Buyer’s Home Inspection
We believe you won’t find better inspectors or a better value from any other home inspection company. You will get more of the information you need, guaranteed. Here’s what is included with every complete home inspection:
90-Day Guarantee
A good home inspection identifies problems in a house that could cost you a lot of money. A great home inspection puts you in control and can be a
very valuable negotiating tool when purchasing a home. Our experienced home inspectors perform a rigorous inspection of hundreds of items and build an awesome interactive report for you. We promise that you won’t move in to find significant unexpected repairs and we back that up with our exclusive Inspection Guarantee.
Visual Mold Assessment
Most home inspectors will not utter the word “mold”. They don’t want anything to do with it, and they are not certified to identify it. Most importantly they do not carry insurance for mold since it is an add-on to most E&O policies. They are therefore discouraged by their insurance company from discussing possible mold conditions. This is a huge disadvantage for you. 
All of our inspectors are certified mold inspectors. When we perform a home inspection, we will tell you about conditions that are conducive to mold growth – included with our home inspection at no additional charge (a $300 – $600 value). If there are conditions that could contribute to mold, you will have the option to schedule a follow-up appointment for testing at a discounted price. For a small fee plus per sample fee (to cover the cost of lab fees and supplies), we will collect the appropriate number and type of samples needed to determine the presence or absence of mold* in the living space.
*Your inspector will determine how many samples are required for your approval.
Cancelled Escrow Protection©
Quite a few escrows cancel for numerous reasons. The house could get a low appraisal, there may be unexpected repairs or you might simply change your mind. Unfortunately, you will have to pay for another appraisal and inspection. We feel your pain, so we introduced a discount to help you.
Paying for a second inspection can be costly, but you won’t have to pay full price with us. If your escrow cancels for any reason, we will inspect a second house within 45 days and give you a $100 discount off of the listed price. See details.
Thermal Image Scanning
Click to watch Infrared Thermal Imaging video
We use Thermal Infrared (IR) Cameras at every inspection to check for leaks, moisture, HVAC problems, and electrical overloads. If a home inspector isn’t using IR, they may be missing huge problems. Some home inspection companies will use a Thermal Infrared camera for an additional fee. We use it at every inspection at no additional charge ($250 value).
Aerial Roof Inspections
All of our inspectors show up prepared to inspect roofs that a lot of other home inspectors can’t inspect. They won’t get on a roof that is more than 12 feet from the ground. This excludes any two story roofs. They also cannot inspect tile or concrete roofs other than from the edge of the roof, standing on a ladder. We utilize custom high-resolution pole cameras that allow us to inspect roofs safely, thoroughly, and completely at no additional fee (a $150 value). Our method is better than a drone inspection because the inspector is not distracted by flying a drone, and is not limited by the short battery life of a drone which can cause an inspector to rush the roof inspection. Furthermore, our technique is silent and does not upset neighbor pets, etc. See more about our roof inspections HERE.
Appliances
Your appliances make everything easier – but not if they are broken! In addition to the standard appliances that are included in a home inspection, we also evaluate the washer, dryer, and refrigerator if you are keeping them. That’s right, most other home inspectors DO NOT inspect these critical appliances. We also protect you from unscrupulous home warranty contractors who try to deny coverage for appliances by documenting that they are functional at the time of inspection. This can really help you hold the home warranty accountable! Learn MORE…
Come prepared to participate!
Our inspectors are great to work with. This is your time to get your questions answered. Learn about the house you are buying. Bring a measuring tape, notepad, and camera. It may be the last time you go into the house before you close escrow. The inspector is working for you. So make the most of the inspection appointment. You will be glad you did.
Your Home Inspector is Your Advocate
Click here to see our report. Observe the detail, the infrared images, videos, and the recommendations.
Our philosophy is that you should have as much information about the house as possible. We use every tool we have to find any problems. Our inspectors detail everything with clarity (and good grammar!). We inspect hundreds of items in a house. We check everything from the foundation to the roof, and just about everything in between.
When you look at our sample report, please note the incorporation of thermal imaging in our report. We use Infrared Thermal Imaging to find leaks that can easily go unnoticed by inspectors who have not made the investment in this technology. Many discount inspectors do not use this equipment which can cost you in the long run.
Our inspectors have your best interest in mind. The very last thing we want is to have you move into your new home only to find expensive problems. We have no problem telling agents to find another inspection company if they imply that we should “ignore” certain items. If we find it, it goes in the report. Even if the seller says, “Oh, I’m fixing that later today”.
A home inspection is a detailed evaluation of a house and is intended to reveal items that substantially affect habitability. Our primary concerns are your family’s health and safety, and identifying items that could be expensive to repair that may not have been fully disclosed to you by the seller.
We have designed our inspections to reveal defects. We run plumbing fixtures for a set period of time, test electrical appliances, use thermal imaging at an appropriate interval, and test moving items (doors, windows, etc) as they might be used.
Having said that, there are several things you should not expect from a home inspection. It is not an evaluation of cosmetic or decorator items. We cannot simulate all usage conditions such as someone actually taking a shower, cooking a meal, or flushing items down a drain. A home inspection is not a guarantee that a seller must fix any of the items in the report. For example, a seller does not have to bring an older home in compliance with today’s building standards. An old house with single pane windows is not required to have double pane windows installed for you. We do not inventory the items in the house, and we do not confirm the accuracy of the MLS statements. If you are buying an older home please visit our Insider’s Guide to buying older houses.
What NOT to expect from a home inspection
When choosing a property inspection company for your home, consider your options carefully. Home inspectors are not generic, and they are not all the same. Just like most other services a good one costs a few dollars more. But a good inspection can be worth thousands of dollars in seller concessions or repairs.
Asking for Repairs
We understand that no one involved with the sale wants expensive repairs to turn up during the inspection. But it is important to all parties that the major defects are identified. A thorough inspection protects the buyer from unexpected repairs and the seller from liability for non-disclosure after the sale. Your agent will receive our report tools to help them build a professional, detailed Request For Repair Addendum faster and easier than ever – right from your report!
The Real Estate Inspection Company follows the NACHI Standards of Practice. Please review these standards prior to the inspection so you know what to expect from your inspection, and what your inspector will and will not inspect.
