FAQ

1. Why should I have a house inspected before purchasing it?                   

                        There are many possible defects that are not readily visible to someone who is not trained in defect recognition. Some defects could end up costing you a lot of money and may even cause you to change your mind about making the purchase.  Knowing the condition of the house can give you a basis for honest price negotiation.  It will also give you peace of mind if you do make the purchase.  Knowing that you have a safe, dry, warm and GREEN home are important factors to 21st living values.
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2.  Am I allowed to be present at the time of the inspection?

                        I encourage you to be there.  It is a great opportunity to ask questions and to learn about the condition of the house first hand.  The inspection will be more meaningful to you if you take the opportunity to ask questions during the inspection.  This is an educational process so knowing who is moving in, what plans you have for the home, and what your specific questions are impacts what is  found in the report.
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3.  What happens if I am unable to attend?

                        You will receive information about the inspection in a detailed report so you don't have to worry about not being there.  It is to your benefit to attend.  You limit what will be found in the report as the report is client focused as you makes use of the home.  I do provide my clients with the right to refund if they do not like the way a report was done if they are there in person.  But by not being there you cannot see how I check an attic, crawl space, roof, or how I educate for CO safety in a home, or ask pertinant questions about what you see and do not see. So these limitations are not in your best interest.
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4.  Can an inspection be performed in the evening?

                        In the summer time this is not a problem.  During the winter months the inspection should start early enough to give ample opportunity to do the inspection of the exterior of the house while there is daylight.
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5.  Are you affiliated with any mortgage or real estate company?

                        No.  There will not be any pressure on me to work toward a "positive inspection result."  I will report as I see it.
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6.  Will you be willing to repair any defects?

                        No.  Making myself available for this would be a conflict of interest.  It is to your benefit to hire a home inspector who is not biased by the prospect of getting repair work as a result of the inspection. If you want to know where to find contractors or service people I can provide some direction and that will always be put within a three contractor or service person quotes parameter so you are the ultimate decider.
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7.  Are you willing to do a partial inspection?

                        Certainly.  If for some reason you do not have any concerns about some aspects of the property but would like a professional opinion on the rest of the house, I am willing to do that. 
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8.  Do I get the report on the day of the inspection?

                           I can not guarantee that.  I have to go to the office to prepare your report.  If the inspection is in the morning I may be able to complete the report that day, otherwise it will be the next business day.  If you were present for the inspection, you will have a good idea what will be in the report.  I will call if I have unforseen computer failure or a personal catastrophe before 24 hours to arrange a quick delivery, 
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9.  Will I get a discount if I hire you to do a home inspection but I "opt out" of getting a written report?
                          
                      I have three levels of report delivery.  The inspection itself is the same.
1) This is a computer generated report with check marks, narrative, some illustrative pictures, and pertinent articles as they apply.  This can take 60 -180 minutes extra to prepare and is sent via the internet to a client email address. 
2) You can get a paper report with one of three NCR pages per report page. This is completed on site after I review my pictoral history of the home. It takes me around 20 minutes to do this.  There are no pictures appended or articles for more education.  This does cost a little less than option 1)
3) The third option is a verbal consultation at the end of the inspection per se.  Here there still is a 10 -15 minute review of the pictoral history of the home. A verbal summary follows.  And this is the least expensive option.
The best educational bang for your dollar is still option 1) 
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10.  Should I get my home inspected if I am the seller and not the buyer?

                        Pre-listing inspections are not as common (yet) but they do offer some advantages;

            -You have the opportunity to make repairs before a potential buyer views the house.

            -having a sign at the road that indicates this home has been inspected, may encourage more potential buyers.

            -A pre-listing inspection may eliminate one of the possible conditions on an offer; this could mean a higher offer and a quicker sale.
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11.  What happens if the potential buyer wants an inspection in addition to the pre-listing inspection?

                        For about 50% of the cost of the original inspection, I will go through the home with the buyer to explain the report and any repairs that may have been made since the inspection.  If he wants a complete re-inspection, he will be paying the full amount of course.
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12.  What happens if the home fails the inspection?

                        The inspector performs the inspection but you decide if the home "fails" the inspection. I only present the home to you as I see it for you the buyer. The deision making process you make on your own.  A number of small repairs may be something one person is not willing to do because he looking for a trouble free home, but another maybe looking for a fixer-upper and is counting on doing numerous repairs.
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13.  You offer air leakage tests?  Is there a cost involved?  Is it necessary?

                                This is an optional service that is free of charges. It is done at the end of an inspection. This helps you see and feel where portential energy robbing drafts can occur in the home.  Air sealing these will give you a more comfortable home that is a little lesscostly to heat.  It takes about 10 -15 minutes.
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14. You include CO gas monitoring, Why? 
                         
The priorities of my inspection starts with home safety. We will review the possible sources of CO in a home.  What can be prevented and source maintenance will be reviewed.  The actual monitoring is done in connection with the operation of the furnace or utility room only for illustration. There is always a small talk given on how to make you home safer in this regard and that is incluided in the home inspection fees you agree to.  To me a safe home includes what can be done to prevent "the silent killer" from striking your home.  

A more formal  home CO safety plan can be added for a later review that will include turning on of all flame sources in a home, typical garage source reviews, house as a system  illustration, and your very own home safety plan that includes posted safety exiting, and alarm monitoring.  There is a small fee for this service.  You will find that this website is filled wth articles on this for your further interest.