FAQs

• Ensure the utilities are operational.
• Have the appliances ready with any gas appliance’s pilot lights turned on.
• Clear access to areas such as attics, crawlspaces, electric panels and the HVAC units.
• Unlock areas such as storage closets, fences & gates and crawlspace hatches.
• Remove or secure pets so they are not free to roam about the home and property.

All Home Inspection firms will have an inspection agreement for your review and execution. This agreement will list the company’s capabilities, responsibilities and limitations. Please do not assume what the inspector is able to do for you based on what would prefer him to do. There are reasonable limitations. Generally, their function is to observe and evaluate the major systems of the home and report the conditions they observe. When problems are found the inspector will either offer verbal recommendations to repair the item or recommend further evaluation by a licensed qualified professional specialist in that particular area of expertise.

An inspector cannot predict the condition of a system five years from now, five weeks from now, five days from now, nor even what condition it will be in the following day.

A home inspection is not an valuation appraisal, a building code compliance check and it is not an evaluation for any biological/environmental hazards. We are unable to inspect areas obscured by objects and are not able to see through walls. Before your home inspection, you will be provided with an inspection agreement which specifically states our limitations. However, you can be assured that everything that can be inspected will be thoroughly inspected. For more information on limitations, please visit www.nachi.org /sop.htm.

There are also limitations to the scope of an evaluation a home inspector can perform. There are components to systems that are not visible without dismantling the system and are therefore unable to be inspected. The inspector can evaluate only what is openly visible. Although cosmetics and minor deficiencies may be discussed and even be reported, this is not the purpose of the inspection and should not be the focus of concern throughout the inspection.

While it is not necessary for you to be present at the time of the inspection, it is recommended that you make the time to join the inspector for their visit. This will allow you to observe the inspector and to ask questions about the condition of the home, how its systems operate and how to maintain them. After you have reviewed the property with the inspector, you will find the written report even easier to understand.

Yes, we perform spa and pool inspections. This entails checking for the operation of pool heaters, pumps, chlorinators, lights, railings and for any visible external leaks along with the overall general condition of the pool decking and its surface. We do not perform in-pool leak tests but can refer licensed, professional qualified specialists to perform this function.

Reports are typically delivered within 24  hours of the inspection’s completion. If the report will require an extended interval beyond 24 hours, we will keep you updated of its progress. If you have a specific time frame within which you need to have the work completed, please inform us of your deadline and we will do our very best to accommodate your schedule.

When the inspector identifies problems with the home, it does not mean you should not buy the house. These findings serve as a manner to educate you in advance of the purchase regarding the condition of the property. A seller may adjust the purchase price or contract terms to compensate you if major problems are discovered during an inspection. If your budget is limited, or you do not want to be involved in future repair work, this information will be very valuable.

Your understanding of the home is our number one priority. We will offer customer assistance to you, as long as you own the home, free of charge. The only time a charge may occur is when our inspectors are called to revisit the property.

We do not provide this type of service but we do recommend you get a termite/WDO inspection. These generally range from approximately $50.00 to $150.00 depending on the size of the home.

Your insurance company may require a Wind Mitigation report and/or a 4-Point inspection in order to obtain insurance. In some cases these reports are required for an accurate quote.

Wind mitigation inspections evaluate the home for existing wind mitigation components such as roof shape, the attachment to the roof deck and roof to wall attachment. Windows and doors must be inspected to determine whether or not they are properly rated for wind loads. This type of inspection was instituted to afford you the potential to reduce your wind insurance premiums.

A 4-Point home inspection is very basic and limited and is usually required by insurance companies on homes greater than 30 years-old. The age and condition of the roof, electrical system, HVAC system and plumbing system are assessed, but this is NOT a complete home inspection.