FAQ of Home Inspections
What is a Home Inspection? – This is one of the most common of our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s). Put simply, a home inspection is a visual examination and technical analysis of the major systems of a house performed for existing homeowners, prospective purchasers, or third party agencies. The systems inspected include:
- Roofing;
- Exterior;
- Structure;
- Electrical;
- Heating;
- Cooling;
- Insulation;
- Plumbing; &
- the Interior.
What do you look at? – We inspect the major systems of the house. These include the Roof, Exterior, Structure, Electrical, Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, Insulation, and Interior. Our goal is to identify any existing major problems that would affect a typical buyer’s decision to purchase.
Secure Home Inspections offers the most comprehensive home inspection available. We start at the roof and evaluate not only the roof surface, but also the chimney, the ventilation system, the electrical service entrance, the plumbing stack, and any other systems or components located on the roof.
Our next step is to inspect the exterior of the home. We use a macro and micro approach to look at both the big picture and all the details. We then move inside the house, and starting at the bottom, work our way up through the home into the attic. While inside, we address such things as the structure, the heating and cooling systems, the electrical and plumbing systems, the interior finishes, the insulation and ventilation, and accessories such as fireplaces.
Our evaluation is then communicated through a detailed inspection report, which includes descriptions of all the systems in the home, as well as any recommended improvements. This will help you prioritize the improvements and develop a blueprint for your future in the home.
In addition to this, Secure Home Inspections includes a FREE ReCall Chek with each full home inspection.
How long does a home inspection take? – A typical inspection should take 2 to 3 hours to complete. This can vary, given the current condition and size of the home, the accessibility of mechanical systems, and so on. As a courtesy to sellers, we recommend that they be informed of the time frame in a pre-purchase home inspection situation.
How much does an inspection cost? – This is one of the questions best discussed over the phone vrs on our FAQ page. Please give us a call to compare. If you are comparing home inspection firms, the fee charged should not be the deciding factor unless the level of service offered is identical. Remember, you are considering a major purchase and your choice of home inspector should be based on getting the best value, not just the best price.
What is included in the fee?
- Complete home inspection conducted by an experienced professional;
- Comprehensive written home inspection report;
- Free ReCall Chek; and
- Technical support for as long as you own your home.
Can I follow along? – MOST DEFINITELY – we actually encourage you to join us during the inspection, and to ask questions as you go. Having you with us on the inspection also gives us an opportunity to provide you with tips on home care and maintenance. For instance, you can learn how to change the furnace filter, turn off the water, gas, and electricity in an emergency.
Do I have to take notes? – We will document everything in a written report. It’s much better to follow the inspector through, listening to his comments to make sure you understand. It’s also a great opportunity to ask questions and to clarify anything that confuses you.
We understand a home inspection is valuable, but unless the experience is well-documented, most people won’t remember all the important details. Client’s shouldn’t have to create their own FAQ for the inspection. That’s why we provide a comprehensive written report to serve as your guide for as long as you own the home. It not only describes the house components and their condition, but also provides insight into what improvements will be necessary, and when.
Our report can also help you set up a home maintenance program to take care of one of the most significant investments most people make. Our goal is to ensure that you can live safely, comfortably, and efficiently in your new home.
Can I ask questions? – Absolutely! It is completely understandable and expected for you to have more questions than what can be answered in our FAQ page.
- Bring some questions that you have regarding the home;
- Feel free to stop the inspector and ask questions as you go; and,
- if the inspector’s comments or explanations are not clear, please ask for further explanation.
What should I wear? – You should dress comfortably and be prepared to spend roughly 2 1/2 hours walking through the home with the inspector. You won’t have to climb on the roof or go into the attic, so your clothes won’t get dirty.
Can I bring my family? – We recommend that you not bring your family; this is a technical evaluation, and you should focus on the inspector’s comments – the fewer distractions, the better.
Do I get a written report? When? – You do receive a written report. It would be unfair to ask you to remember all of the things we cover during a home inspection. The report includes a summary of the condition of the home and details on all the major systems of the home. It is delivered within 24 hours after the inspection.
If it’s really bad, will you tell us not to buy the house? – No. Our goal is to report on the condition of the house, indicating potential repairs and expenses. Ultimately, it is your decision as to whether or not you buy the house. The home inspection is very important but it is only one piece of the puzzle. Only you know all of the factors at play.
Do you offer a full warranty on the house? – A home inspection is a professional opinion based on less-than-complete information. It’s a little like getting a check-up from your doctor: It improves your odds of good health but there is no guarantee or 100% warranty.
Some problems can only be discovered by living in a house – they cannot be discovered during a home inspection. For example, some shower stalls leak when people use the shower but don’t leak when you simply turn on the shower. Some roofs and basements only leak when specific weather conditions exist. Some problems will only be discovered when carpets are lifted, furniture is moved or finishes are removed. As such, we cannot and do not offer a full warranty on the house.
Who is my inspector? – Our inspectors have extensive background and experience in construction and inspection. As a Certified Virginia Inspector, our inspectors also keep their skills current with continuing education programs both through the company and on their own.
How much notice do I need to give you? – Our team of inspectors is ready to serve you quickly. However, when the sale of a home is conditional on the results of a home inspection, we recommend that you allow at least three days to arrange for a home inspection.
What is RecallChek?
We offer FREE ReCall Cheks for your home appliances with every inspection we do.
ReCall Chek is the first service
for consumer recalls in the United
States and has compiled over 210
million recalls from public records, to
create a fail-safe system to check for
dangerous flaws with home
appliances.
If a manufacturer designs a
dangerous product, they MUST recall
that item and fix it free of charge!
RecallChek will provide the
information to resolve any potential
recall issues promptly.
How it works:
- Your home inspector records the model numbers of your built-in home appliances and HVAC systems.
- The Model Number Algorithm (MNA) matches your appliances against the RecallChek database of recalled items.
- RecallChek issues a report, separate from the home inspection report. This report is emailed directly to you.
- This service is intended to provide homeowners with valuable information on how to receive FREE repairs from manufacturers in the event a recalled appliance is found. This service is not meant to be used in the inspection response process
If you’ve not yet purchased a Full Home Inspection & still would like to receive the RecallChek services, please follow the button below.
Hopefully our FAQ page has been of some assistance to you and should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at 540.860.0744