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Professional Home Inspection Services
Rely on a certified inspector for your home inspection needs!
STANDARDS OF PRACTICE
DEFINITIONS AND SCOPE
1. A general home inspection is a non-invasive, visual examination of the accessible areas of a residential property (as delineated below), performed for a fee, which is designed to identify defects within specific systems and components defined by these Standards that are both observed and deemed material by the inspector. The scope of work may be modified by the Client and Inspector prior to the inspection process.
- The general home inspection is based on the observations made on the date of the inspection, and not a prediction of future conditions.
- The general home inspection will not reveal every issue that exists or ever could exist, but only those material defects observed on the date of the inspection.
2. A material defect is a specific issue with a system or component of a residential property that may have a significant, adverse impact on the value of the property, or that poses an unreasonable risk to people. The fact that a system or component is near, at or beyond the end of its normal useful life is not, in itself, a material defect.
3. A general home inspection report shall identify, in written format, defects within specific systems and components defined by these Standards that are both observed and deemed material by the inspector. Inspection reports may include additional comments and recommendations.
Our Services
Featured Service #1
The Home Inspection Defined
The home inspection is a visual inspection of system and major accessible component defects and safety issues. The inspection is not technically exhaustive. Home inspections are designed to reflect, as accurately as possible, the visible condition of the home at the time of the inspection. Conditions at a home for sale can have radical changes in only a day or two, so a home inspection is not meant to guarantee the conditions a home will be in when the Real Estate transaction closes. It’s not uncommon for conditions to change between the time of the inspection and the closing date.
It’s a Visual Inspection
A “visual” inspection means that a home inspection report is limited to describing conditions in those parts of a home that an inspector can see during the inspection. Obviously, parts of the home that are permanently hidden by wall, ceiling and floor coverings are excluded, but so are parts of the home that were inaccessible during the inspection for some other reason. Some reasons might include lack of an access point, such as a door or hatch, or a locked access point, or because an occupant’s belongings blocked access, or because of dangerous or unsanitary conditions.
There can be many more reasons. The point is that if the inspector can’t see a portion of the home, the inspector can’t assume responsibility for ensuring that a safe and proper condition exists or that systems are operating properly in that hidden space.
My Full Home Inspections Include:
- roof, vents, flashings and trim;
- gutters and downspouts;
- skylight, chimney, and other roof penetrations;
- lanais, decks, stoops, porches, driveways, walkways and railings;
- eaves, soffits and fascia;
- grading and drainage;
- foundation and crawlspace;
- water penetration and foundation movement;
- heating system;
- cooling system;
- main water shut-off valve;
- water heating system;
- interior plumbing fixtures and faucets;
- electrical service line and meter box;
- main disconnect and service amperage;
- electrical panel(s), breakers and fuses;
- grounding and bonding;
- GFCIs and AFCIs;
- pools and spas;
- insulation and ventilation;
- garage doors, safety sensors and openers
- docks and seawalls
Infrared Cameras
Thermal imaging is the most significant advancement in home inspections since the invention of the flashlight!
WHAT'S YOUR HOME HIDING?
Thermal imaging is a noninvasive technology that allows home inspectors to find issues that can't be seen with the naked eye. The home inspectors can detect hidden problems with your home using state-of-the-art infrared cameras.
A thermal imaging inspection can detect the following problems in your home:
- Hidden roof leaks
- Air conditioner leaks
- Pest infestations
- Overloaded circuits
Just because you can't see a problem, doesn't mean it isn't there.
Moisture Meter
A moisture meter is an essential instrument used in many industries to detect moisture content in materials. Home and building inspectors rely on moisture meters to identify potential problems and damage to structures from moisture buildup.
Leaks, condensation, and poor drainage are the most common causes of excess moisture issues throughout your home. Plumbing problems can cause wet walls with those leaky pipes seeping into your space. Water can sneak through vents, chimneys, skylights, and windows to create wet walls
Services
Pre-Listing Inspection
Re-Inspections
If the warranty on your new home is set to expire in the near future, then you need to have the home inspected as soon as possible. By learning about possible issues with the home while the warranty is still active, you give yourself a chance to save a substantial amount of money on certain repairs.
Re-Inspections
Pre-Listing Inspection
Re-Inspections
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This inspection service is designed to give home buyers extra assurance about the condition of a prospective investment. If a component was revealed to be damaged or otherwise defective during our original inspection, we’ll return to the property once the issue has been reported as resolved to ensure that the repairs are sufficient and to look for additional issues.
Pre-Listing Inspection
Pre-Listing Inspection
Pre-Listing Inspection
Prior to your listing of a home, we’ll evaluate the readily accessible components to determine what kind of condition each area of the home is in. With this information, you’ll not only be able to make repairs as necessary, but you’ll also maintain trust during the negotiating process by avoiding the repercussions that can arise from the home buyer’s discovery of undisclosed issues.
4 Point Inspection
Four point inspections are the tools that insurance underwriters and insurance companies use to determine risk. As you might have guessed, there are four main things that are being examined during a four-point inspection: 1) Electrical, 2) Plumbing, 3) Roof and Structure, and 4) HVAC system.
Is a 4 point inspection required in Florida?
When you own or purchase an older home, rental property, or condo in Florida, you will likely need for a 4 point inspection before purchasing a homeowners policy. Most insurance companies will require a 4 point inspection when a home is older than 40 years, or a rental property is older than 30 years
Wind Mitigation
What is a mitigation inspection?
