Your Inspection Report

HOME INSPECTIONS & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, INC.

Your Inspection Report

Your report will provide you with an unbiased, professional assessment of the condition of the house. It provides you with an expert opinion on the physical structure and various systems within a house. The inspection process typically takes about 3 hours to complete. (This may vary with the size and condition of the home.) We encourage you to accompany Mike on the inspection, and ask questions which will help you become familiar with the home. He can also help answer questions on routine maintenance and upkeep of the home. If you are considering making changes to the home, we can make recommendations for structural, HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems and code compliancy to help you make a more informed decision about future use of the property. You will receive a full written report with a cover letter that addresses any problems and/or recommendations. No house is perfect. Even the best built and maintained home will always have a few items in less than perfect condition. Included on your inspection report: 1. Roof - material, vents, flashing, gutters & downspouts, ventilation 2. Exterior - siding, trim, gutters & downspouts, eaves, soffit & fascia, windows, doors, porches & decks, steps & rails, garages & carports, garage doors. 3. Foundations, Basements, Structure - foundation, framing & structural integrity, material, ventilation, drainage, sump pumps. 4. Plumbing - supply, interior lines, water pressure, fixtures & faucets, hot water source. 5. Electrical - exterior service line & meter, main panel & subpanels, wiring, interior components, grounding & bonding, GFCI & AFCI. 6. Heating & Fireplace - warm air systems, hydronic system, space heating, fireplace damper, door & hearth. 7. Air Conditioning - equipment, ductwork, filters/grills, thermostat. 8. Insulation - type, thickness, R-value. 9. Interior - conditions of the interior including walls, ceilings, floors, rails & stairs.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. DO I NEED A HOME INSPECTION WHEN MY BANK IS HAVING AN APPRAISAL DONE?

A. YES!

Q. ARE THESE THE SAME INSPECTION PROCESS?

A. A house appraisal is an independent evaluation of the current market value of the property. The purpose of the appraisal is to set the current value of the house so that a lender may determine how much it can loan the buyer. The appraiser looks at similar properties in the area and the prices at which they were sold to set a value to the home. The difference is that a home inspector conducts a thorough evaluation of the house's major systems and structural integrity. Whereas the appraiser is typically working for the bank, the home inspector is working for you!

Q. HOW LONG WILL MY INSPECTION TAKE?

A. Most inspections take about two to four hours in addition to the report preparation time. These times may vary depending on the size, age and condition of the home.

Q. SHOULD I BE PRESENT DURING THE HOME INSPECTION?

A. YES! We recommend that you be present and you are always welcome to ask questions or advice during the time of inspection.

Q. WHAT CAN I EXPECT ON MY REPORT?

A. Your report will tell you the condition of the home, including any needed repairs. No house is going to be perfect and it is up to you to decide how any problems that the inspection may uncover might affect your decision of purchasing the home. If major problems are discovered, you may want to try and negotiate with the seller to have them repaired, or renegotiate your offer to more favorable terms to do the repairs yourself.

Q. WHAT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MY REPORT?

A. You can call our office and Mike will be happy to discuss all the aspects of your home and your report at length with you.

A WORD ABOUT PRICES AND INSPECTIONS

One of the biggest mistakes that can be made is to have someone in your family or a "handyman" or "contractor" take a look at your house. In Missouri there are no certifications or state qualifications for someone to call themselves a home inspector. Ask questions, how many inspections have they done, where does there certification come from? What did it take to get it? A trained, professional, and experienced inspector will not be able to do your inspection on your lunch hour!

Sometime real estate agents may want to stay clear of quality inspectors, and have inspections fees as low as possible. Some "inspectors" work for unrealistically low rates to please the agents and get referrals. A shorter, cheaper inspection may please some agents who want the property to fly to closing without a hitch from a problem that would turn up from a more comprehensive inspection. This buyer is then left out in the cold.

Home Inspections & Construction Management, Inc. believes that you, the client, deserves an unbiased, and unencumbered review and report of actual property conditions. Your report will summarize the condition of the homes systems, point out the need for any major repairs and identify areas that may need attention in the near future. It is intended to maximize your knowledge of the property in order to make an intelligent decision before buying or selling a home.

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A WORD ABOUT ERRORS AND OMISSIONS:

Who is protected by Errors and Omissions Insurance? The Inspector! If having an inspector who is insured is important to you then, by all means pay the extra money and hire an insured home inspector. If you want to protect your home then buy a Home Buyers Warranty insurance policy.

At the present time only 7 states require home inspectors to be insured; Missouri is not one of those states. However realize that the seller who is providing you with a disclosure statement is also not insured and most likely neither are the Realtor, Termite Inspector, Appraiser, Well & Septic Inspector, or any other professional who may be involved with the purchase or sale of your home.

Paying more for an inspection doesn't necessarily mean that you are getting more for your money. A house inspection is not a warranty. Your best insurance is to choose the best qualified home inspector, with a proven track record, to inspect your home.