When one is buying or selling a home an inspection can be useful tool. A home inspection will point out all the aspects of a home, positive and negative, and give you information to help maintain the home and keep it in its best condition. Having a home inspection before you buy can help a buyer foresee and prepare for any unpleasant and costly repairs needed.

This type of misconception is common among many home owners. Although your friend may be quite handy, he lacks the formal training and expert eye of a skilled home inspector. Home inspection is a unique service that requires training and skill to develop

Would you pay a mechanic more money to service your car if he had a medical degree? Probably not. The same applies to Home Inspection. A person who is an Architect or Engineer has no more expertise when it comes to inspecting homes than a regular inspector. The Architect or Engineer has had to undergo the EXACT same exams and training as any other inspector.  A2Z Inspections provides quality inspections at reasonable rates.

A home inspection is not a guarantee, certification, appraisal, FHA inspection, or warranty of any kind. The home inspector will not poke holes, disassemble, or deconstruct anything on the property. The inspector will not move any furniture or personal belongings to access any area of the property. In order to avoid costly damage and liability there are certain things that a home inspector cannot do to a property. A home inspector will not light a pilot or start systems that are turned off. The home inspector is also limited to the wishes of the current homeowner. The inspector cannot enter rooms, test appliances, etc. that the owner does not allow.

The buyer and seller (with the help of a real estate agent, if necessary) should communicate about the arrangements for the home inspection in order to prepare. It is often helpful if the current homeowner is present during the inspection, although it is absolutely NOT necessary. The owner should make sure that there is access to the house and all areas inside the house. It is very important that the gas and electric are turned on!

The amount of time for a home inspection varies based on the size and condition of the property. We recommend setting aside anywhere from 1-3 hours for an inspection.

It certainly isn’t required that the home owner/buyer/seller be present but it certainly is recommended. A good inspector will be able to explain any problems, point out any areas for improvement, and answer questions onsite. We want you to ask questions in order to get the most out of our services. The point of an inspection is for the buyer/seller/owner to understand more about the condition and maintenance of a property.

On the day of the inspection you will get a verbal rundown of the identified deficiencies, with the formal report delivered via email with digital photos by the following day. With your permission the report can simultaneously be sent to your Realtor. You will also have the ability to forward the report to whomever you choose.

Keep in mind that no house is perfect. Sometimes the only problems an inspection can turn up are problems that won’t significantly affect the function of the property. However, if more serious problems do turn up on a property you are trying to buy you may just have to adjust the purchase price or terms (an issue to discuss with your realtor). Any repairs or contract adjustments are completely up to the home buyer/seller/owner and not the inspector. There is no pass/fail result to an inspection.