A Home Inspector is trained, knowledgeable and experienced on how a home is constructed, the condition of its present environment, and performs test on its appliances and supporting equipment.
The Home Inspector is not Superman (with x-ray vision), or a soothsayer looking into a crystal ball, but a modern day home detective who evaluates the clues and conditions made much more obvious to him from his training, knowledge, and the day-to-day inspections conducted on a variety of homes, town homes, condos’, and mobile homes.
The Home Inspector will note many subtle signs within a home that may suggest potential problems or hazards, and just as importantly note the many good aspects of construction and mechanical systems in operation, to help establish that there is value to the prospective new home. Water stains, curled roof shingles, termite and wood fungus, peeling paint, testing cracked bath / shower tiles with a moisture meter, testing electrical components with a circuit tester, and other clues missed or not performed by a homebuyer can add thousands of dollars to the cost of the home. Only Home Inspectors have the necessary testing tools and are trained to focus on these types of details.
Is the home inspection a guarantee or warranty?
No. While the Inspector is not performing the service to provide a guarantee or warranty, his intent is to establish the visible conditions of the home at the time of the inspection. The careful step by step procedure, often taking two and a half hours or more at the site, is the best protection a buyer can have. In addition, the Inspector should be able to discuss with the client maintenance needs, be willing to explain how the home systems operate, show where the safety equipment and emergency shut-offs are located, and how to use them.
To what standards or guidelines are inspections performed?
BEST HOME Inspection performs inspections to the Standards of Practice as defined by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). These Standards of Practice are intended to provide you with information regarding the condition of the systems and components of the home as inspected at the time of the home inspection. The Standards of Practice of ASHI are the internationally accepted Standard for the Home Inspection Industry.
What is the expectations of a home inspection?
A buyer will leave a BEST HOME inspection with a good understanding of the condition of the home, know a bit about the functioning of the various home mechanical systems, and after all the on-site discussions are completed, feel more secure that this house is the house they want, or not want to purchase. No house fails an inspection, but the conditions found often dictate the next round of negotiations and / or decision to continue the process. The buyers should also have a feel for the life expectancy of the important systems within the home and some idea about projected costs. The completed computer narrative generated report, with color photographs will follow and should reaffirm the conditions established at the site. The report often becomes an instrument in the final contract, if unforeseen items are found.
What does an inspection report consist of?
At the time of your visible inspection the BEST HOME Inspector will make field notes and written comments, and take numerous digital photographs which will be imported into your completed computer report. At the completion of the inspection, if you are in attendance, you’ll receive a short overall verbal brief of the inspection findings. Within 2 working days of the inspection, you or your realtor will receive the completed computer generated inspection report, which will include a Summary Report highlighting all observed discrepancies, a Detailed Report covering all major systems with digital photographs of most discrepancies, a Checklist of items to do, 50 pages of Maintenance Tips, and a Life Expectancy / Cost Estimating Guide.
The Inspector found faults in my prospective home, what do I do?
If the inspector finds fault in your dream home it does not necessarily mean you should not buy it, only that you will know in advance what type of repairs to anticipate. A seller may be willing to renegotiate the purchase price, or have the repairs made because if significant problems are discovered by the inspection.
The Inspector found very little wrong; did I really need an inspection?
If the inspection report is good, did you really need the inspection? Most definitely! Now you can complete your home purchase with peace of mind about the condition of the property and all its equipment and systems. You may have learned a few things about your new home from the inspector’s report, and will want to keep that information for future reference. Above all, you can feel assured that you are making a well-informed purchase decision and that you will be able to enjoy your new home the way you want to.
Help!!!!
Buying a house is stressful – ranking just behind incarceration, divorce, and death in the family. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and stay calm; but foremost, ensure you have a home inspection, for the benefits far out-weight the cost of this service.
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