Frequently Asked Questions

Most inspections take an average of 2-4 hours depending on the home size or things being inspected, not including the time needed to prepare a report. The time can vary based on the size and condition of the property. Attics and crawl spaces must be accessible or we won’t be able to access these areas.

Absolutely! The bank’s appraisal is an independent evaluation of the current market value of the property. The appraiser works for the bank while we work for you, helping you save time and money with a realistic unbiased inspection of your property’s current condition.

Absolutely! Most builders try to provide a high quality house, but they have to balance that with staying competitive. For builders, it often comes down to ‘survival of the cheapest’. Much work is done by sub-contractors. A construction boom in recent years has caused a shortage of skilled labor. Coordinating schedules between different trades is a juggling act. New products are constantly being introduced into the market adding even more confusion.

Municipal inspectors try to do a good job but they’re vastly overworked, often looking at dozens of houses each day. A thorough home inspection takes hours, not minutes. Municipal inspectors simply don’t have the manpower to find all the construction defects.

The price of the inspection is determined by the size and age of the house and any other buildings. The price of any other additional testing that you want to be performed at the time of the inspection will be added to the price of the inspection. Call us for a quote. (If you’re a home buyer, it will be helpful to have a copy of the listings available when you call.)

All home inspectors are not equal. You only have one chance to get a good home inspection. You don’t want cheap — you want the best home inspection possible! Saving a few bucks by using a bargain-priced home inspector could cost you thousands of dollars in repair costs in the long run.

The home inspection is, by definition, a visual overview of the entire home and all of its integral systems. This includes all of the following:

• Exterior
• Roof
• Structure
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Ventilation
• Insulation
• Heating and Cooling
• Interior
• Fixed Appliances
• Attic
• Crawl Space (if present)
• Fireplace

We invite you to be present during the inspection, though it’s not necessary. Your presence gives you the opportunity to see what our inspector is noting and the chance to ask any questions you may have. We know this is not possible for many people due to time constraints, so rest assured that we will provide you with a very detailed report whether you’re present or not.

As soon as possible after you have a signed purchase contract. We can be scheduled a week or more in advance, so make sure that your purchase contract has plenty of time for you to get repair estimates for major problems that may show up during the inspection.

For newly constructed homes, schedule the inspection a few days before your walk-through with the builder so that you’ll have our written report in your hands during the walk-through. You should schedule warranty inspections at least a month before your warranty expires.

Preparing for the inspection is easy. Be ready to follow us around the home and you don’t need to take notes everything will be in the report.

Inspection reports are sent by email by the end of the day. All of our inspection reports are computerized with digital photos. All inspection reports will be e-mailed. We want you to have a full understanding of the home when you review the inspection report.

We may find things that weren’t expected. That’s what you want, right? No house is perfect, not even new construction. The report is not a seller’s “Must-Fix” list; it’s just an impartial reporting of the condition. Every situation is different — it’s up to you and your real estate agent to decide how to proceed after the inspection.

Yes, we can’t see through walls or predict the future! If we could do either of those, we’d be in another line of work earning a lot more money. Keep in mind that a home inspection lasts only a few hours, and it’s not technically exhaustive. A home inspection is not an appraisal or a check for compliance with building codes and it’s not an evaluation for any biological or environmental hazards.

Here are some ways we keep you covered:

• 200 % Satisfaction Guarantee !
  If, at the end of your home inspection, you don’t think we have done a thorough inspection, we will either fix it or pay someone else to do the inspection for you!
• Buyer Protection Guarantee!
  If you don’t end up buying the house, we will give you $50 off your next inspection, $25 for condos. (valid for 3 months on all Elite Inspection Package)
• 100 Day Limited Warranty !
  We stand behind our home inspections and want you have peace of mind. This covers the roof inspection,
  plumbing inspection, air conditioning inspection, built-in appliance inspection,
  electrical inspection and structural inspection. Ask for details.
• FREE Appliance Recall Safety Check !
  One in ten homes have an unsafe appliance! If there are safety recalls on any appliances we will let you know so that the manufacturer can fix it. Make sure your home is safe and get someone else to pay for it!

Your understanding of the home is my highest priority. You can ask questions for as long as you own your home.