Home Inspection Preview
Thank you again for selecting Call2Inspect for your home inspection.
Here’s more information about the inspection process and what you can expect.
Purpose and Scope of a Home Inspection
- The inspection is a visual examination of the safely and readily accessible portions of the structural, heating, cooling, plumbing, roofing, electrical and permanently attached kitchen appliance systems and components of the Subject Property for conditions which are adversely affecting their normally intended function or operation.
- Your inspector will follow the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) Standards of Practice, a copy of which can be viewed by clicking here: ASHI Standards
- We’re typically allowed about 3 hours for an inspection. Given this time limitation, your inspector will concentrate on the major systems and items that would cost $1,000 or more to correct. Cosmetics are not part of the inspection.
Your Attendance at the Inspection
- Plan to arrive about 2 hours after the scheduled inspection time for a house or townhouse, or 1 hour after for a condo. This will allow the inspector to get a good head start and be in a better position to answer questions once you arrive.
- Or if you plan to attend the inspection from the start, please keep in mind the inspector has a set routine and he’ll be working diligently to give you as much information as possible during a short amount of time. Please try not to distract him away from the item he is working on. But don’t worry. In addition to documenting all findings in your report, your inspector will also do a verbal summary with you and your realtor at the end of the inspection.
- Please do not bring kids, extra family members, friends, pets, contractors, painters, decorators, or others with you. They will distract the inspector and increase the potential for miscommunication between the inspector and you.
- Expect to find some components that need attention. Don’t be discouraged. We’ve never inspected a home that was perfect. Remember, the purpose of the inspection is to look for potentially costly problems with the major systems in the home.
Tips for Inspection Success
- Please also do your own careful walk-through of the home, looking through the lens of what is important to you. If you notice anything during your inspection, or have existing knowledge about the property, please tell your inspector. Do not assume he is aware of the issue.
- Often items are hidden from view, either coincidentally or intentionally. Floor and wall coverings, decorations, and personal possessions can conceal adverse conditions. As needed, ask the seller to move or remove items, then re-inspect. Ask your realtor about a pre-closing walkthrough.
- Your inspector will not have any contact with the seller or occupant of the home. Please ask the seller about previous problems, repairs, or modifications. Read any disclosures provided. It is always a good idea to ask the seller the history of any moisture in the basement or crawlspace and any roof leaks.
- Your inspection report will be emailed to you within 24 hours after the inspection. Please open it and read all of the pages.
- If you’d like the seller to fix something, please consult with your realtor.
Rescheduling, Weather, etc.
- Reschedule – We understand that unexpected things can arise, but we kindly request that you do your best to keep your original scheduled inspection appointment. Coordinating inspections involves multiple parties, including yourself, your realtor, the seller, the seller’s realtor, our home inspector, and our radon and sewer scope technicians. Rescheduling requires coordination with everyone involved, which can be challenging. If you do think you might need to cancel or reschedule, please contact us as soon as possible. There is a $100 fee for cancellations or rescheduling within one business day of the appointment.
- Property Readiness – Please have your realtor confirm the property will be open and that utilities (water, electric, gas) are on so we can check plumbing fixtures, appliances, heating and electrical systems, and the like. There is a $250 fee for your inspector to return to the property if utilities are not on or if the home, or parts of the home, are not accessible for inspection.
- Radon – The radon test fee includes one trip to the home by our radon technician. If the inspection or radon test is rescheduled or cancelled after the technician has placed the test equipment, there will be a trip fee. If the radon technician cannot access the home on the first trip, there will be a return trip fee (key not in lockbox, wrong lockbox code, loose dog, seller not home at the agreed-to time to open the door, etc.).
- Sewer Scope – Our standard sewer inspection fee covers examining the main pipe from your home to the city sewer or septic system, accessed through a single point. To ensure a smooth inspection and avoid extra charges, please ask the seller to locate the sewer pipe access point, often called the “cleanout.” This could be inside or outside. Kindly ask the seller to clear any items blocking access to this point before our inspection. Items that will need to be cleared, for example: furniture, storage items, laundry appliances, landscape mulch, pavers, etc.
- Snow – Our policy is to not reschedule home inspections in the event of snow. Given your purchase contract deadlines, it is best to do the inspection as scheduled because it is not known when snow will clear or when it might snow again. In all but the most extreme cases, your inspector can make it to the house at the appointed time. Some items may not be able to be inspected like roofs, driveways, and decks. After the snow has cleared the roof, you may wish to contact a trusted roofer for an inspection and roof certification. You may be able to negotiate with the seller to have them provide the roof certification; please consult with your realtor.
- Verification of repairs made – For a fee, your inspector is available to return to the property to verify that agreed-upon repairs have been made by the seller.
VIP Client Benefits
Every client is a Very Important Person (VIP) at Call2Inspect. Here are some VIP benefits you can take advantage of:
- One-on-one Service – Remember “the good old days” when you visited your doctor and he or she spent quality time with you, made eye contact, listened to your every word, and made you feel as if you were his or her only patient that day? That type of back-to-basics service is what we strive to deliver at Call2Inspect. Our inspectors have a wealth of knowledge about homes and are committed to giving you the best service possible. So during your inspection, please take advantage of your one-on-one time with your inspector and feel free to ask questions about the home or the inspection findings.
- Tech Support Page – After the inspection you may have a question about the inspector’s findings, a building code, or maybe you need a cost estimate. As a VIP client you have free access to our Tech Support page. You’ll find answers to commonly asked technical questions and other great information for homeowners. Click here
- BuildFAX Report – BuildFax Property History Reports provide prospective homeowners insight into permitted home improvements and renovations not found in property tax records. Building permit details document the condition of a property, bring to light potentially imminent major expenditures, and identify possible issues early on, such as open permits or unpermitted work.
For a limited time, we’re offering BuildFAX reports free of charge to our clients, a $25 value. You will receive the BuildFAX report along with the your home inspection report.
- Free eBook How to Operate Your New Home – Know how to operate, maintain, and protect your new investment. Packed with 350 illustrations and 144 pages of content, it is a great resource for new and veteran homeowners alike. After reading through it, you’ll know more about homes than 90% of all homeowners! You will receive your eBook along with the your home inspection report, all free of charge.
- Satisfaction Guarantee – If you like our service, we hope you’ll let your realtor and your friends know. Referrals from our clients are an important source of business for us.
If you are not completely satisfied with our service, please email us with a note describing why you are disappointed. We’ll try to make things right to your satisfaction. If we can’t, we will issue a full refund or credit your charge card. Requests must be made within 7 days of the date of the home inspection.
Thanks so much for the opportunity to work with you. We’ll see you at your inspection!
