If this is your first home inspection allow us to point out four common misconceptions;
1.) A home inspection is not a home appraisal; one establishes a value of a home usually for mortgage qualification, the other provides a client with critical analysis of a home's condition.
2.)A home inspection does NOT yield a Yes/No "verdict".Rather, the home inspector informs the client of critical considerations from which the client will make informed decisions and, potentially, negotiation approaches.
3.) A home inspection does not find every problem. By following the Standards of Practice (SOP) for Home Inspections, inspectors concentrate on issues that are observed only at the time of inspection and are not capable of finding issues that are hidden from view (or not otherwise apparent thru the course of following the SOP), that might eventually occur, or that occur only under specific conditions. A home inspection is a snap-shot in time that supplements the seller's disclosure.
4.) Competent home inspectors typically aren't trade's specialists. While this may sometimes happen, it's actually more ideal & balanced that Home Inspectors be property-generalists, with broad backgrounds and myriad skills across multiple disciplines (for example general contracting exp.); but not specific plumbing, masonry, HVAC, electrical, foundation, or roofing -only specialists.
Here IS what the BHIS home inspector does for you:
We will examine and assess virtually all aspects of the property in question, usually with your participation. Through this process maintenance concerns, enhancements, attributes, background, and more will be discussed, and this is useful for deepening the knowledge of the property in consideration.
The truly critical issues however will fall into four categories:
Major defects.A structural failure or an active roof leak, for example.
Things that may cause major defects.Unsealed flashings, or poor grading are examples.
Things that could effect your ability to insure, finance, or legally occupy the home.Hazardous electrical fuse block configurations or environmental violations for example.
Personal safety hazards that could affect one's health &/or liability.Carbon monoxide concern is one example, obscured trip hazards and unsafe decks are others.
Anything in these categories will be examined and described. Often a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property.
Our COMPLETE Home-Inspections include the following assessments:
Driveways, walkways, patios, breezeways
Water drainage and property grading
Roofing, extrusions, flashings, and trim
Rain troughs and downspouts
Material, skylight, chimney, flue vents and other roof aspects
Decks and porches,
Eaves, trim, soffit and fascia
Exterior cladding including Siding & Paint
Foundation, Basement, and crawl-space
Moisture penetration evidence
Air conditioning and other cooling approaches
Furnaces and Heating
Water & gas valves
Water heater system
Plumbing appliances and valves
Sump pumps with accessible mechanisms
Electrical service entrance line and meter
Main disconnect with amperage
Electrical panels and configurations
Finish condition
Grounding solutions and bonding
Circuit interrupt outlets to protect the homeowner
Visible Fireplace Components
Insulation & ventilation
Garage condition, including door safety sensors and Firewalls