Inspection Details

A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a house, from the roof to the foundation. Home inspections are designed to protect clients by revealing problems they might not have noticed otherwise.

When completed by a professional, competent, and experienced inspector, a home inspection provides an impartial, third-party review of the property and an in-depth, factual assessment of the structure. We perform a comprehensive inspection of the home’s systems, including plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and many more, and compile a comprehensive report. Reports are normally given to you and your agent within 24 hours of the inspection.

 As a buyer you want to know that you are not getting something less than the value you are paying for and that you don’t end up with a lot of expenses you were not counting on.

The list includes but is not limited to the following:

Structure

Examining the house’s foundation is of the utmost importance. Up to a certain degree, settling fractures are typical. Larger cracks, foundation wall sagging, and larger step cracks signal structural issues. We are also examining the walls and roof trusses or rafters to ensure their alignment.

Exterior

Around the home’s outside, we will verify that the siding is correctly flashed and attached, that the railings are secure, and that the deck’s construction and connection to the home are evaluated. We also analyze the home’s driveway and walkways. Management of groundwater is a crucial topic. The gutters and downspouts should be free of debris and should release water 6 to 8 feet from the foundation. The soil should slope away from the structure’s base.

Roof

When it is safe to walk the roof, we will inspect the condition of the shingles for broken or missing shingles, determine the approximate age of the shingles, check for penetrations, and ensure that the plumbing vent stack boots have not deteriorated to the point where water can enter the attic. When a chimney is present, we inspect the condition of the crown, ensuring that no bricks are missing or loose and that the flashing is properly installed and well-sealed. There are occasions where a drone is required. When conditions permit, we check these inaccessible places with a drone.

Electrical

The inspector will remove the main distribution panel to ensure that the right gauge wiring corresponds with the correct breaker size, as well as to check for loose connections, arcing, and/or burned wiring. We will inspect the GFCI and AFCI circuit breakers and outlets, as well as the outlets, switches, ceiling fans, and lighting throughout the home.

Heating

We will verify that the heat source is running effectively and within the appropriate temperature ranges, and that each habitable room has adequate ventilation.

Cooling

We will operate the air conditioning system to ensure that it is cooling adequately within the unit-specific parameters.

Insulation

Inspecting the underside of the roof sheathing enables us to analyze not just the home’s insulation values but also the underside of the roof sheathing. We will inspect for leaks, holes through which pests can enter, and the condition of any ductwork.

Plumbing

Plumbing is a significant system that must be analyzed extensively. It is vital to recognize that replacing aging or inoperable water heaters can be expensive. Your inspector will run water throughout the property to check for leaks and ensure that hot water flows to the left and cold water flows to the right. As we are accustomed to cold being on the right, reversed connections can be a cause for anxiety. Where visible plumbing is present, we inspect for leaks.

Interior

Windows are opened and closed and their seals are inspected for damage. The doors are opened and shut. Walls and ceilings are inspected for structural and plumbing issues.

Appliances

We will inspect all of the appliances. Check the ice maker and water dispenser on the refrigerator, use the oven/stove, microwave, dishwasher, and washer/dryer.

Fireplace

If the residence has a fireplace, we will inspect the damper and, if possible, the chimney. While on the roof, your inspector will also evaluate the chimney for apparent cracks, misaligned shingles, and missing bricks, as well as the chimney crown and cap.

All of these inspected areas are documented with descriptions, inspection limitations, and recommendations for repair or replacement in a PDF report that is normally emailed to you and your agent within 24 hours.

Our home inspections start at $325. The fees for a home inspection are determined by a number of factors, including the square footage, age, and number of outbuildings, such as barns, sheds, garages, and mother-in-law quarters.

Some houses may have additional conditions that increase the price. For instance, is it a brand-new home or a century-old farmhouse that has not been modified for decades? Does the home contain crawl spaces, several basements, or in-law quarters with fully equipped kitchens?

Call, text, or email us for the precise cost of your home inspection.

Home inspections generally take 2 to 4 hours to complete. The duration of a home inspection depends on many factors such as the size of the home, the condition of the home, and the ability to access certain areas of the home (roof, crawl space, attic, etc.).

Although it is not necessary, we do recommend that you attend the inspection so you can ask questions and learn more about the home. You will learn a lot from the inspection report, but we always encourage you to attend!

Your agent is not needed to attend the inspection, but they can be a valuable resource to have on-site. Occasionally, real estate-related questions arise that are beyond the home inspector’s knowledge base.

In addition, they are able to see any abnormalities at the time of the inspection.

It is important to note that no home is perfect. At the end of the home inspection process, we will provide a detailed report that describes the physical condition of the property, with images  highlighting what may need repair or replacement. The information provided is to allow a potential buyer to make an informed decision about moving forward with the transaction. It is not pass or fail.

This is a question that should be answered by your realtor. It is the obligation of the home inspection business to provide you and your agent with factual observations to use in the home-buying process and to relay to the seller and seller’s agent, if desired.