A mitigation inspection, also referred to as a wind mitigation inspection and Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection form, is to determine the appropriateness of a particular structure's construction in the event of strong winds (hurricanes, tropical storms and other windstorm-related claims)
What is the purpose of a wind mitigation inspection?
A wind mitigation inspection is the only inspection that can significantly reduce the cost of your insurance policy. That's because this inspection can determine whether your home has features that drastically decrease severe property loss from hurricane wind.
Common Defects Found
12 Most Common Defects Found During Home Inspections
1. Roofing defects, caused by aging or improper installation are likely to be found on most buildings. This does not mean that most roofs need replacement, but that many are in need of maintenance and repair.
2. Ceiling stains in many homes indicate past or current leaks. The challenge is to determine if the leak was repaired or will recur during the next rain. Discovery is not always possible.
3. Faulty ground drainage often causes water intrusion beneath buildings. Such problems can be pervasive, difficult to resolve, and may cause damage to building components.
4. Electrical safety violations, either few or many, are to be found in the majority of homes. Examples are ungrounded outlets, lack of shock protection, amateur wiring improvements, and other conditions too numerous to name.
5. Rotted wood is common where components remain wet for long periods. Exterior locations are trim, eaves, and decks. Problems also occur at walls and floors in bathrooms.
6. Code violations are common where additions and alterations are built without permits. Sellers often boast that, “We added the garage without a permit, but it was all done to code”… This is a red flag to most home inspectors.
7. Fireplaces and chimneys are often unsafe. Common causes are amateur installation of hardware and fixtures, exterior rust damage, or simple failure to call a chimney sweep.
8. Water heaters are seldom in total compliance with code requirements. Violations include inadequate strapping, substandard overflow piping, missing or faulty TPRV drain lines.
9. Air handlers often harbor defects. These range from missing or dirty filters, obstructed or poor airflow, or even air supply ducts that are disconnected. Leaky, plugged primary or even secondary condensate lines, leaking refrigerant lines and so on.
10. Faulty firewalls are common in garages. Violations include, holes, unprotected attic accesses, doors not fire rated, drywall that is too thin, and exposed wood framing.
11. Plumbing defects are commonly found, including loose toilets, dripping faucets, slow drains, leaking drains, hot water at the right faucet, and so on.
12. Failed seals are routinely found at dual pane windows, resulting in fogging. This is most common with windows manufacturer during the 1980’s.
Poor Drainage
This is one of the most common problems found by home inspectors. To improve drainage, you may have to install a new system of roof gutters and downspouts or have the lot re-graded to better channel water away from the house. Often times an underground drainage system must be installed to carry run-off water to storm drains.
The House Has Faulty Wiring
An insufficient or out-of-date electrical system is a common problem, especially in older homes. This is a potentially hazardous defect and not to be taken lightly if identified by a certified home inspector. You may have to replace the entire electrical system, or at least part of it, to bring this home up to code or to make it safe.
The Roof Leaks
If the roof has water damage, it may be caused by old or damaged shingles, or improper flashing. It’s cheap and relatively easy to repair shingles and small amounts of flashing, but if the roof is old, you may face a larger expense to replace it.
Unsafe Cooling/Heating System
An older system or one that has been poorly maintained can be a serious health and safety hazard. This is a very common problem found by certified home inspectors. You may have to repair or replace the old units. This can be a major expense, but new systems are more energy-efficient, which will probably save you money down the line. If your heating system is anything but electrical, install carbon monoxide detectors in a couple of locations in the house.
The Whole House Has Been Poorly Maintained
Examples of poor maintenance include cracked or peeling paint, crumbling masonry, broken fixtures or shoddy wiring or plumbing. You can easily repaint a wall, replace a fixture or repair a brick wall, but makeshift electrical or plumbing situations are serious and potentially dangerous problems. Replace any such wires or pipes.
The House Has Minor Structural Damage
Minor structural damage means the house is not likely to fall down, but you should deal with the problem before it becomes more serious. Such damage is usually caused by water seepage into the foundation, floor joists, rafters or window and door headers. If any of these types of problems are found, you first need to fix the cause of the problem (a leaky roof, for example), then repair or replace any damaged pieces. The more extensive the damage, the more expensive it will be to repair.
Plumbing Problems
The most common plumbing defects found by our certified home inspectors include old or incompatible piping materials and faulty fixtures or waste lines. These may require simple repairs, such as replacing a fixture, or more expensive measures, such as replacing the plumbing itself.
The House’s Exterior Lets In Water and Air Around Windows and Doors
This usually does not indicate a structural problem, rather poor caulking and weather stripping that require relatively simple and inexpensive repairs around windows and doors.
The House is Inadequately Ventilated
Poor ventilation can result in too much moisture that wreaks havoc on interior walls and structural elements. It can also exacerbate allergic reactions. Install ventilation fans in every bathroom if there are no windows, and regularly open all the windows in your home. To repair damage caused by poor ventilation, you may only have to replace drywall and other inexpensive pieces. If you have to replace a structural element, it will be more expensive.
Environmental Hazards
Environmental problems are a new and growing area of home defects. They include lead-based paint (common in homes built before 1978), asbestos, formaldehyde, contaminated drinking water, radon and mold. You usually need to arrange a special inspection to determine environmental problems, and they’re usually expensive to fix.
CREDENTIALS
