F & Q

What is a home inspection?

A Home inspection is a non-invasive visual examination of a residential dwelling, which is designed to identify observed material defects within specific components of said dwelling. The general home inspection will not reveal every issue that exists or ever could exist, but only those material defects observed on the date of the inspection. A home inspection is intended to assist in evaluation of the overall condition of the dwelling. The inspection is based on observation of the visible and apparent condition of the structure and its components on the date of the inspection and not the determination of future conditions.

What does a home inspector inspect?

The home inspector inspects the following items:

  • The Electrical System
  • The Heater/Boiler System
  • The Plumbing System
  • The Foundation / Framing
  • The Roof
  • Walls and Ceilings
  • Windows and Doors
  • The Siding
  • Insulation
  • Exterior
  • Attic
  • Driveway
  • Garage
  • Grading
  • Basement/Crawl Spaces
  • Interior – Water Penetration

Are termite and radon included in the inspection fee?

They are not included in the home inspection cost. They are additional services that we offer.

Should I attend the home inspection?

We highly recommend you attend the home inspection. The home inspection is an educational experience, where you not only learn about the condition of the home that day, you also learn how to maintain it moving forward. By attending the inspection, you are able to ask as many questions as you want. We encourage you to attend and take advantage of having a building expert there with you.

How long does a home inspection take?

The length of the inspection depends on a few factors. The size and age of the home and if anyone is attending the inspection. On average our inspections last about 2-5 hours.

What Is Radon? Do I Need To Worry About It When Buying Or Selling A Home?

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas in that air that is in fact, the second leading cause of lung cancer. The radioactive gas results from decay of uranium found in trace amounts in soil, rock and water. Radon is only a threat inside your home, not outside. If radon enters your home or other buildings, it can accumulate to dangerous levels. Since a large amount of our time is spent in our home, this can pose a serious health risk and is why you should get your home tested!

Can a house FAIL an inspection?

A house can not fail a home inspection. A home inspection is a visual examination and objective assessment of the current condition of the house. A home inspector will describe the physical condition and indicate what components and systems may need repair or replacement.

Home inspectors are NOT code inspectors.

What If The Home Inspection Report Reveals Problems?

All homes have defects, even small ones. The seller is not required to make all repairs that are found in the inspection report. Those which address structural defects, serious safety issues or building code violations, gives you the buyer fodder to negotiate the price to account for the defects, or even get money put into escrow for the repairs!

Are cosmetic defects included in the report?

Cosmetic defects are not inspected for or required to be repaired by the seller. You are welcome to ask the seller to make cosmetic repairs, but they are allowed to refuse correction as it is only cosmetic.

Do home inspectors inspect pools, fences or other outdoor structures?

Home inspections do not generally include a comprehensive overview of pools, fences and outside structures. Home inspectors recommend specialized inspectors for those. The home inspector may be able to provide insight for these areas, but will always recommend a professional in that field unless fully trained in that specific area as an additional service.

Do I need a inspection for new construction?

You definitely need a home inspection with an old as well as a new home. Although, the home is newly built doesn’t mean it was built correctly. Issues are often found in new construction. It’s important to have a home inspector take a look to uncover any issues.

Should I get an inspection if in selling my home?

Yes, we recommend a pre listing inspection. By getting a home inspection before listing your house, this allows sellers to make any suggested repairs ahead of time. This helps the sellers with their asking price and can also reduce liability for any new findings.

When do I get my report?

You will receive your report within 24hrs, but it is normally email ready on the same day. We can print and mail a hard copy as well.

When is payment due?

Inspection agreement signed & Payment is due before the inspection.

Do home inspections kill deals?

This is quite the misnomer. Home inspections do not kill deals. They actually do the opposite, they reveal defects that help buyers NOT leave money on the table! A savvy home buyer will use an inspection to help PURCHASE a home for less money.

What is a 4-point inspection?

A “Four Point Inspection” focuses only on four main areas of interest in a home:

  • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning)
  • Electrical wiring and panels
  • Plumbing connections and fixtures
  • Roof

The inspection and report describes the condition and age of these elements.

Do I need a four-point or a full inspection?

Insurance companies have become increasingly reluctant to issue Homeowner Insurance Policies on older homes (usually 25 years old or more).

Their common concern is that there may be conditions in an older home that could become a liability to them. For instance; a home with a roof nearing the end of its reliable service life may fail while under the policy and the homeowner may seek reimbursement from their insurance company for damages to the home or its contents. Similar concerns extend to the condition of the HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems in an older home. If these elements are in poor condition, in need of being updated or replaced or were improperly installed, they may fail and cause fire or water damage to a home.

Newer homes are assumed (by the insurance companies) to not have these problems as frequently as older homes.

A point of distinction:

A full home inspection is much, much more thorough than what people think. We see buyers and sometimes even agents (gasp!) make the mistake of only skipping to save money, this is a folly that will often cost them much more than they think they are saving. Don’t be penny-wise & pound-foolish when it comes to the biggest purchase you will probably ever make. Home inspections, in the scheme of things, aren’t very expensive and can help keep you from buying an unsafe home or leaving money on the table during negotiations. We promise that buying a money pit will cost you so much more, so do your research and get the very best inspection you can afford. This is in your best interest, as inspectors are people — not commodities — and are simply not all the same. Maybe we’re biased but trust us here. We’ve seen some awful so-called “inspections” out there.