What is a certified home inspector?
What is a pre-purchase inspection?
What is a pre-listing inspection?
What are commercial property inspections?
What is the new home inspection program?
Why should I have a home inspected while its under construction?
What is a selected system inspection?
What is a home maintenance consultation?
To what standards of practice do you conduct inspections?
What does an inspection cover?
How long will the inspection take?
Do you check for code compliance?
Should I be present during the inspection?
Why can't I have someone in my family who is very handy or a contractor, inspect my new home?
Can I rely on the inspection to act as a warranty or guarantee on a house?
What if I have questions after the inspection?
How do I choose a home inspector?
Q: What is a certified home inspector?
A: A certified home inspector has fulfilled the requirements set forth by the State of Virginia for education, experience and has passed the National Home Inspection Exam. Only inspectors who have met these standards and are recognized by the State Board can say they are a "certified home inspector" in Virginia. Besides technical competence, a certified home inspector adheres to the standards of practice and ethics set forth by the state.
Q: What is a pre-purchase inspection?
A: A pre-purchase inspection usually occurs after you have a contract, accepted for a house you wish to purchase. It supplies you with a description and evaluation of major systems, informing you of any problems the house may have which you may negotiate for correction with the seller prior to closing. You can include a clause in the contract that makes the sale contingent upon the results from a home inspection. Ask your real estate agent for details.
Q: What is a pre-listing inspection?
A: The pre-listing inspection provides you with information from an objective outside source when preparing your home for sale. Avoid the last minute anxiety when you find that there may be unknown or tolerated problems that may be a "deal killer". It gives you the opportunity to correct any problems, eliminating their possible use as bargaining items by potential buyers. The report gives you a greater degree of disclosure, generating more trust for you buyer and may limit your exposure to liability after the sale.
Q: What is a commercial property inspection?
A: Commercial property inspections include stores, industrustrial buildings and multi-family rental units.
Q: What is the new home inspection program?
A: This is a group of services which give you an independent, knowledgeable view as to the quality of the home you are having built. I do not represent you in your relationship with your builder, but provide you with information to knowledgeably communicate with him/her. I am not a code official, the local building department provides that assurance. I look to see that there are no "cut corners" in the rush to complete a job and that the contractors are following current building practices.
The following is an outline of what the program entails. You can choose to retain me for all or any part of the program.
- Plan review: I look through the plans and specifications for your project, familiarizing myself with them. I look for possible potential problems the design may present to the builder.
- Phase inspections: give you updates during the course of construction which you can use to have any problems dealt with as they occur. This is a valuable service if you are out of the area during construction.
- Pre-drywall or pre-insulation inspection: occurs after all the mechanical systems are roughed in and before the drywall or insulation is installed, hiding possible problems. Often the mechanical subcontractors cut framing members, creating problems whose effects manifest in the future. This is the time for the building contractor to correct any damaged framing.
- Pre-possession inspection: Before you accept ownership of your new house and all the mechanical systems are operating have the house inspected (similar to the pre-purchase inspection) to make sure it performs as it was intended. This will help you in developing your final punch list for the builder, and gives you a reference for the end of warranty inspection.
- End of warranty inspection: occurs before the builder’s warranty expires on your new home. It gives you an idea of how your house is performing and alerts you to items you may wish your builder to correct. It does not extend, replace or intend to be a warranty for your house.
Q: Why should I have a home inspected while its under construction?
A: There are many factors which can compromise the quality of a house during construction.
- Yours may not be the only house your contractor is working on.
- The local building officials only look for items within their parameters during their inspections and spend limited amounts of time during their visits.
- The experience of the project foreman and crew, the availability and the quality of subcontractors, the pressure the project is under for completion within your time frame are some of the factors which may impact on the long term performance of your dream home.
- A trustworty builder knows the value of having an independent pair of eyes looking over the building to make sure nothing ahd been missed.
- An independent inspector who is only responsible to you is a wise choice to make to assure your investment is being built to the highest level of quality possible.
Q: What is a problem area inspection?
A: A problem area inspection is a detailed look of any portion of your home where you suspect a problem. It enables you to confidently communicate with a contractor.
Q: What is a home maintenance consultation?
A: This is a great oppurtunity for a first time homeowner or if you have a system you are unfamiliar with to gain an education in caring for your house. We walk through your home together, developing the best strategy to maintain your investment. This is not a typical home inspection, defects and deficiencies are not investigated. You may chose have a full home inspection to obtain a more complete understanding of how your home performs and operates.
Q: To what standards of practice do you conduct inspections?
A: All inspections are performed in compliance with the Virginia State Board of Home Inspectors and the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors - NACHI standards of practice.
Q: What does an inspection cover?
A: A thorough inspection looks at everything from roof to the foundation. The inspection includes a comprehensive visual inspection of readily accessible systems and components and provides a descriptive listing of significant components such as, the structure, exterior, roofing system, plumbing, heating and cooling systems and a description of any deficiencies found. You can realistically expect to gain a general sense of the material condition of the house and knowledge of any significant safety conditions or potential hidden expenses.
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Items included in the Inspection are as follows:
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Areas that were not readily accessible or visible are not included in the report. Conditions that can only be discovered by invasive methods, removal of materials or dismantling of systems are not included. I will not move debris, furniture, equipment, carpeting or other items, which may impede access or limit visibility, or enter any area which is less than 24 inches high and wide or what I deem unsafe. I will not operate systems or equipment in any way beyond that of the homeowner engaged in routine operation or maintenance.
Q: How long will the inspection take?
A: The actual inspection times vary depending on the size, age & condition of the home, but the average is about 3 to 3 1/2 hours.
Q: Do you check for code compliance?
A: No. I am not a certified code official. Codes and their interpretation by building departments may change from year to year. When a home was built or renovations were done it had been examined for code compliance by the building department. I have a familiarity with current codes and offer safety suggestions based on those.
Q: Should I be present during the inspection?
A: You are welcome to be present from start to finish or you can arrive toward the end of the inspection for a summation and time to ask any questions you have about the house. Attend the inspection if at all possible. It is best to see for yourself the extent of any problems I find.
Q: Why can't I have someone in my family who is very handy or a contractor, inspect my new home?
A: This is a dangerous choice many potential new homeowners make when purchasing a home. Although the persons you are considering may be very skilled in one area, they are not trained or experienced at professional home inspections which covers all the systems of the home. Professional home inspectors are trained to recognize defects which may not be readily apparent. It is a unique skill like no other. Many contractors, and other trades professionals hire a professional home inspector to inspect a home they are considering to purchase.
Q: Can I rely on the inspection to act as a warranty or guarantee?
A: No, do not consider an inspection to be a warranty or guarantee of any kind that any or all systems and material conditions of the house will be problem-free. Deficiencies and defects, which are latent or concealed, are excluded from an inspection.
Q: What if I have questions after the inspection?
A: You can call and we'll discuss all the aspects of your new home whenever you like. My service is a long-term investment.
Q: How do I choose a home inspector?
A: Call and ask about their state certification status, training, insurance coverage, background and fees. The most important criteria is your comfort level with your inspector, not that someone else may charge a few dollars less.
