First things first
Despite what many believe, a Home Inspection does not “pass or fail” a house. At the end of the day, the Home Inspection report gives you the information you need to negotiate a contract, negotiate repairs, inform you of defects, and bring awareness to safety issues that are found prior to closing.
Keep in mind, no house is perfect. We specifically are looking for things that are significantly deficient, unsafe, near the end of their service life, or not functioning properly. Some issues found in a home inspection are very minor issues that can be fixed yourself or by a qualified handyman. Others can be major. That is why a Home Inspection is a must.
Inspectors are not concerned with cosmetic issues. Unless they could potentially lead to the failure of a system, or they pose a health and safety risk, they probably will not end up on the Inspection Report. Major areas of concern are, but not limited to: water damage, structural issues, roof system, electrical system, plumbing issues, pest & insects, and any issues with the HVAC system.
What does an inspection include?
A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a house, from the roof to the foundation. On average, a single-family home inspection usually takes 2-4 hours to complete, though this is heavily dependent on the size and condition of the home. After the inspection process, the inspector will send the client an inspection report (in most cases that same day) that covers their findings complete with pictures, analysis, and recommendations.
The standard home inspection will cover the condition of the home's heating system; central air conditioning system (temperature permitting); interior plumbing system; electrical system; the roof, attic and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors; and the foundation, basement and structural components.
It is important to note that there may be some exceptions. If certain areas are inaccessible (locked door, tenant's belongings in the way) or there are unsafe conditions (severely steep roofs, poor structural integrity, risk of electrical shock) the inspector will explain the situation and note that they were not able to assess that specific area or system. Here is a link to the ASHI Standards of Practice we follow at CCI + .
for investors
A Property Report, sometimes referred to as an Investor Inspection, is a stripped-down version of a normal home inspection that gives investors a snapshot of the condition of the property they are interested in purchasing. With these, we are only looking at the 5 major components of the home, so naturally these won’t take as long to complete as home inspections.
A Property Consultation is us walking through the property with the client, pointing out key items that are of concern to the inspector. There are no reports provided for these being they are just walkthroughs. These are 30 minutes to an hour long and are straight forward, to the point, no extra fluff.