What is a home inspection?
A home inspection is a visual inspection of most of the accessible parts of the property in accordance with American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) standards of practice. Over 400 items are checked including major systems, i.e. exterior, roof, structure, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems and the attic. Unlike many other inspection firms, we mount the roof whenever possible and crawl accessible attics. We help customers understand more about what they are purchasing and every day inform buyers about important maintenance, repair and safety items.
How long does it take?
A typical inspection of a property under 2000 sq. ft. lasts approximately 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours. We do suggest that you reserve a minimum of three hours. However, be aware that occasionally an inspection will take as long as four hours or more to provide you the best service we can.How are you different from the competition?
First, read through the info on this web page. If you've dealt with another inspection firm in the past, you will quickly see the difference. Here are some notables:- We are full-time professionals -- this is not a sideline business. Many inspectors perform inspections part-time.
- We've performed over 20,000 inspection in over 13 years in business. Many inspection firms have been in business less than five years.
- We operate out of a business you can visit -- not out of a car, a basement or a garage.
- Our inspectors use high-tech computers to create an individualized narrative report just for you. Many other firms use carbon paper forms with check-off boxes and limited space for hand written comments. Which do you think serves your interests better?
- When possible, we mount the roof and crawl the attic -- many others don't... or won't.
- We have a full line of property and environmental inspection options.
- We take our job and our customers seriously and have joined professional organizations and gained professional credentials - many others have done neither.
- Building a new home? We have code certified inspectors on staff.
- We do not perform repairs on homes we inspect. Rest assured that our report reflects our true opinion of the property and is not influenced by the desire to gain remodeling work.
- We have a community education program and have been guest speakers at local and national events.
What are your most frequently found defects?
Almost every home we inspect, whether two years old or 150, has one or more electrical defects. These defects are sometimes age related but are quite often created by amateur do-it-yourself electricians. Roofing is another common concern, and we often identify defects in brand new roofs. Also, evidence of water intrusion is a common occurrence.What we don't do...
We don't see through walls, we don't predict the future, we don't worry about cosmetics and we don't promise to find every single defect in the home. A home inspection is a generalist's perspective, much like that of an M.D. general practitioner. We give the home a good general physical but aren't performing an MRI, blood tests and a CAT scan. If you want specialist evaluations (engineers, architects, sewer camera inspection, infrared leak detection) etc) we can help arrange for such evaluations at an additional cost. Check out the ASHI Standards of Practice to help you understand more about what we do and don't do. It may not be a week of tests at the "Mayo Clinic for Homes", but we're sure you will agree you get a lot for your money.Is an inspection necessary for new construction?
Absolutely. While many new homes are well built and free of significant defects, we regularly find serious defects in new construction. Chimneys have been rebuilt and roofs reshingled as the result of our inspection. Electrical concerns, unsafe furnace installations and improper joist installations have all been found during our new construction inspections. Even without serious concerns, an inspection can help identify important items for a pre-move-in punch-list. It is common for problems to be identified that might not be noticeable to a homeowner until after the builder's warranty has expired. Did you know that complaints against builders far exceed any other licensed category in the State of Michigan? The State processes thousands of complaints against builders each year.
May I be present?
Absolutely! We strongly encourage your presence at the inspection. Contrary to popular opinion, our job is not just to inspect the property but also to educate. This can only be achieved if you are present at the time of the inspection.How will I know the condition of the house?
During the course of the inspection, your inspector will point out findings and answer any questions that you have. You will want to be available to the inspector, but not interfere with the inspection process. Let the inspector know your concerns as the inspection starts and feel free to ask questions about findings. Point out anything that you discover during the inspection and provide an extra pair of eyes. Throughout the inspection, your inspector will be taking notes and composing a report that will give their findings and opinions. See our Guide to getting the Most from Your Home Inspection for additional important advice.
Do I get a written report?
Absolutely! The written report is composed on-site with a powerful hand-held computer that contains a proprietary knowledge-base available to your inspector as (s)he performs the inspection. Just give us a call and we'll email you a sample home inspection report.
What are your qualifications?
All of our inspectors are certified ASHI members with years of experience inspecting homes just like yours. Further, our inspectors receive on-going training locally. Regular training sessions are held and inspectors are given required weekly readings. Our inspectors have access to a nation-wide network of inspectors through a comprehensive private internet forum, and have the benefit of our extensive technical library at our Plymouth office.
Do you have Errors & Omissions insurance?
Yes, we do. Most home inspecors don't.
How long have your inspectors been inspecting homes?
Our inspectors are full ASHI members with a minimum of 2 1/2 years of experience (our senior inspector has been inspecting homes for over 13 years).How do I book my Inspection?
Just call us at one of the numbers listed below or use our online contact form for further information. We look forward to hearing from you!!
 |
More ASHI Members than ANYONE in the state of Michigan |
| Home | Services
| Comparisons | FAQs
| Contact Us |
| Educational | Tech
Library |
| Credentials | Staff
Articles | Pre-Closing
Checklist | WWW Links
Contact us now to find out why we're #1...
Serving Southeastern Michigan
Phones: 734-453-7645
Fax: 734-453-4812
or email at: inspect@inspect1.com