Home Inspections, Radon Testing, and Infrared Thermography?
Here are a few commonly asked questions about home inspections.
The best time to consult the inspector is right after you’ve made an offer on your new home. The real estate contract usually allows for a grace period to inspect the home so you can negotiate any issues found in your inspection objection letter. Ask your professional agent to include this inspection clause in the contract, making your purchase obligation contingent upon the findings of your professional inspection findings.
We highly encourage clients to be present throughout the inspection so the inspector can explain the important findings and the perspective homeowner can ask any questions or concerns they may have. This may be the most amount of time you can spend on the property once under contract so most clients use this time to get a feel for the property.
Depending on the size/square footage, year, and condition of the inspections property; inspections can take anywhere from three to six hours depending upon the size of the home, condition of the home and ancillary services provided. Call us today at 303-676-8006 for a more precise timeline and availability or schedule online.
Give your inspector a call at 303-676-8006, we would be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have. You can also email brett@boulderhomeinspector.com or just send me a text.
An inspection is a visual examination of the structure and systems of a building. If you are thinking of buying a home, condominium, mobile home, or commercial building, you should have it thoroughly inspected before the final purchase by an experienced and impartial professional inspector.
No. A professional inspection is simply an examination into the current condition of your prospective real estate purchase. It is not an appraisal or a Municipal Code inspection. An inspector, therefore, will not pass or fail a building, but will simply describe its condition and indicate which items will be in need of minor or material repairs or replacement.
More and more we hear of Americans purchasing homes without purchasing a home inspection. Why not spend just a few hundred dollars more when you are purchasing your home and be prepared for the future? For it is known, that purchasing a house is one of lifes largest expenses and it would be at your best interest to know what exactly you are getting yourself into when you turn the key to your new home!
A Peace of Mind certified inspector conducts a home inspection of a structure’s condition as it exists, both interior and exterior, and then provides the home owner with a comprehensive written report.
Now the question is why getting a home inspection, would be of value to you?
1. Can you be objective?
Many home buyers get emotional when looking at a house. Home inspectors, fortunately, aren’t distracted by pretty drapes, they’re looking for problems because that is their job. We look at the house, while you look at the location and the potential.
2. Your biggest investment.
Purchasing a home is a huge investment, whether it is for first time home buyers, previous homeowners, rentals, or flip houses. Instead of Americans investing into their piggy banks, it is well known Americans invest into homes. With such a large amount invested into a home, you wouldn’t want your newly purchased home to be full of unexpected surprises and expenses causing your investments to belly up, would you?
3. A Home Inspection Gives You Extra Room to Negotiate
If your home inspector informs you that the back porch is rotting or the roof needs to be replaced, you may opt to only purchase the home if the seller agrees to fix the items in question. A seller is always free to refuse your offer or respond with a counteroffer, but knowing exactly what is wrong with the property you wish to purchase allows you additional negotiation room with the seller. Even if the problem will be expensive to fix or the home is a foreclosure, it never hurts to ask the owner for a little bit of wiggle room.
4. Home Inspections Let You Prepare for the Future
If you obtain an inspection report that lets you know that the home needs work that you hadn’t originally anticipated and the seller refuses to remedy the situation in order to close the deal, this doesnt necessarily mean that you shouldn’t buy the home. It does, however, let you know that at some point in the future you will need to make these repairs to the property. By getting a home inspection, you can prepare yourself for any additional costs that may arise.
5. A Home Inspection Lets You Walk Away
In some cases a home that is beautiful on the outside can be falling apart on the inside. A faulty electrical system, extensive crawlspace mold, or termite damage can all cost you thousands of dollars to fix. Provided that your original offer was made contingent on an accepted home inspection, you dont have to try to plead with the seller to share the cost of repairs or start cashing in your investments to get the home fixed. You have the right to drop your offer and search for another home that is lower-maintenance than your first choice.
6. Newer Homes Don’t Have Problems.
One of the big misunderstandings is that newer homes don’t have problems. Many times hidden things aren’t apparent like modified electrical wiring you can’t see or broken roof tiles that haven’t started to leak yet. Even in a new home it is a good idea to have a home inspection due to the fact that most of the trades (foundation, framing, electrical, plumbing drywall, roofing, etc.) are sub-contracted out to the lowest bidder and it is nearly impossible for the builder to personally monitor all phases of home construction.
To sum it all up, you wouldn’t buy a used car without having it checked out by a mechanic, so don’t purchase a new or used home without ordering a home inspection report.
Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections. While these are nice to know about, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories.
1. Major Defects – Material Items that would cost the homeowner a substantial amount of money. An example of this would be a significant structural failure.
2. Things that may lead to major defects. An example of this would be a small water leak coming from a piece of roof flashing
3.Things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy, or insure the home. An example of this would be a structural damage caused by termite infestation.
4. Safety Hazards. Such as a lack of GFCI-protection.
You will receive an emailed PDF version of the home inspection report within 2 business days after the inspection.