What is a home inspection?
A home inspection is an objective visual analysis of a homes structure and systems. An inspection will determine the areas of a home that are not performing correctly, and the items that are beyond their useful life or are unsafe. The inspection will include areas of the homes interior and exterior from the roof to the foundation and the exterior drainage and retaining walls. If issues or symptoms are found the inspector will offer appropriate further evaluation recommendations. Please remember that a home inspection is not a warranty. Home warranties can be be purchased through home warranty firms.
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What does our home inspection include?
The home inspection report will review the condition of the home's heating system, plumbing, electrical system and central air conditioning system (temperature permitting), as well as the roof, attic, visible insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, foundation, basement, landscaping, and visible structure.
There are five basic steps to the home inspection.
- First, our inspector arrives at the property, makes general introductions and explains what is going to take place and asks about any special questions, issues, or requests.
- While the inspection agreement is being reviewed, our inspector will make a quick circuit of the property to size up the scope of the inspection.
- The inspection portion of the process includes an in-depth walk-through inspection with the client. This involves inspecting all visible areas and reviewing all accessible items and areas, including the heating system, central air conditioning system, interior plumbing and electrical systems, the roof, attic space and all visible insulation, the walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, basement or crawlspace area, and the foundation and all visible structural components. Any questions or items of special interest regarding a particular system or structural component are usually addressed at this time.
- Finally, a check of the entire property is made to verify that the condition of the property is the same as when the inspection started.
- The report will be completed later that evening and the report will be sent electronically by noon the following day. All deficiencies and maintenance recommendations will be documented in the inspection report.
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Why do I need a home inspection?
The purchase of a home is probably one of the single largest investments you will ever make. You should be as informed and educated as you possibly can when considering a home purchase. And a home inspection can provide that education. Also, the FHA and the VA, as well as many other mortgage lenders, recommend that a home inspection be performed.
A home inspection lets you know the condition of the property as well as identifies the need for any repairs before you buy, so that you can make an informed purchasing decision. A home inspection also informs the buyer of the positive aspects of the home, as well as any maintenance that may be recommended to keep the house in good shape and to keep all major systems operating smoothly. After the inspection, you will have a much better understanding of the property you intend to purchase.
A home inspection is also valuable for homeowners for identifying any potential problems that may need tending to, as well as for learning preventive maintenance measures to help avoid any costly future repairs. If you intend to put your house on the market, a home inspection could identify items that would be called out on a buyer’s inspection, which allows you to be proactive in making repairs, thereby putting you house in a more sellable position.
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Should the seller have an inspection before there is a buyer involved?
Many homeowners are living in homes that have serious problems that if identified early can save considerable repair costs. Water leaks can cause serious and costly issues, but if they are caught early can be repaired at little cost. A home inspection will also give you an outline of the routine maintenance that needs to be done to the home. Home sellers will want an inspection to find major issues that a buyers inspection will eventually find. The seller can then make the repairs prior to the home going on the market and eliminate costly re-negotiations when the buyer has their inspection.
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Do you ever do inspections for homeowners not selling their home?
Yes. Home inspections are a good idea even if you are not selling your home. We all get physical checkups - why not give your home a checkup? This will alert you to maintenance issues long before they become major repair issues.
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What should you look for in a home inspector?
- Experience: Find out how much experience they have and/or how long they have been in the business. If they have not been performing inspections very long that does not mean that they do not have the experience and may not find the more costly issues that you will ultimately be stuck with later. Our chief inspector, Michael Wicklund, has been inspecting full time for 8 years and has performed several thousand inspections.
- Home Inspection Training: Have they gone through any extensive training in home inspection? There are several training companies that provide hands-on training, such as Inspection Training Associates (ITA). Also, you may ask what other related experience the inspector has that helps him be the best inspector he can be. Many inspectors have been in the building trades for several years and have considerable knowledge of home construction. Our chief inspector, Michael Wicklund, has been formally trained by ITA and gone on to take formal training in mobile home, commercial, and WDO inspections. Michael takes at least 24 hours of continuing education each year and stays abreast of all new issues in the inspection industry.
- Association Membership: Is the inspector a member of a professional Home Inspection organization? Inspectors that are affiliated with professional organizations are serious about what they do, and they know about new developments in the inspection industry. They are also continually informed about changes in the building codes and local city requirements.
- Their are several local organizations that provide support for local inspectors in the Puyallup area. It is important that the inspectors belong to an association and abide by the standards of practice and code of ethics that require professionalism in the industry. Our chief inspector, Michael Wicklund, is a member in good standing and current Board of Director for the American Institute of Inspectors national trade association. Michael also actively participates on the local chapter level as well as with the coalition of home inspectors in Washington.
- Liability Insurance: Does the inspector carry Professional Liability Insurance in the form of both general liability and errors and omission? Make sure you ask for a copy of their liability insurance policy. An inspector without insurance my not be able to pay a major claim. Sterling inspections carries both general liability and errors and omission insurance coverage. This coverage is not meant to protect the client from every little thing that will go wrong with their home. Instead, it is there to protect from accidents that can happen during the normal inspection and from major occurrences. Because we are very diligent and thorough this insurance has rarely been needed, but it is nice to know that it is there.
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Can I do the inspection myself?
Most home buyers will look at a home that they want to purchase and look for reasons to purchase the home. The prospective home buyer is not able to look at the home with the unbiased critical eye that a home inspector will. Even a home buyer with construction experience does not have the knowledge and experience that a home inspector has. A good inspector is trained and experienced in finding the clues in a home that indicate problems. These clues are sometimes very subtle and hard to find. Most inspectors have performed hundreds of inspections and they are familiar with problems with certain building materials or building styles.
How long does the inspection take?
An average home inspection will take between 2 and 3 hours, depending on the size of the house. Larger and more complex houses will take longer for the inspector to completely and accurately evaluate. Another factor that may affect the inspection time is the condition of the components at the property. If the house and appliances have not been properly maintained, the inspector may need additional time to explain to the buyer what options they may have to either maintain or replace the items.
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Do I need to attend the inspection?
It is not necessary that you attend the inspection. However we strongly recommend that you or a representative for you attends the inspection so that you are properly informed of the investment that you are considering making.
Given appropriate access, our inspector can perform the inspection and generate an inspection report, which can be delivered to you. Again, it is strongly recommended that you attend because you will be able to follow the inspector around and visually learn about the condition of your house, how the various systems operate and how to properly maintain them. You will also have a better understanding of the contents of the report if you are able to see it from the home inspector's perspective and can ask him/her questions as they arise.
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How much is a home inspection?
The cost of a home inspection for a single family home varies due to the geographical location, as well as its size and age. The cost can also vary when additional inspection services are requested, such as septic, well, radon or pest inspections. However, you should not let cost be a factor in determining whether or not to have a home inspection performed or in choosing your home inspector. You should consider the money spent as an educational investment that will more than pay for itself. The most important consideration should be the qualifications, training and experience of the inspector, as well as any professional affiliations he or she may have.
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