Q: What will the
Home inspection cover?
A: A thorough Home Inspection
covers everything from roof to the foundation. Your inspector is very
thorough! Our home inspection check list covers:
Items that are
included in the Inspection are as follows: |
- Attic
- Insulation
- Ventilation
- Roof & Flashings
- Gutters
- Basement
- Crawlspace
- Foundation
- Grading
- Retaining Walls
- Siding & Trim
- Driveways & Walks
|
- Ceilings
- Floors
- Walls
- Doors & Windows
- Chimney
- Fireplace
- Major Appliances
- Electrical System
- Water Heater
- Plumbing System
- Air Conditioning
- Heating
|
Q: How long will the
Home Inspection take?
A: Most Inspections take
about two to four hours in addition to report preparation time. These
times may vary depending on the size, age & condition of the home.
Q: Should I be
present during the Home Inspection?
A: We recommend that you be
present, in most cases near the end of the Inspection, however you are
welcome to be present from start to finish.
Q: Why use our
Services?
A:
The purchase of a new home is one of the single most costly
investments that a family will make. Along with the extra stresses
this will add, there is also the fear factor of, "Will This Home Stand
The Test of Time?" It is also important to know what YOU, as the
primary investor, are getting for your money.
A home inspection is an excellent tool
for you, the home buyer, to help determine not only the condition of
the home, but to also help foresee any immediate unnecessary
additional cost that may go unnoticed without the help of a home
inspection. Home inspections are not a prediction of future
performance, but can pinpoint existing problem areas.
Q: Do I need an
Engineer or a Home Inspector?
A: You need a home inspector.
When you hire a home inspector, you are hiring an experienced
professional who has training and experience in the building industry.
It is the job of the home inspector to not only evaluate the condition
of the house's major systems and structural integrity, but also to
evaluate how these systems are working together and identify areas
that need to be watched, repaired or replaced.
Your home inspector gives you the “Big Picture” analysis of the house
you are purchasing. If the home inspector identifies the need for a
costly, detailed analysis of any of the houses' systems or structures,
the inspector will recommend the appropriate professional, which may
be an experienced engineer with expertise analyzing that particular
system or structure. The need for this kind of expensive, detailed
analysis is rare.
Hiring a Professional Engineer on your own can be a disappointing
experience. The term “Professional Engineer” does not mean that the
individual has training or experience conducting home inspections.
Additionally, a home inspection does not involve engineering analysis.
Therefore, hiring a “Professional Engineer” to complete a home
inspection undoubtedly costs more, but it may not give you the results
you desire and deserve.
Q: Why can't I have
someone in my family who is very handy or a contractor, inspect my new
home?
A: This is the biggest
mistake many potential new homeowners make when purchasing a home.
Although the person you are considering may be very skilled, they are
not trained or experienced at professional home inspections.
Professional home inspection is a unique skill like no other.
Professional inspectors get what we call an inspector's instinct for
problems. That instinct takes extensive training and lots of
experience doing inspections to develop. Many contractors, and other
trades professionals hire a professional home inspector to inspect
their homes when they make a purchase.
Q: Do I need a house
inspection when my bank is having the house appraised?
A:
Yes! A house appraisal is an
independent evaluation of the current market value of a house or
property. In general, the purpose of an appraisal is to set the
current value of a house so that a lender may determine how much it
can loan to the buyer. The appraiser looks at similar properties in
the area and the prices at which they were sold to set the value of
the house.
A house inspector conducts a thorough evaluation
of the house’s major systems and structural integrity. Whereas the
appraiser is typically working for the bank, the house inspector is
working for you. The house inspector identifies items that need
replacement or repair prior to closing, which can save you thousands
of dollars.
U.S. Department Of Housing And Urban
Development (HUD) requires buyers sign a “Consumer Notice” advising
them to get a house inspection in addition to a house appraisal before
purchasing a house with a FHA mortgage. Additionally, HUD now
allows homebuyers to include the costs of appraisal and inspection in
their FHA mortgage.
Q: Do you inspect
septic systems also?
A:
If you are buying a home with a septic tank, you
should consider having it inspected by a professional septic
contractor. Most home inspectors do not include this type of
specialized, “intrusive” inspection. To properly inspect the system,
the contractor will need to dig holes to access the underground parts
of the system. This will include inspecting the tank, as well as the
leach field.
It makes good sense to have the tank pumped at
the time of this inspection. A professional septic contractor can
perform both the inspection and pump the tank, killing two birds with
one stone and assuring that you begin with an empty tank and a system
that has been inspected. Often, you can negotiate with the seller to
have them pay for the pumping.
Q: What if the
Inspection uncovers problems?
A: Our report will tell you
the condition of the house, including needed repairs. No house is
going to be perfect. It is up to you to decide how any problems the
inspection uncovers might affect your decision to purchase. If major
problems are discovered, you may want to try negotiating with the
seller to have them repaired before closing the deal. Or perhaps the
seller will lower the price, or offer more favorable contract terms.
In the end, the decision rests with you, but knowing about potential
problems, before you buy, gives you the power to negotiate and make
the best decisions.
Q: Will you fix the
problems you find during the Inspection
A: No. The code of
ethics of the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) prohibits its members
from doing repair work on properties they inspect. This assures that
there will never be any conflict of interest by the inspector. Our
purpose is to provide an unbiased, objective third party report on the
condition of the home.
However, if you had another inspector do the
inspection on your property we would be happy to give you an estimate
and handle any repairs that inspector found.
Q: What if I have
questions after the home inspection?
A: You can call us and
discuss all the aspects of your new home whenever you like. Our
service is a long-term investment.
Q: We just signed
a contract on a home and our Realtor says we need an inspection
"right now". Can you help?
A: We understand the
short turnaround time required sometimes and will do our best to
accommodate your situation. We even have Saturday hours
available to help meet your contract deadlines.
Q: Does the
inspection warrant or guarantee the home?
A: No, the home inspection
does not provide a warranty or guarantee. There are home warranty
companies regulated by the Texas Real Estate Commission which sell
such policies. Although somewhat limited, they usually prove to be a
worthwhile expense. Please consult with your real estate agent for
more information. |