|
We know you have questions
concerning your home inspection.
To make it easy for you, we've
compiled a list of the top questions so you can get the answers you need.
How long does the inspection take?
A typical inspection
takes about 2 hours on average. Please note, this is only an
average and some homes may take less time, or more time depending on
the condition of the home, the size of the home, and how many questions
the client or agent has for the inspector.
What does the inspection include?
During the
inspection, our inspector will look at all visible aspects of the house,
including the exterior, interior, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. The
average inspection takes approximately 2 hours. For a
construction phase inspection, the inspector will look at the structural
components, as well as the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC rough-ins. This
inspection will take approximately an hour and a half. When scheduling
your final inspection, be sure all of the utilities are turned on.
Cosmetic items and inaccessible areas are not part of the inspection
process. For a more detailed list of what each inspection included,
click here.
 What does my report include?
At the end of the
inspection, the inspector will produce a 7-page computer generated
report. Our report includes a mechanical and structural analysis
of the exterior and the interior of the home. We provide a hardcopy of the
report to you and/or your agent if present at the time of the inspection,
and we can also fax or email it. Your report is confidential and we
cannot give it to anyone without your permission. You are not required to
give the report to anyone. If you need additional copies of the report, we
can fax or email them from our office.
Do I need to let the homeowner and/or
listing agent know I have scheduled an inspection?
It
is a good idea for you or your agent to let the homeowners know we will
be at their home at the scheduled date and time. Also, please be sure to
emphasize to them to prepare their home for inspection. This includes
making arrangements for pets, moving stored items out of the way of
important components, and basically making all areas of the house
accessible for the inspection. This will allow us to do the most thorough
job possible at the home. Our inspectors do not move furniture or other
items, light pilot lights to turn the gas on, or remove items for
inspection (such as pool covers.)
What is the cancellation policy?
If you need
to reschedule your inspection, please call our office at least 24
hours in advance to avoid a $95 charge. If you are purchasing a
new construction home, you or your agent should make sure the utilities
are on at least 24 hours before your inspection is
scheduled. This usually means visiting the home to confirm all utilities
are working. On-site agents and builders have many homes to keep track of
and do not check to make sure everything is complete for the inspection.
What credentials do GHIS inspectors carry
and why are they important to me?
The State of Georgia
does not have a licensing program for home inspectors. That means that
anyone, even a person with little knowledge of homes, can call himself a
home inspector. Our inspectors are certified through the American Society
of Home Inspectors (ASHI) which is the highest nationally-recognized
organization for home inspectors today. ASHI sets guidelines for
inspecting, report writing, and ethical practices for home inspectors.
All GHIS inspectors are South Carolina licensed for homes in South
Carolina.
What insurance does GHIS carry and why is
it important to me?
GHIS carries Errors
and Omissions insurance, General Liability insurance, and Workman's
Compensation insurance. Errors and Omissions insurance protects you in
the unlikely event we do not report a major defect in your home. General
Liability protects you in the event we accidentally damage something in
the home. Workman's Compensation insurance is often required by a builder
or developer to protect them in the event our inspector gets hurt on the
job site.
Can GHIS send copies of credentials and
insurance certificates to my builder?
We can fax or
email the required documents to the builder before the inspection is
performed. Please let our office staff know if this is necessary.
Is it necessary to have a new home
inspected?
YES! Many people
feel that the county inspection and/or the walk-through with the builder
is an adequate way to inspect a new home. County inspectors spend about 15
minutes in a home (while a certified home inspector will spend 2-3 hours),
and builders are very unlikely to find problems with the homes that they
have built because of the costs associated with making repairs. We
usually find just as many problems with newer houses as with older ones.
Catching problems early on, while the home is new, can save thousands of
dollars in future repairs. If the builder does not correct all of the
defects, the homeowners will have to when they go to sell the house in the
future.
I am buying a new and/or vacant home. What
if the utilities are not on at the time scheduled for inspection?
In
new and/or vacant homes, utilities can sometimes be an issue. We make
every effort to confirm with you and your agent that the utilities will be
on for the inspection. The builder/owner should be able to turn on
temporary utilities for the purposes of the inspection and walk-thru.
Please confirm with the builder, sales office, listing agent, or homeowner
that the utilities will be on for the inspection. The number one reason
people cancel inspections is because the utilities are not on so please
make sure to give us 24 hours notice if there is a problem.
Can the inspector come back to verify that repairs were made
properly?
If you would like to
schedule a reinspect, the inspector can come back with the original report
in-hand and make sure repairs were made, for an additional charge. Please
call the office to schedule the reinspect 2 or 3 days before you
need it.
