Process of a Home Inspection

A home inspection covers the visible and accessible areas of the home. It includes the heating and air conditioning systems, the structure, the interior and exterior, the roofing, the plumbing system, the electrical system and the foundation. The attics and crawl spaces will be entered and inspected as well as walking the roof, if all are safe to do so. FREE carbon monoxide testing and accessible gas fittings leak detection is included with your whole house inspection from Calvin, (time permitting). Also, digital pictures are taken and provided to you.

A home inspector is an observer and a reporter of the conditions of the home. A report is then issued to the purchaser of the home inspection, along with recommendations as applicable. A trained and experienced home inspector can visually and mentally picture 600 to 1000 items & images as he spends hours inspecting the home. A home inspector will share valuable information with you about maintaining your dream home.

Choosing a Home Inspector

When considering which home inspector you should choose, it’s important to ask questions. Be sure and ask about past and present experience, training, licenses, and qualifications. Also ask if they stay up-to-date by attending continuing education seminars. Does your inspector have references to supply you? Are they honest, friendly, professional? How many hours will it take to inspect your home? Will they be thorough? Then when you ask the cost, you will know: “Am I getting what I’m paying for?”

Want to Learn More?

The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) has put together a great online tool to help you better understand the home inspection process. Click here to go to ASHI's Virtual Home Inspection.

A Final Thought

A home inspection is designed to better your odds. It is not designed to eliminate all risk. For that reason, a home inspection should not be considered an insurance policy.

There may come a time that you discover something wrong with the house, and you may be upset or disappointed with your home inspection. Some problems can only be discovered by living in a house. They cannot be discovered during the few hours of a home inspection. For example, some roofs and basements only leak when specific conditions exist. Some problems will only be discovered when carpets are lifted, furniture or storage is moved, or finished surfaces are removed.

These problems may have existed at the time of the inspection but there were no visible clues as to their existence. Inspections are based on the past performance of the house. If there are no visible clues of a past problem, it is unfair to assume we should foresee a future problem.

Sometimes our reports identify some minor problems but not others. The minor problems that are identified were discovered while looking for more significant problems. They are noted simply as a courtesy. The intent of the inspection is not to find the minor problems, it is to find the significant problems. However, I will try to point out the visible and accessible safety concerns and issues concerning the preservation of the property.

Lastly, inspections are based on the age of the home. A 70 yr. old home would not be held to the standards of a 35 yr. old home, and a 35 yr. old home would not be held to the standards of a 3 yr. old home.

There are many joys in owning your own home and I trust your experience will be wonderful! Call me today for your home inspection and let me help you get started on the right foot!

Your home can be your friend when you know how to care for it!