Common Questions
Is getting a home inspection really all that important?
Honestly, its vital. Unless you are an expert home builder, you should really have a home inspection.
There are all kinds of defects that aren't immediately apparent to the average home buyer and some of them can have really significant consequences for the home.
A home inspector should investigate your potential home thoroughly and impartially so you can be informed about the property and have peace of mind that there won't be any unpleasant surprises later.
So, yes, please get a home inspection. Even if you don't use us, get a home inspection. We'd rather you use someone else than buy a house without an inspection.
Which other services do I really need? House buying is expensive and I don't want to waste any money.
We understand that completely.
A termite inspection is very important and, with us, it doesn't cost you any extra. You should absolutely do that.
The sewer inspection is important because sewer lateral problems can be painfully expensive to fix (particularly if they involve tearing up the street). It's far better to know about those problems before you are financially responsible for them. You might be able to get by without a sewer inspection in new construction if there aren't large trees on the property, but we don't recommend it. Newer construction materials are often actually more likely to develop improper slopes.
The radon inspection is a good idea because of the health risks, particularly if your house has a finished basement that you'll be spending a lot of time in. You might elect not to do a radon inspection if your house is built on a slab, though.
Someone told me home inspectors are just nit-picky and they try to kill the deal. Is that true?
We tell everyone that we don't care if they buy the house or not, we only care that they can make informed decisions.
We are nit-picky, but we also live in the real world. We'll tell you everything we can about the house, even the really minor stuff, but we'll also help direct your attention to the major items (if any) that you may want to seriously consider addressing.
We aren't trying to kill the deal, but we aren't trying to not kill the deal, either. Our job is to tell the truth and we take that very seriously.
How much is this going to cost?
It will depend on which services you want and on the size of the house you're buying. Call us and speak with our very professional office staff to get a quote and rest easy knowing that the most thorough home inspectors in the area are going to investigate your house and tell you everything you need to know.