A home can’t fail an inspection. A professional home inspection provides you with an independent, unbiased view of any problems and their solutions, so that you will have all the facts you need to make a sound, informed decision.

Depending on the size and condition of the home, a thorough home inspection will take no more than four hours, usually between two to three hours. Ideally, you will accompany me, your inspector, during the inspection, so that you’ll have visual reinforcement of your written report.

I take my inspection reports seriously. Every inspection is a complete and thorough analysis of all the major systems and components in the home. The report includes a clear description of what I have found, with any problem areas noted so you can easily identify them.

A thorough home inspection will include the following:

~ Roof (shingles, flashings, chimneys, vents, trim and gutters, drip edges, skylights, downspouts, and other visible roof related items)

~ Attics (insulation, ventilation, rafters, joists and collar ties, trusses, wiring attachments, and other visible related items)

~ Plumbing and Fixtures (water pressure, water distribution system, hose bibs, sinks and faucets, bath/showers and toilets, sanitary system, and other plumbing system components)

~ Interior (floors and ceilings, walls, stairs (if applicable) and banisters, finishes, sinks, cabinets, shelving, built-in appliances, smoke detectors and safety-related items, and other visible interior-related components)

~ Heating and Cooling Systems (furnace, air cleaning parts, ductwork, electronic monoxide testing, air conditioner and lines, and other visible related HVAC components)

~ Electrical Systems (service entry and clearances, service panel, switches and outlets, visible wiring and junction boxes, grounding system, and other related electrical components)

~ Basements, Crawl Spaces, and Foundation (insulation, ventilation, posts, vapor barriers, utility attachment, structural items, floors and walls, and columns)

~ Exterior (moisture damage, grading and drainage, siding materials, attachments, windows, doors, sashes and lintels, vents, entryways, and other visible exterior related components)

~ Electrical Service and Meter Box

~ Decks and Porches

~ Fireplaces

~ Structural Elements

~ Main Disconnects and Service Amperage

A. Certification and Licensing:

Your inspector should hold a current, valid license in the subject property’s state. Certification and Licensing indicates that your inspector continues to meet requirements for licensing. Tri-State Home Inspections is a Certified Master Inspector

B. Exams:

Your inspector should have passed the difficult National home inspector exam as well as any state exams. Passing exams indicates that an inspector has a certain level of home inspection proficiency. Tri-State Home Inspections LLC has passed all exams to be a Certified Master Inspector and Licensed.

C. Insurances:

Your inspector should have the three following kinds of coverage: Errors and Omissions– to provide coverage in case the inspector misses something that they should have found such as a rotting floor that was accessible to the inspector. General Liability – to provide coverage for other, general issues such as damage caused by the inspector to the subject property. Tri-State Home Inspections LLC carries these insurances and will provide proof upon request.

D. Independence:

Your inspector should be able to show that he has no financial interest in the purchase, sale, closing, repair or maintenance of the subject property. When an inspector has no financial interest in the subject property, he has no reason to give anything other than his candid, professional opinion of a property. An inspector who is not independent may be paid only if the property closes so he may not report all problems or the extent of all problems. An inspector who is not independent may report that certain repairs are needed (when in fact they are not necessary) and then offer to make those repairs himself for an additional fee. Tri-State Home Inspections LLC belongs to the International Assoc. of Home Inspectors. (InterNACHI). The InterNACHI code of ethics requires that we have no financial interest in subject properties. I do not accept referral fees from any repair or maintenance providers.

E. Formal Training and Education:

Your inspector should be a graduate of an accredited home inspector training center and has on the hand work experience with inspecting as well as construction.

F. Thoroughness:

Your inspector should be very thorough and look at everything. He should climb into scuttle holes if he fits. He should crawl through crawlspaces if he fits. You want him to look at everything that is accessible to him. Tri-State Home Inspections LLC inspections take 2-4 hours depending on the size and age of the house and how many questions you ask. We are not paid by the hour. We are paid to do the job right.

G. Educator:

Your inspector should be willing to have you attend the entire inspection and he should answer all of your questions. Tri-State Home Inspections LLC encourages all customers to attend the entire inspection and we welcome your questions. Our job is to educate you about your new home’s condition, proper maintenance and operating systems.

H. Investment and Peace of Mind:

Remember that this house is a large investment for you. It is a complicated structure. Your family will live in it. You need to weigh the cost of the inspection against the value of the service. You want a very thorough, independent, accurate inspection. Remember that repair and maintenance issues missed on a less thorough inspection can cost a whole lot more than the cost of our entire inspection. A difference of $50 or $100 on an inspection fee is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of missed defects.

I. Reputation:

Ask around about your inspector. Ask your friends, your neighbors, your coworkers, your lender, your insurance agent, your attorney. Make sure you like what you hear. You can see our customers’ comments on our website but ask around about us, too.

J. Follow-up Service:

Tri-State Home Inspections LLC does not abandon you after the inspection. We can provide you with email or hard copy documents to assist you in repair and improvement projects. Even if you do not plan to do the work yourself, it is advantageous to increase your knowledge of the project so you can have more fruitful outcome. Providing thorough information to a contractor and having the ability to articulate your needs with the explanation provided in the report for you to refer to offers you the security and confidence of a project will be done right.

Contact Tri-State Home Inspections LLC to schedule an inspection today 563-380-2515 or 608-620-5320