Our job is to help you figure out
what you need to know about your new house.
The Home Inspector’s Mission
Your home inspector’s mission is to help you figure out what you need to know about a potential new home and its components (except *environmental issues). We’re here to help find problems before you purchase, so you’re aware of problems and expenses before you commit. Our home inspections concentrate on 8 major topics: roof, foundation, structure, plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning, water, and septic. We also look at important secondary building components including siding, windows, drainage, hot water, and finishes.
If you have specific questions or concerns about a property, we’re happy to discuss those as well (for example renovation ideas).
The Home Inspection Process
Our home inspections include climbing on the roof, inspecting the foundation and structure for movement and decay, operating the HVAC equipment, going into accessible crawlspaces and attics, looking at circuit breaker panels and wiring, operating water fixtures, and performing a push test on any septic system or water well system.
Remember, no house is perfect. A professional home inspector can help you distinguish between minor imperfections and major problems. Many houses also have components that are significantly better than average. These are just as worthy of mention as areas of concern.
We strongly encourage you to attend the inspection with us to better understand the home you’re buying. Even if there are no major problems, knowing the construction type, maintenance needs, location of items, and how components operate can be invaluable.
The Home Inspection Report
We provide a 25+ page home inspection report discussing noteworthy observations and understandable suggestions for each area of the house. Estimates of each component’s remaining life and replacement cost are included where appropriate. Pictures of specific items, with written explanations, help you see what we see (even if it’s on the roof or in the crawlspace). We won’t overwhelm you with technical terms and descriptions. We want you to easily understand the pros and cons of the house you’re planning to buy.
*Environmental Issues
Upon request, in conjunction with testing laboratories, we can set up a radon test and take water samples for analysis. However, we are not the laboratory! We may be able to answer some of your questions about environmental concerns but we are not experts in this field. If you have specific environmental concerns, we recommend contacting a specialist.