We will conduct a thorough inspection of your home from the ground up. As licensed and insured inspectors we inspect the following items of your prospective home. The inspection will be sent to you usually via email unless you would like it sent another way. Once you receive your report please call us to review it.
When deciding on your home inspector there are many things you can ask during the process. Below are just some questions you might want to ask when deciding on a home inspector. Please see our frequently asked questions section as well.
What professional organizations do they belong to?
There are several excellent professional organizations in the home inspection industry. Your home inspector should belong to at least one.
www.nachi.org
www.ashi.org
How important is price?
Price is important in any purchase. As a general rule home inspection prices should be within 5% to 10% for the same size property. Some companies price in an a la carte style. This means that they charge a base price and add on additional charges such as HVAC systems or crawlspaces. This can be confusing and lead to higher costs for you the home buyer. We at Special Forces Home Inspections charge a flat fee based on the square footage of your home. In doing this we make some natural assumptions such as a typical 3500 square foot home will have multiple HVAC systems. At the end of the day this makes pricing simpler for you the buyer and easier to budget your home buying expenses.
What other certifications do they have?
As in any profession the more certifications and training you have the better you will be at your job. For example if a home inspector is trained in mold inspections they can often analyze mold and give you an interpretation of what the problem might be. This will often alleviate having to pay for a second inspection and the cost associated with another inspection.
Can they give you any references?
Who have they done business with and are they respected in the market place. Memberships in real estate associations and other local groups.
Are They Insured?
Every home inspector in the state of South Carolina must be licensed by the states Residential Builders Commission. This is a specific licensing process and you should never hire a home inspector who is not licensed in the state of South Carolina for a purchase in this state.
Errors and Omission insurance as well as liability insurance are the signs that a business is willing to back up their service. It also indicates that the company has a history and is willing to submit checks from an independent source.
What does there inspection report look like?
Our reports are anywhere from 4-10 pages depending on the size of the home and number of items requiring comment. We try to make the report as simple to understand as possible. The report comes in word or PDF format.Our goal is to make our reports understandable to anyone who may read them.
Fireplace and Components: Type of fireplace, damper, flue, mantel, hearth and chimney are all evaluated and commented on. Chimney flashing and building materials are observed for leaks and proper construction.
Roof System: Building materials of roof and roof valleys, type of sheathing, insulation are all evaluated. Roof is checked for leaks and general condition is commented on.
Safety Devices: Locks on doors and windows, fire alarms, GFCI breakers and/or outlets, and stair or deck railings are all evaluated. Home alarm systems are not evaluated as this would require personal information from the current owner. If there are specialty devices installed in the home they will be addressed on a case by case basis.
Water Heaters: Style, model, capacity, serial number and general condition are all evaluated. Installation configuration and safety features including wiring size, breaker size, pressure relief valve and safety pan are evaluated. Location is annotated and life expectancy based on manufactures warranty.
Ventilation: Type of ventilation is annotated. Other items such as animal barriers, do powered roof vents operate and other functions of proper home ventilation are all evaluated and commented on.
Electrical Components: All electrical outlets are checked for correct wiring configuration. Electrical switches are checked to insure they operate correctly; as well as breakers and the entire electrical panel. GFCI outlets are tested, and all wires in the electrical panel are checked to insure that they are the correct size for the electrical load they carry. Additional electrical devices such as fans, exterior lights and door bells are also evaluated.
Structural Integrity: The homes overall structure is evaluated and commented on. This includes possible wood rot, crawlspace, and foundation.
Steps, Stairs and Decks: All steps (interior and exterior) are evaluated structurally and for safety; including trip hazards. Any decks present will be evaluated for safety and structural integrity; as well as wood rot.
Heating and Cooling Systems: The HVAC system is run and checked to insure they operate correctly. Temperature differential is measured to test cooling and heating functions. Cooling temperature can only be tested when the outside temperature is above 65 degrees F as running the A/C in temperatures below 65 degrees F can damage A/C condenser. Model and serial number as well as age are annotated. Life expectancy is estimated based on MFG warranty. Location of air handler, condenser and heat pump is annotated. Overall condition of duct system and HVAC system is annotated.
Walkway and Driveways: Overall condition is annotated to include any possible trip hazards or damage.
Appliances: All appliances are run through a complete cycle and tested for operation; these results are annotated in our report.
Plumbing: All toilets, sinks, tubs, showers and exterior hose bibs are tested. They are inspected for proper function and identify any leaks Type of plumbing and comments are annotated in the report.
Garage, Carports and/or Exterior Buildings: Garage openers are tested for function and safety. Structural integrity of these buildings is also evaluated and annotated.
Grading and Drainage: Water flow towards and away from property, and possible seepage towards the home. Effects of possible water penetration onto foundation or crawl space are evaluated.
Windows and Doors: All windows and doors are checked for proper operation. This includes framing, locks, and screens. Trim and framing is checked for wood rot and water penetration. Type of windows is annotated in our report.
Attic: Type of attic access and location are written into the report. Overall condition of the attic including, type of insulation, ventilation, and flooring are all annotated in our report.
Gutters and Downspouts: If the house has gutters they are inspected for function and operation.
Pool Equipment: Pool and installed equipment are inspected for functionality and any visible leaks. This is a functionality check, should you desire a detailed inspection we recommend that you contact a licensed pool technician.
This is just an overview of the total inspection; many other items are evaluated in conjunction with the total evaluation. Cosmetic items such as paint quality are not inspected unless the inspection is a new home or punch list inspection. Please contact us for a further explanation of your home inspection. |
