A beautiful open house doesn’t tell the whole story. In this episode, host Andrew Orr sits down with Bay Area home inspector Brian Cogley to explore what buyers should know before committing to a Bay Area home; from making sense of inspection findings to understanding potential repair costs. Plus, a practical lightning round to help you look beyond the fresh paint and ask better questions.

Episode Chapters

00:00- Welcome and Guest Intro

02:32- What a Home Inspector Actually Does

08:30- Biggest Red Flags to Fear

30:10- Should Buyers Hire Their Own Inspector?

36:05- Repair Cost Lightning Round

40:38- Closing and Takeaways

About the Guest

Brian Cogley has been inspecting Bay Area homes since 2004. A California licensed general contractor and American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) Certified Inspector, he also holds certifications in residential building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical inspection. Brian served four years as president of Golden Gate ASHI and has taught building inspection and maintenance classes to Native American and public housing authorities across the country. He is also featured on the cover and in the introduction of The Complete Guide to Home Inspection.

Resources and Links

• Cogley Property Inspections— Brian's company website and contact information

Music:

• "Outside the Lines," courtesy of Riverside's license-free music library
• “Electric Dream” courtesy of Riverside’s license-free music library

Have a question, topic idea, or story to share? Visit HouseCallSF.com and contact us. If you found the episode helpful, please follow HouseCall SF and share it with someone navigating Bay Area homeownership.

HouseCall SF is for educational purposes only and does not provide financial, legal, tax, or real estate advice.