Contrary to what we would like to believe, no home is perfect - not even a brand new one!  As a buyer it is hard to look at a house objectively, especially since you may have already become emotionally attached to a home for a variety of reasons.  It is important to have a qualified, trained, experienced inspector review a house before making an investment decision that will affect the rest of your life.

As a buyer, you can expect the following from Gerald Hargrove Inspection Services:

You can expect us to answer the phone when you call during business hours.  If it is after hours, you will receive a prompt return phone call after you leave a message.  This is important to you because it tells you two things: 

1) You can reach us when you need to-before and after the inspection.  We realize that time is of the essence in your real estate transaction. You deserve a company that will respond quickly to your needs and not hold up your transaction.

2) We have a full-time, highly trained office staff dedicated to customer service.  That means you will get the undivided attention you deserve when you call our office.  Some inspectors answer their phones while on other inspections, dividing their time and focus between two clients.  You deserve 100% of our efforts when you contact us, and you can count on it.

You can expect us to show up on time, properly dressed and identifiable as being part of Gerald Hargrove Inspection Services.  Homeowners can be wary of home inspectors, but our inspector's professionalism will put your homeowner at ease.  Ultimately this makes for an easier transaction between you and the homeowner by creating good will between the two parties.

You can expect us to educate you on the major and minor problems in the home; but explain them to you in a way that you will understand- not by using field terminology that you may not be familiar with.  Our inspectors are not hired to show off their knowledge, but to inform you on the home you are buying.  Successful homeownership for you is our goal, and knowledge of the home can help you achieve that.

We do not want to scare you away from a perfectly good home because of minor issues and/or issues that can be resolved or repaired.  Therefore, our inspector will identify the problems and recommend a course of action so you will be in a position to make confident and sound buying choices.  Our service will empower you, not hinder you in the home buying process.

You can expect a computerized report detailing the findings of the inspection.  Our report is a culmination of over 25 years in business, and therefore we know how to write reports, convey information in a concise manner, and organize the information to suit you best.  Our report will aid you in your negotiations with the seller and ultimately make the process easier between you and the seller.

You can expect excellent customer service after the inspection takes place.  You may have questions, you may have concerns, or you may need advice.  For those reasons, we employ a full time office staff to help you before, during, and after the inspection. Again, our goal is for you to be a successful homeowner living in a house we inspected for you.

You can expect us to resolve problems should they arise.  Just as no house is perfect, no inspector or inspection is perfect.  We are realistic about that.  We know hiring a home inspection company is a risk for you, and therefore we make it easy on you to choose us.

Why should a seller get a professional home inspection?

Making the decision to sell a home is a huge step for homeowners.  Making your home marketable is the goal for you as a seller, and Gerald Hargrove Inspection Services can help you achieve that.

We understand your emotional attachment to your home - maybe it was your first home, the home you raised your children in, located in a neighborhood you loved, or maybe it was just a stepping stone to your dream home.  For whatever reason, a home has great significance to its owners.  We know, because we are all homeowners ourselves.

But we must be realistic about the homes we live in.  No home is perfect, and the quicker a seller realizes that, the more marketable the property becomes.  A potential homebuyer wants to buy a home in tip-top shape, and a thorough examination of the home will help a seller attain this.

Having a home inspection before you put your house on the market will help you to identify any current or potential problem areas that can be resolved before buyers start to look at your home.  Thus your home will be in better condition for viewing, making it more marketable and will help you attain a higher sales price.

Having a home inspection will inform you of any problem areas you did not know existed, thus saving you the surprise of having to find out later during a buyer's inspection.  Knowing ahead of time what might come up can save you time, money, frustration and may spare you disappointment.

By resolving problems prior to a buyer's inspection, you may be able to avoid or reduce negotiations with the buyers' over repairs.  Repair negotiations are conducted under a tight time frame, and you may be forced to make quick decisions regarding repairs.  Having more time to get estimates from contractors, conduct the work needed, and having any follow up maintenance will save you money and frustration in the long run.

When a buyer sees that you had your home inspected beforehand, it will show to them you are willing to go the extra mile and work with them on the sale of your home.  This may make your negotiations go smoother, get you a higher selling price, and result in a quicker closing.

Having your home inspected before potential buyers look at it will ultimately make your home more marketable, save you time, money and frustration.  It will also give you a longer period to make any necessary repairs or perform maintenance to the home.

Our goal is for you to be a successful homeowner, and that includes the selling process.

For sellers, GHIS offers a full home inspection and a major component inspection.  For more information on these two services, see our Services page.