which are 60 hours total for both classes, as well as a background check, proof of errors and omissions insurance and general liability insurance, and to pass the Nevada structural inspection exam before an inspector of structures license is issued.

Our franchise also requires us to go through an additional 150 hours of training above what the state offers. It can be a total of four to six months of training, and we also have new employees ride around with me for several months for additional training.

Question: How has the home inspection process evolved over the years?

Answer: About 20 years ago, only between 18 percent and 20 percent of homes were inspected and now it’s grown to between 60 and 70 percent. Home inspections take liability away from the Realtor so the client knows the status of that structure.

We typically get called during the homebuying process. Once an offer has been accepted, the buyer and seller come to terms on an agreement and we come in around the same time that an appraiser does. In the agreement, the Realtor typically adds the homeowner’s rights, which can give the buyer the opportunity, if they don’t like what they see from the home inspection, to back out of the transaction.

However, we get one or two calls a month from people who bought a house and didn’t have it inspected. It’s something that should be done, and one thing that sets us apart is that we take a lot of pictures.

They’re a snapshot in time to show the condition of the house at the time of the inspection.

Question: What advice would you give perspective homebuyers about the home inspection process?

Answer: I would definitely say to hire a qualified home inspector and do your homework on them. Call them, talk to them, and while it’s good to go off a recommendation from your Realtor, it’s good to get to know your home inspector.

Also, don’t focus on the price because cheaper isn’t always better when it comes to a home inspection. You’re paying for their experience and knowledge.

There’s a lot to know and little telltale signs can tip you off to a more significant issue. And if the home inspector isn’t trained, they may miss that issue.

I always say there are two things that you shouldn’t look at the price for: an attorney and a home inspector.

You don’t want a cheap attorney if you’re involved in a criminal case, and you want a knowledgeable home inspector to look at the home you’re going to purchase.