Frequently Asked Questions About Home Inspections

(A) The purchase of a new home is one of the largest investments a family can make. Getting a new home inspection allows the buyer to receive an unbiased, professional opinion to help determine the current condition of the house. An inspection will help foresee any immediate conditions that need to be addressed and touch on areas that could become a problem in the future. This helps save money both immediately and in the future while also helping greatly with any settlement negotiations.

(A) 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.

(A) 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. 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.

(A) 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 listing available when you call.)

(A) 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.

(A) The home inspection is, by definition, a visual overview of the entire home and all of its integral systems. Keep in mind that a home inspection lasts only a few hours, and it’s not technically exhaustive

(A) 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.

(A) As soon as possible after you have a signed purchase contract. We’re often 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.

(A) Typically within 12 hours of the inspection, which is usually the same day as the inspection.

(A) 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 condition. Every situation is different — it’s up to you and your real estate agent to decide how to proceed after the inspection.

(A) No. Something can look and operate just fine today and still break tomorrow. We do our best to give you the most thorough inspection possible. If you want a home warranty they are available through other sources. Review the warranty carefully to determine what the warranty covers.

(A) Your understanding of the home is our highest priority. Feel free to ask questions for as long as you own your home.