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The Inspection Report
After the inspection, we produce a computer generated, 7
page report for the complete home inspection. The report
includes a detailed analysis of the home, including each
of the major areas listed below. Radon reports are ready
48 hours after beginning the test, and mold analysis is
generally ready 5 business days after the sample is
taken. Additional copies of the report can be faxed or
emailed at no extra charge.
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Complete Home
Inspections
 A complete home inspection is conducted upon completion
of the home, and is generally before the contract
between buyer and seller is finalized. On new
construction, it is recommended that the inspection be
conducted just before the walk-through with the builder.
Our inspector, armed with the most advanced inspecting
equipment, performs a complete structural and mechanical
analysis, carefully inspecting each of the following:
Exterior: siding, trim, exterior doors, windows,
gutters, downspouts, deck, landings, sidewalks,
driveway, chimney, crawl space, foundation, roof
Interior: interior doors, floors, walls, ceilings,
windows, kitchen appliances, attic, attic ventilation,
attic insulation, basement structure, foundation
Plumbing: water heater, piping, venting, toilets,
tubs, showers, sinks
Electrical: main service cable, service rating, main
panel box, main disconnect, all visible wiring, wall
outlets, GFCIs, light fixtures, switches
HVAC: heating unit, cooling unit, supply and return
ducts, room registers, returns, filters
Our inspections are conducted according to the ASHI
Standards of Practice.
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Stucco Inspections
The exterior stucco on all homes is either hardcoat or
synthetic. Both types of stucco have the ability to
retain water and cause moisture levels to be 30% or
higher beneath the surface of the stucco. Synthetic
stucco experiences more problems than hardcoat due to
consistent improper installation by synthetic stucco
installers. Our inspectors use Moisture Scanners and
probe meters to determine the moisture level present
beneath the surface of the exterior, and can tell you
whether or not the stucco poses a threat to the life of
your home. Our inspectors can also tell you how to
maintain and care for your stucco.
When you have a stucco inspection conducted by GHIS,
you also have the option to purchase a warranty from
Moisture Free Warranty. Moisture Free Warranty gives you
peace of mind knowing that your home is protected
against moisture intrusion. To learn more about the
Moisture Free Warranty, visit their website at www.moisturewarranty.com. If you would like to purchase
a warranty, let us know when you book your inspection,
or let the stucco inspector know on-site.
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Construction
Phase Inspections
Are you building a custom home and want to make sure it
is being built correctly right from the start? GHIS
performs inspections during the framing stage of the
home building process. The framing stage takes place
just before the drywall is installed in the home. A
construction phase inspection is a structural analysis
ascertaining that all load bearing and framing
components were properly installed. The inspection
certifies that the home is structurally sound and
compliant with building code standards. The process also
includes an examination of the electrical, plumbing, and
HVAC rough-ins.
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One Year
Warranty Inspection
The sale of a home typically includes a one year
warranty in which the builder will correct any problems
encountered within the first year of ownership of a new
home. 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. Don't get stuck with
those home maintenance bills later! Have your home
inspected before the warranty runs out.
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 Commercial
Inspections
Light commercial inspections are a general overview of
all the major systems and components present in the
building including the structure, HVAC, plumbing,
electrical, exterior and interior (similar to the
regular inspection). Light commercial inspections
include low-rise office complexes, apartment complexes,
investment properties, restaurants, warehouses, etc.
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Radon Gas Testing
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends
radon testing on the sale of all new or old homes. Radon
is a deadly gas emitted from decaying Uranium and enters
a house through small cracks and openings. Radon is
especially high among areas when granite is present.
GHIS conducts a 48 hour radon test. We leave a
continuous monitor in the house, and return two days
later to pick it up. Results of the radon test are ready
shortly thereafter.
Click here for information on interpreting your radon
results.
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Toxic Mold & Indoor Air Quality Testing
Recent medical studies show that mold is one of the most
common causes of allergic symptoms and certain types of
mold can cause fatal disorders. The presence of mold,
fungus and mildew can create a health hazard in a home,
and homes should be tested to determine the type of mold
growing in a home. Our inspectors can perform swab, air
and carpet samples to determine the type of mold and the
amount of mold growing in the home. The samples are sent
to a laboratory for analysis and the results are
generally available in five business days. It is also
important to understand why mold is growing in a home.
Our inspectors can tell you possible reasons why the
home is experiencing a problem with mold growth and what
repairs are needed to eliminate mold growth in the home.
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Reinspections
Once you have a home inspection done, we are available
to come back at a reduced rate to make sure repairs were
properly made. This helps you to ascertain that items
noted in the inspection report were repaired correctly
and according to current codes. Reinspections help you
to further protect your investment and your home from
future damage resulting from improper repairs.
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Pool/Spa Inspections
We also have trained inspectors on staff able to
complete pool/spa inspections. The inspection includes
an analysis of the exterior of the pool, the pool
shell/coping, pool equipment including the heater, pump,
filter, and electrical components. A separate report is
given to the client for the pool/spa inspection.
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Major Component
Inspections
A major component inspection is a discounted,
pre-listing inspection that will identify any problems
with the home's major components. It is intended for
houses currently on the market, or soon to be on the
market, to help the homeowner identify and correct any
problems before a buyer becomes interested. This can
make the home more appealing to a buyer, knowing that
any issues with the major systems in the home have
already been resolved. Major component inspections start
as low as $175. For a complete list of items included in
this inspection,
click here.
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Maintenance
Reinspection
A maintenance reinspection is when we come back out to
your house about 1-2 years after your original
inspection. We will help you identify any areas of the
house that are in need of maintenance, give you advice
on any issues that have arisen with the house, and
answer any questions you may have. Maintaining your
house is imperative to protecting your investment.
