An Impartial Property Evaluation
A home inspector provides unbiased information on the state of your property. The boots-on-the-ground approach presents you with findings of the current state of your home. Guesswork isn’t part of the equation. As your inspector walks around opening cupboard doors, looking at the roof, checking the foundation they are rigorously following a comprehensive checklist on the structure, functionality, and safety of your home.
It’s Not Who You Know, It’s What You Know
Most people have their first experience with a home inspector when they buy or sell a home. Their real estate agent suggests a home inspection to get a true perspective of the home. Although a house may look good cosmetically, an impartial inspection may reveal structural flaws or antiquated electrical wiring or plumbing that reduces the value.
Your home inspector brings experience and knowledge which provides impartial information on the current status of a home. You owe it to yourself to get the most professional and thorough inspection you can find. Your home inspector has absolutely no financial relationship in the whole process. And, you can select the home inspector of your choice.
The home inspector is the emotional buffer in a highly charged situation. You may have your heart set on buying a home…until you discover hidden structural flaws that may cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix. Or you may cleverly discover that the asking price is below market value.
The benefit of a professional home inspection is objectivity with unbiased information on the state of your property. It’s what you need to know to make a wise investment decision.
A Generalist Diagnostician
The professional home inspector is like your medical general practitioner. When you go for a medical check up, your doctor checks for anything that might be amiss. If they find something questionable, they refer you to a specialist in that field. Your home inspector is like a GP for your home.
Just as your family doctor looks at your entire body during a medical checkup, your home inspector examines various parts of your home. As they go through their checklist, they’re looking for anything that may be remiss.
Look From All Angles
Scope of Your Home Inspection
As your home inspector looks at your property for a health checkup, they cover a number of systems and structures.
- Structure – foundation and framing
- Roof – tile, shake, shingles
- Exterior – siding, drainage, porches
- Electrical – devices, panels, wiring
- HVAC – heater and air-conditioner
- Insulation – insulation and sealing
- Plumbing – devices, drains, supply
- Interior – walls, floors, doors, windows
- Appliances – built-in appliances
- Fireplace – chimney, flue, fire pit
Even though your home inspector prepares a written report of findings, if you show up at the time of the inspection you’ll gain more wisdom about the property as the inspector gives you on-the-spot findings. You can ask questions and see what the inspector sees. If there is a problem, you can ask questions about remediation and repair.
Two Parts to The Inspection
Your home inspection has two segments—site inspection and written report.
Site Inspection
First, the inspector arrives at the site and makes observations, thoroughly reviewing your property from top to bottom, inside and out. Their aim is to observe in a fair and unbiased manner all the structures, systems, and appliances covered in the inspection.
Because your home inspector is an outside observer, they have no emotional or financial attachment to the findings. You pay them to be objective and impartial just the way you pay your doctor for a medical checkup.
Written Report
The second part of the home inspection is the written report of findings. This report can be 20-40 pages or longer depending on the size of your property and the findings. You can see a sample report from Inspect.Net by going here and clicking the preview tab.
The report mentions all the findings throughout the scope of the inspection. The report highlights in safety or structural concerns and items to improve and monitor. Many professional home inspectors color code findings as to severity and importance so you can see at a glance what needs repairs.
An added benefit of using an impartial professional home inspector is their ability to connect you with other professionals who can assist with repairs and remediation. As a generalist, your home inspector notes the problems and then refers you to specialists to make sure the work is done well. For example, if a roof flashing needs repairs, they will refer you to a roofing specialist to get the job done.
Lifted Roof Flashing
A Thorough and Objective View
A professional home inspector provides you with information to make an informed decision. Buying or selling a home is a major life decision. You want the best, most accurate information about the property to decide whether to follow through on a buying decision or to offer your home for sale at a fair price.
California does not provide licensing for home inspectors, so you will want to evaluate prospective home inspectors for professionalism including qualifications, and experience. A general contractors license ensures knowledge of how homes are built and an engineering or architectural degree provides theoretical background. Membership in one or more national home inspection agencies like the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) to keep up to date on the industry is an added plus.
With over 25 years experience, Inspect.Net provides the professional, impartial home inspection you need to make wise decisions. Servicing the San Francisco Bay Area, call to schedule your inspection (510) 200-7555
