Q. Who needs a home inspection?

A. Buyers and sellers.  If you're buying a home, pre-owned or new, an inspection tells you the condition of the property.  That way, there are no surprises after you close on the home. 

If you purchased a new home and it still has a warranty from the builder, it's a good idea to have a home inspection before it expires. It's a rare case that even a new home doesn't have some problems that were overlooked by the builder.  Those repairs or corrections easily exceed the cost of an inspection.  If you catch them prior to warranty expiration, your warranty should cover them.

Sellers benefit by knowing the condition of their home before they place it on the market. Then, any needed repairs can be made prior to listing.  A sellers inspection can also be used as a comparison to what the buyer's inspector finds.

Fixer-Upper owners and rental property investors can utilize a home inspection as a great tool for planning repairs or remodeling priorities.  The inspection information will enable you to prepare a logical work plan and help potential contractors understand the scope of your work as you interview them.

Q. How long does an inspection take?

A. Anywhere from two to four hours depending on the condition of the property, the number of services you've requested and the size of the home.  It takes time to perform a thorough inspection of the entire property and I pay attention to the details.

Q. Do I need to do anything before the inspection?

A. Utilities must be turned on. The #1 reason that inspections must be cancelled is that the utilities are not on.

Q. Why must I sign the inspection agreement?

A. Acceptance of the inspection agreement means you comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement and helps to ensure that you will be covered by our Error & Omissions insurance.

Q. What does Error and Omissions insurance mean to me?

A. It means that this insurance protects you in the unlikely event I do not report a major defect in your home.

Q. When do I pay for the inspection?

A. Payment is due at the completion of the Inspection.  If you cannot be present please make arrangements for payment prior to the
inspection.

Q. What type of report do I receive?

A. You'll also receive your full report as a pdf file via e-mail. The pdf file can be saved to your hard drive on your PC for future reference or it can be easily printed.  I provide digital photos of any areas that need extra clarification and I include them in the report.  Every item I inspect on the property is addressed in the report.  If you need a printed report on-site, I can also provide that for you.

Q. Should my Realtor receive a copy of your report?

A. Yes. Your realtor can assist you in determining if any items in the report are significant enough to warrant re-negotiation with the seller.  Having your realtor review the report also insures that you both are "on the same page" at the closing.  Note: I will not provide a copy of your report to anyone without your direction to do so.

Q. Should I be present for the home inspection?

A. Yes, I encourage you to plan to attend the entire inspection.  There are always items in the inspection that can best be explained on-site.  I will include them in the report of course, but your presence at the property always makes it easier for you to understand important information about the property.

Q.  Are you available to answer questions about the property or report after I close and move into the home?

A.  Yes, I will be happy to assist you any way I can in clarifying the information I present in the report.  Even after you've moved in and settled down to enjoy your new home.  I'm always available to you, for as long as you own the home, to offer unbiased advice and recommendations.

Q.  Can the inspector come back to inspect repairs that were made?

A.  Re-inspections are common and fees are generally minimal.

Q.  Does a newly constructed home need an Inspection?

A.  Absolutely. A professional inspection of a new home is important. I can spot potential problems early, while they are still easy to correct.  It’s especially valuable to arrange an inspection before the interior walls are finished.  I may find problem areas where the builder has taken shortcuts or not done quality work.

Q.  Why can’t I do the inspection myself?

A.  Chances are that even if you are very familiar with home construction, you still don’t have the knowledge, training and experience of a professional Home Inspector. I'm not only familiar with all the systems of a home-and how they work and need to be maintained-but I also know what to look for to determine if they're about to fail.  Also consider this-when you are involved in buying or selling a house, it’s impossible for you to remain completely unemotional about the house, and this may cloud your judgment. I will provide an objective, unbiased view of the property.

Q.  Will you fix the problems you find during the Inspection?

A.  No. The code of ethics of The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI) prohibits its members from soliciting repair work on properties they inspect. This assures that there will never be any conflict of interest on the part of the inspector. Our purpose is to provide an unbiased, objective report on the condition of the home.