What is the Pre-inspection Agreement and do
I have to sign it?
The pre-inspection
agreement helps to ensure that you will be covered by our errors and
omissions insurance. The office will email or fax a copy to you, or
inspector will give you a copy at the inspection. The client (the
person who's name is on the report) must sign the agreement. If you
cannot attend the inspection, we can fax or email the agreement prior to
the inspection. A signed copy must be on file before the report is
released.
Do I have to attend the entire inspection?
If at all possible,
you should attend the inspection. It is best if the inspector can
point out problem areas to you and ease any additional concerns you may
have. If you cannot attend the entire inspection, you can come to the
inspection about an hour and a half after the scheduled time. At that
time, the inspector can go through the areas of concern with you.
How do I pay the inspector?
You can pay by cash,
check, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express) at the
time of the inspection. If you cannot attend the inspection, we will
need a credit card number over the phone.
What if I have questions after the
inspection takes place?
Please feel free to
ask the inspector any questions at the time of the inspection. After
the inspection, if you have additional questions please call or email
our office at
office@hargroveinspections.com and we will get you in
contact with the inspector if our "in-house" inspector is not available.
Can I send comments to GHIS about the
inspector?
We will email or fax
you an evaluation survey the day after your inspection. Honest
answers help our company and our inspectors improve and please feel free
to include additional comments. You can submit comments via email at
office@hargroveinspections.com.
What is a one-year warranty inspection?
The sale of a new
construction home typically includes a one year warranty in which the
builder will correct any problems encountered within the first year of
ownership. It is wise to have an inspection conducted shortly before
the one-year warranty expires, so you will know what to have the
builder correct.
Does GHIS offer radon gas testing and
should I have a radon test done?
The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) recommends radon testing on all homes. Radon gas
has become the nation’s number one air pollution problem. A
radon-contaminated house poses a health risk and is the principal cause of
lung cancer among nonsmokers. Radon gas can seep through many places in a
house, including, cracks in a concrete slab; cracks between and in poured
concrete and blocks; slab-footing joints; exposed soil, sump pump
openings; weeping tile; mortar joints; loose fitting pipes; granite; and
water. Mechanical devices such as fans and oil burners, which can actually
pull the radon in by lowering interior air pressure, may assist the flow
of radon into houses. Even fireplaces can have this effect. Once the
inside of a house has been made as tight as possible for energy savings,
radon has no way to disperse into the outside air. It becomes trapped and
can accumulate until it reaches dangerous levels. Radon is especially high
among areas where granite is present, and Georgia sits upon a large
reserve of granite. Radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless and can
only be detected through a radon test. Many times, there is a simple
solution to a radon problem, however, you must know about the problem in
order to fix it! A radon test only takes 48 hours. We leave either a
continuous monitor or a canister in the house, and we will return two days
later to pick it up. Results of the radon test are ready shortly
thereafter.
Does GHIS offer toxic mold testing and should I have a mold test
done?
Mold has become an
increasingly important issue to today’s homebuyer. Mold is commonly found
in homes and thrives where spores can find sources of water, including
moisture from flooding, plumbing leaks, roof leaks, showers and bathtubs,
refrigerator water pans, clothes dryers that are not vented to the
outside, improperly vented crawl spaces or attics, or water found in
houseplants. Mold can be dangerous to one’s health because a) some molds
are toxic and b) mold spores travel through the air, making it possible to
inhale mold spores. Not all molds are toxic, however, people with asthma
or allergies and people with weakened immune systems have more difficulty
coping with mold. Certain toxic molds have been linked to the death of
infants (stachybotrys), but most molds just cause allergic reactions.
Sometimes reactions can be so bad, and mold growth so substantial,
inhabitants are forced to move out of the home. We have worked with
clients in the past who have had severe health complications because of
mold growth. It is impossible for anyone to distinguish between toxic and
non-toxic molds just by visual inspection. A professional sample must be
taken and sent to a mold laboratory for analysis. If the mold in your home
is toxic, it must be cleaned by an industrial hygienist and the source of
the mold growth must be corrected. If the source is not fixed, the mold
will likely return. GHIS performs testing to determine if mold is toxic. A
swab test is used if mold can be seen. If mold can be smelled in finished
or unfinished areas of the home, an air sample is taken to
determine if mold spores are being produced inside the home. If mold is found or smelled in your home, the inspector will
recommend a mold test. If mold is found, always have it tested
If you have a question not listed
here, please email
us!
|