A home inspection includes checking for any structural issues such as foundation cracks, roof leaks, plumbing issues, electrical wiring, heating/cooling systems, insulation, windows, doors, chimneys, etc. Depending on how big the property is, a home inspection typically takes 2–4 hours.

Ensure all inspection points are free from clutter, including any closets that might lead to a crawlspace or attic, and clear some space around your home’s perimeter. It’s also important to check the functionality of all built-in appliances, electric and gas. If you don’t plan to attend the inspection, make sure your inspector has access to the home and all pets are properly contained or moved.

A home doesn’t pass or fail an inspection. Instead, a home inspection is a thorough evaluation of a home’s components. In most cases, there will be concerns marked on your home inspection report, but these are strictly informative.

A home inspection is a one-day assessment of the home’s functional systems, construction, and appliances (HVAC, water heater, stove, washer/dryer, etc.). While a home inspector can evaluate the age and condition of an appliance, he or she cannot predict its exact lifespan. Often, we will observe components of a house that are running well but are past their usual service life and note that in the report. Typically, an electric water heater will last between 10 and 15 years. On a few occasions, we have discovered 30-year-old water heaters that are still functional, but we would write in the inspection report that a replacement may be required soon. A house warranty partially covers the expense of replacing defective components.

While you can legally skip a home inspection in many cases, doing so could mean you may end up buying a home that has major issues that need to be fixed.

While a home inspector may recommend some minor repairs, they are not qualified to make major repairs. He or she can provide information about what needs to be repaired, and it might be helpful to know that information — but the decision to actually do the work lies solely with the homeowner. Not only does this give you the freedom to choose your contractors, but it also helps prevent a conflict of interest.

Lenders utilize a home assessment to ensure that the property you are considering is adequately valued/priced for the purpose of obtaining a mortgage. A home inspection assesses the state of the home and its operational systems on the date of inspection. This is done so that you do not receive anything of lesser value than what you are paying for and so that you do not incur several unanticipated fees.

A home inspection can affect appraisals for two reasons:

1) The inspector may find something wrong with the property that would lower the value of the home.
2) The inspector may find things that need repair, which could increase the value of the home. If the inspection finds issues that require repairs, then the seller has to decide whether they want to fix them themselves or hire someone else to do it. If the buyer wants to purchase the home, he or she must be willing to pay for those repairs.

Yes. Some contracts in a seller’s market exclude house inspections. After you’ve moved into your new home, we will gladly conduct an inspection. We have conducted numerous inspections of this type in the past. We can conduct either a comprehensive home inspection with a final report or a Walk and Talk Consultation.

Occasionally, a comprehensive home inspection with a report is not a possibility.

We do provide “Walk and Talk Consultations” services. This service enables us to walk the property with you, pointing out any concerns we have, so that you can make an informed decision regarding the purchase.

A home inspection is a non-invasive, one-day review of the property’s condition. We do walk on the roof whenever it is safe to do so. We do not destroy or deconstruct any portion of the property.

Remember that home inspections are often performed on properties that you do not own.

When you schedule a home inspection, you are asked to review and sign a Pre-Inspection Agreement. The Pre-Inspection Agreement states that if, in the rare event, something that “should” have been noted in the inspection was not, you can be reimbursed for the price of the inspection.

Home inspectors are occasionally blamed for damaging items, although more often than not, they “reveal” something that was already damaged or inoperable. It is a rare occurrence that a home inspector breaks or damages anything on the property. However, if this occurs, Essential Inspection Services will reimburse the cost of any damage repairs.

No. The report generated for you is intended only as a general guide to help you make your own evaluation of the overall condition of the home and is not intended to reflect the value of the premises, nor make any representation as to the advisability of purchase. The report expresses the personal opinions of the inspector based upon his visual impressions of the conditions that existed at the time of the inspection only.

We provide a very comprehensive report, a summary report, and photos with descriptions. You should expect a report within 24 hours of the completion of your inspection. If a report is needed sooner, please notify us ahead of time so we can accommodate this request for an additional charge.

Essential Inspection Services offer the following services:

• Home Inspection
• Radon Testing
• Mold Testing
• Builder’s Warranty -11th Month Inspection
• Walk & Talks
• New Construction
• Condominium Inspection
• First-Time Home Buyer-Friendly Inspectors
• Bilingual Inspectors
• Rental Inspections
• Maintenance inspections
• Individual hourly inspections of some area of concern
• Drone Roof Inspection

Yes!  Our inspectors are members of InterNACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors). We keep updated on any changes in the home inspection industry through membership and the courses they offer.

We offer discounts to our neighbors in the community that serve others! We are pleased to offer discounts to teachers, first responders, and active and retired military personnel.

We do not match a competitor’s price because we feel the service and value we provide is vastly different. We do not view this as a transaction but as an opportunity to help your family.

We offer Inspection scheduling online – Simple, quick and easy 24/7 online booking.

To contact us, please call or send a text message to 240.636.8809 or send an email to office@essentialinspect.com