Whole house inspection

Whole house inspection

O'Neal Home Inspections. LLC

Springfield, OH

I purchased my home in Springfield, OH, in May 2003. My sister who is a realtor hired a whole house inspection by O'Neal Home Inspections, LLC. He was beginning his business and she knew him personally so thought she would give him a chance.

He took pictures extensively. In his findings report he said I had 100 amp service and had pictures of the breaker box with the old fuses and a newer breaker box next to it. It turns out that I had only 60 amp service. I was blowing the old fuses (looks like shot gun shells) right and left and my house always smelled like it was on fire. I finally had to have my service upgraded to the tune of $1,100 when I saw smoke coming from the fuse box. Also, the sellers did not disclose this in the disclosure form. They had bags of new fuses lying all around the boxes so that tells me they too were blowing fuses all the time.

Also in his report he said my water heater was 5 years old. It was leaking across the basement floor under the furnace. When I had the water heater replaced to the tune of $500, it turns out the water heater was 40 years old!

He also missed two leaking toilets, a rotten window sill, roof leaks in my screened in porch and in my front door frame.

When I called him regarding the electrical his exact remarks were, "I figured with the two boxes, you had 100 amp service." I told him I wasn't paying him to "figure" but to apply his (supposed) expertise to the inspection of my home so I could make an informed buyer's decision. He refunded me the cost of the inspection, which his booklet says is the extent of his liability. I want to take him to small claims court but have two concerns:

1. Was my cashing his check an agreement that his liability is only the cost of the inspection and can I still take him to court

2. I can't find his address to fill out the court papers as he only has his cell phone listed on his business cards and materials.

I have invested thousands into this house fixing what he missed. As a single person on a limited budget, I should not have purchased this house. Now my savings are depleted and I will not be able to recoup my costs when I sell this house.

Any advice/help/assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Delores W Click this link to e-mail the above consumer: Email User Consumer