Q And A Home Inspections

[Janne Desir]

In2006, our eldest son, Brandon, joined forces with us to help create "TEAM SHERLOCK!" In 2008 Jennifer joined our team to perform scheduling and help with marketing. Our daughter Heather also joined our team to help Laurie with some of the bookkeeping. We feel very privileged to be able to see our family business grow to where it has.

From 1986 to January of 2005, we also owned and operated our own construction company. This background gives us the knowledge and expertise to not only inspect your home, but to also give you solutions and ideas to remedy issues that may have became apparent during the course of your inspection. These ideas will make your new home more comfortable and valuable.

One, most people have an idea of what they think a house is worth and what they're willing to pay. We suggest you go ahead and make this offer, contingent on a home inspection. This gives you a better chance of making sure all utilities are on and working to assure a full inspection is possible. Many sellers (banks included) are not always willing to do this without an accepted offer. Second, the seller may not have been willing to accept your original offer anyway, thus saving you the cost of an inspection!

SATURDAY INSPECTIONS. Although we understand some can only attend an inspection on weekends, we find by the end of the week, we also are in need of some "time off". What we suggest is having the inspection performed during the normal work week, receiving the completed report for review, and then decide if it is necessary to have a "walk through" in person with the inspector to explain unanswered questions. We find the majority of clients find a walk through unnecessary after going through the report and answering questions via phone/email. If you should find it neccessary, we offer Saturday walk throughs for an additional $100.00 (you are welcome to schedule a Saturday inspection up front for an additional $100.00).

Home inspections are a critical part of the home buying and selling process. Failure to obtain a home inspection could potentially cost you a great deal of money and hassles in the long run. Uncover valuable tips on the importance of a home inspection, what to expect from a home inspection, legal issues and case summaries regarding home inspection due diligence, and helpful links to a variety of professional home inspection organizations.

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A home inspection is a safety and quality assessment on a property that is going to be sold. The inspector examines the structural aspects of the home, heating and cooling systems, plumbing, electrical work, water and sewage to ensure they are all functioning properly. The overall condition of the property is also assessed for fire and safety issues, damages and anything else that can affect its value.1

Home inspections are a very important part of the home buying process. But what to do home inspectors look for? In short, just about everything that needs to work for a home to be livable. Here are some of the essentials:

An experienced real estate agent will have worked with multiple home inspectors in the area and can usually recommend one they trust. When you find an inspector, make sure they have the proper certification.5

Home inspectors do not usually have to check specifically for termite damage, mold, asbestos, or water contamination. If you are concerned about these issues, ask your inspector for a heads-up if they suspect any of these problems.

Legally, you don't have to get anything fixed after a home inspection. However, you may be unable to obtain financing if the house has electrical issues, water damage, structural issues, damaged roofing, problems with HVAC, poor plumbing, or infestations of pests like rats, mice, or insects.

After a home inspection, you can ask your broker to negotiate any necessary repairs with the sellers or ask the sellers to lower the price so you can fix the problems yourself. Getting quotes from local contractors will help you write out a counter offer based on estimates, but a buyer should be aware that a seller is not obligated to fix anything.

During the inspection, ask the inspector what they will inspect and what isn't covered in the inspection. Ask them about anything you are worried about, like a sagging roof, poor electrical, or rusty-looking or slow-flowing water out of the taps. Don't be afraid of asking questions during the inspection such as, "Is this a big problem or a little problem?" and if they can explain any functions of the home you might not be familiar with, like a fireplace or an oil burner.

Many home inspection contingencies are based on a seven-day timetable. This means that after you sign the purchase agreement and the inspection occurs, you have seven days to send a formal notice that you are backing out. But be sure to check your contract, too.

Make sure there is easy access to the property, from clearing the entrance to your basement to getting rid of any clutter. Take a good look at your roof; are there shingles falling off? If so, it might be time to fix them. Make sure all taps and toilets work. Then check that all the light bulbs are working in both exterior and interior lights.

Fuse boxes should be easily identifiable, leaks and water damage should be repaired, and if you have a pest or bug infestation, bring a professional in to take care of it before the inspection occurs.

A home appraisal is a different action than a home inspection, but it is also often a required contingency. A mortgage lender sets up an appraisal, and the appraiser will use various valuation methods, including comparable home prices, size, and quality of the home, to assess its fair market value.

We do Inspections that matter for people who care. As an InterNACHI Certified home inspection company, we provide our customers with a thorough inspection, a detailed home inspection report, and a quality of service that is unmatched.

We believe a house is not just a building you live in, it is where you live, where you grow your family, relax, work on hobbies, or start a business. For these reasons, houses are our passion and why we love being home inspectors.

We use the the contact information that you put into our forms for the sole purpose of contacting you to discuss your inspection needs, and eventually to deliver your home inspection report. We respect your privacy, both as a company, and on a personal level as your home inspector. As such, we DO NOT distribute, sell, or otherwise abuse your personal or contact information. Your privacy is important to you, and your privacy is important to us as well.

Pristine Inspections & Testing consistently exceeds all industry standards with continuing education and training in all relevant home inspection areas. With a reputation for thoroughness and reliability, your home inspector is qualified to assist you with all of your inspection, radon testing or mold testing needs. We bring to you integrity, professionalism and the training required to provide you with a detailed, comprehensive report, to assist you in making a more informed, unbiased decision. We provide our home inspection services in Champaign and surrounding areas!

Pristine Inspections & Testing is committed to serving you, the client. We strive to maintain the highest level of education and training possible through our membership with the professional and accredited association of ASHI(American Society of Home Inspectors).

Pristine Inspections & Testing will go over the highlights of the inspection on site as well as the PDF copy of the final report emailed to you the next day. Your understanding of the home inspection report is critical to our goal of providing the best customer service available. We encourage you to accompany the home inspector through the inspection process to receive a complete consultation and valuable orientation of the property and its systems.

Big Moose is a leading provider of property inspections in Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and northeast Minnesota. We are a privately owned company with an exceptional team of qualified inspectors. Our office/scheduling staff is professional, courteous, and always ready to take your call and schedule your inspection.

Big Moose is a full-service company inspecting homes, cottages, condominiums, commercial buildings, and resort properties. We take pride in offering the best services in the industry. Our inspections are value-packed giving our clients the best inspection their money can buy. In addition to our core home inspection, we offer septic and well inspections, and environmental services to help homeowners live greener and healthier lives.

Our Syracuse home inspectors bring experience, professional licensing & certification, and attention to detail to every inspection. Let us give you the unbiased information you need to make an educated home buying decision.

Keith was amazing. He and his colleagues communicating everything about my home inspection up front including cost. He was the quickest to respond to my inquiry and also the most economical. He was professional and courteous during the inspection. He walked us through every area he had concerns about so there were absolutely no surprises when we got his final report.

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