Maintenance reinspections start as low as $150.
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 Green
Verification Inspections
It is estimated that the Green Building Marketplace will
grow to between $40-$70 billion annually by the year
2012. Also, an NAHB study found that 64 percent of
consumers will consider buying a Green home. As
accredited verifiers, GHIS, Inc. is already helping
local builders achieve Green certification for their
homes currently under construction.
What is “Green Certification”?
The National Association of Home Builders has
partnered with the ICC (International Code Council) and
ANSI to develop the first national “Green” certification
program – the NAHB National Green Building Program. This
process utilizes independent, 3rd party Verifiers to
confirm that a home is “Green.” The program focuses on
Green building principles in the following areas:
- Energy Efficiency
- Water Efficiency
- Resource Efficiency
- Lot and Site Development
- Indoor Environmental Quality
The NAHB Research Center trains, accredits and monitors
its verifiers to assure that they meet the following
criteria and perform the following functions:
- Are knowledgeable in building science and green
building principles
- Must complete the Research Center’s required training
and pass the required exams
- Can verify homes to either the Guidelines or the ANSI
National Green Building Standard
- Conduct and document pre-drywall site inspections and
final inspections
- Review documentation justifying points claimed by the
builder
- Suggest opportunities for the builder to earn points
not originally claimed
- Submit all verification reports in support of
certification to the NAHB Research Center
Through the NAHB National Green Building Program,
GHIS, Inc. is helping buyers take advantage of financial
incentives for energy-efficient and Green homes, along
with helping builders find ways to reduce waste and
streamline production. To find out more about the NAHB
Green Building Program, visit www.nahbgreen.org, or call
us at GHIS!
Energy Audits
and HERS Ratings
We are proud to provide
rating services to qualify new homes for the ENERGY
STAR® label. ENERGY STAR qualified new homes are
substantially more energy efficient than homes built to
the minimum code requirements. Even in states with more
rigorous energy codes, the U.S. EPA ensures that ENERGY
STAR remains the symbol for truly energy-efficient
performance. These homes are good for businesses,
consumers, and the environment. Learn more about
ENERGY STAR qualified new homes at
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home.index
An Energy Audit is the first step in assessing
how much energy your home consumes and in evaluating
what measures you can take to make your home more energy
efficient. An audit will show you problems that may,
when corrected, save you significant amounts of money
over time. During the audit, GHIS can pinpoint where
your house is losing energy. A variety of techniques and
equipment are used to determine the energy efficiency of
the structure, including blower door testing, which
measures the extent of leaks in the building envelope, a
duct blast test, which measures the extent of leaks in
the duct system outside of the building envelope, and an
infrared camera, which can reveal hard-to-detect areas
of air infiltration and missing insulation.
HERS (Home Energy Rating Systems) ratings
performed by RESNET-certified Home Energy Raters provide
a standardized evaluation of a home's energy efficiency
by calculating the relative energy use index, called the
HERS® Index. A HERS Index of 100 represents the energy
use of the "American Standard Building" and an Index of
0 (zero) indicates that the Proposed Building uses no
net purchased energy (a Zero Energy Building). Blower
door and duct blast test results, along with other
measurements and software inputs gathered from the home
at the time of the rating (or from the plans for the
home) are placed into the software program to generate
the HERS Index. In short, a HERS rating is a more
complex evaluation of the home compared to a simple
energy audit.
A HERS rating is used to certify a newly
constructed home under several "Green" building
programs, including the ENERGY STAR program, NAHB
program, LEED-Homes or the Department of Energy's
Builder's Challenge program. A HERS rating can also
qualify a home owner or home buyer for an energy
efficient mortgage (EEM) or an energy improvement
mortgage (EIM). Finally, a HERS rating can give a
homeowner invaluable information regarding a home's
energy performance (or lack thereof), and can not only
provide guidance in making decisions regarding energy
efficiency upgrades but can model the projected energy
savings and aid in equipment selection.
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 Thermography
GHIS is now offering the
latest in home inspection technology!
With the use of an Infrared Camera, we can now:
- Locate damaged or missing insulation
- Detect moisture in the building's envelope
- Locate air leaks in walls, floors, ceilings and around doors and windows
- Perform an energy audit locating heat loss causing high utility bills
Here's how it works: An Infrared Camera produces
thermal images. All objects emit infrared radiation as a
result of their temperature. The higher the temperature
of an object, the greater the motion of the molecules
and atoms will be; therefore, the more infrared energy
emitted by the object. An Infrared Camera has the
ability to produce an image of invisible infrared light
emitted by objects due to heat or lack of heat,
otherwise known as an object's Thermal Condition. The
camera produces a picture similar to a television
picture of heat radiation. In layman's terms, an IR
Camera can "see" where the naked eye cannot!
There are countless other uses of Thermography. Our
Military uses it for surveillance. Firefighters use the
camera to locate people in burning buildings and it has
security applications as well.
Call TODAY for more information about Thermography and
the Home Inspection performed by our Level 1
Thermographer!
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Septic Inspections
If a home has a septic tank,
how do you know if there are any problems? Where
is the septic tank and drain field? What type of
regular maintenance is needed? What type of system
is installed? There are lots of questions
homeowners may have regarding a septic system, and these
questions can be daunting, especially for a first-time
home buyer. GHIS, Inc. can perform a Septic System
evaluation, and will walk the homebuyer through the
system. We will get copies of all documents on
file with the Health Department, and will help to
provide peace of mind for your client!
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Call
today to schedule your inspection! |
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