What to expect from me during your home inspection

I will arrive on time in a clean vehicle, clean cut and dressed professionally. I will bring important documents that legitimize your home inspection and help to protect all of those involved in the real estate transaction as it pertains to the home inspection. These documents include a pre-inspection agreement and inspection description, which you can preview here. These documents must be signed by both parties (you the client and me the inspector) before the inspection can begin. I will also ask you to fill out a short customer satisfaction survey at the end of the inspection.

 You can expect to see me using various tools when conducting your home inspection. These will often include thermometers, probes, electrical testers, pressure gauges, moisture meters, and many others. 

 I will do my very best to find every defect during the home inspection, with an emphasis on defects pertaining to health and safety conditions as well as defects in the functionality of all systems in the home. The inspection will be conducted according to my personal standard, above and beyond the minimum standard of practice advocated by inspection associations such as ASHI or GAHI.

 I use a digital camera and computer generated report system that you will usually receive by e-mail the same day of the inspection, and no later than 24 hours from the time of the inspection. Upon request, I can also hand deliver a hard copy of the inspection report. In rush situations, I am able to deliver a report on-site, though it will be hand written and it will not contain photographs. Any report delivered on-site is subject to addendum up to 48 hours after the report is delivered.

 Your report will include my comments regarding any defects found and a recommendation for the type of tradesman you should consult for corrective action. For instance, if I find a problem in the electrical panel box, I will recommend that you consult a licensed electrician for further evaluation or remediation. I do not give advice on corrective action other than to recommend further evaluation or remediation by an appropriate tradesman. This is in accordance with the home inspection law in the State of Georgia.

 Building code violations will rarely be cited in reports pertaining to resale homes, though these inspections are conducted with many of the basic principles of the building code in mind. In keeping with the assertion that your report contains factual data, and not simply my opinion, I may occasionally refer to an applicable building code. A statement that there is “not enough wood” is an example of one that would contain a reference to the building code.

 Many homes will contain hidden defects that would require invasive or destructive measures in order to find. Such defects can include, but are not limited to the presence of mold, pest infestation, rot, water damage, cracks in concrete, and others. Standard home inspections do not include invasive or destructive measures. Also, no finishing materials will be altered or moved and no heavy appliances or furniture will be moved.

 Comments regarding the lack of accessibility to areas which may contain these hidden defects will be included in the report with a recommendation for further evaluation. I will also ask if you would like a radon test performed (this is a separate service with a separate fee) and I will note in the report whether or not you declined the radon test.

 It is important that all utilities be on during the time of the inspection. If any utilities are off, the systems pertaining to those utilities cannot be fully inspected and must either be inspected at a later date, or the home buyer must sign the utilities form, stating knowledge that the utility was off and understanding that the inspection of items pertaining to the utilities in question cannot be fully inspected. No inspection will be performed if the power is off.