Professional
Home Inspections
For Sellers
If you are serious about selling your home, hire Inspect Your Real Estate to perform a pre-market home inspection for you. The investment of a pre-sale home inspection may save you money and prevent your home from lingering on the market for an extended period of time.
A PRE-MARKET HOME INSPECTION WILL HELP YOU DO THE FOLLOWING:
- Create curb appeal, which may attract more potential buyers.
- Find unknown deficiencies before a buyer's home inspector discovers them.
HOW A PRE-MARKET HOME INSPECTION ACCOMPLISHES SELLERS GOALS:
A pre-market home inspection is performed with the same standards as a buyer’s inspection. Discover issues which could discourage potential buyers and fix them before putting your home on the market. Inspect Your Real Estate can provide consultation regarding conditions an average buyer might accept, saving you money.
For Buyers
The professional home inspection is designed to help discover “the unknown” about the home you want to purchase. Click here to download the Inspection Agreement Form.
BEFORE THE HOME INSPECTION:
- Observe things that are in need of maintenance. Does the house need to be painted, or deck need to be refinished? Consider the costs of doing the work yourself.
- The seller can often provide valuable information about the history of the house:
- Are there signs of moisture in the basement? Ask the seller the history of water seepage.
- Has the heating/cooling system been regularly serviced?
- As you walk through the house request more information about visible concerns. For instance, what caused water stains on a ceiling? Is there evidence the cause has been corrected?
- Once you have found a house that fits your needs call Chip at Inspect Your Real Estate to discuss what home inspection services you will need, and schedule your home inspection.
DURING THE HOME INSPECTION:
- Your home inspection will be most valuable if you are present as it is being conducted. This provides you the opportunity to ask questions and will help you understand the inspection report.
- Let Chip know of any specific concerns you have before beginning the inspection.
- At the conclusion of the inspection voice any unaddressed concerns. Your satisfaction is important.
POST-INSPECTION:
- Thoroughly read your inspection report. If something needs clarifying call Chip.
- Make a list of issues and concerns.
- Speak to your realtor about concerns and how best to address them.
- If you require the seller to address some of the issues found during the home inspection be reasonable and keep in mind that no house is perfect. You won't want to lose a house you love over insignificant items.
For Agents
WHY RECOMMEND INSPECT YOUR REAL ESTATE?
I WILL HELP PROTECT YOUR CLIENT AND YOUR REPUTATION:
- I share a common goal with you, the agent; to assist our mutual client in finding a house that can become their home.
- I am a highly trained and experienced home inspector and will protect your clients from adverse conditions in a home they are considering purchasing.
- As a home inspector I will report issues to your client in a reasonable manner, without minimizing significant issues or overstating minor issues.
- Your clients will appreciate that you are looking out for their best interest, which will promote trust, future business, and referrals from your clients.
- I have four years experience and continue my training on a regular basis, making me a trusted expert.
What's covered in your inspection?
Foundation
The inspector shall describe:
- the type of foundation.
- the location of the access to the under-floor space.
The inspector shall report as in need of correction:
- observed indications of wood in contact with or near soil.
- observed indications of active water penetration.
- observed indications of possible foundation movement, such as sheetrock cracks, brick cracks, out-of-square door frames, and unlevel floors.
- any observed cutting, notching or boring of framing members that may, in the inspector's opinion, present a structural or safety concern.
Heating
The inspector shall inspect:
- the heating and cooling systems, using normal operating controls.
The inspector shall describe:
- the location of the thermostat for both the heating and cooling systems.
- the energy sources.
- the heating and cooling methods.
The inspector shall report as in need of correction:
- any heating or cooling system that did not operate.
- if the heating or cooling system was deemed inaccessible.
Roof
The inspector shall inspect from ground level or the eaves:
- roof-covering materials.
- gutters
- downspouts
- vents, flashing, skylights, chimney.
- general structure of the roof.
Insulation
The inspector shall inspect:
- insulation in unfinished spaces, including attics, crawlspaces and foundation areas.
- ventilation of unfinished spaces, including attics, crawlspaces and foundation areas.
- mechanical exhaust systems in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry area.
The inspector shall describe:
- the type of insulation observed.
- the approximate average depth of insulation observed at the unfinished attic floor area or roof structure.
The inspector shall report as in need of correction:
- the general absence of insulation or ventilation in unfinished spaces.
Exterior
The inspector shall inspect:
- exterior wall-covering materials, flashing and trim.
- exterior doors.
- adjacent walkways and driveways.
- stairs, steps, stoops, stairways, ramps.
- porches, patios, decks, balconies, carports.
- railings, guards, handrails.
- eaves, soffits, fascia.
- a representative number of windows.
- vegetation, surface drainage, retaining walls and grading of property.
Electrical
The inspector shall inspect:
- the service drop.
- the overhead service conductors and attachment point.
- the service head, gooseneck and drip loops.
- the service mast, service conduit and raceway.
- the electric meter and base.
- service-entrance conductors.
- the main service disconnect.
- panelboards and over-current protection devices (circuit breakers and fuses).
- service grounding and bonding.
- a representative number of switches, lighting fixtures and receptacles, including receptacles observed and deemed to be arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI)-protected using the AFCI test button.
- all ground-fault circuit interrupter receptacles and circuit breakers observed and deemed to be GFCIs using a GFCI tester.
- smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors.
The inspector shall describe:
- the main service disconnect's amperage rating, if labeled.
- the type of wiring observed.
Fireplace
The inspector shall inspect:
- readily accessible and visible portions of the fireplaces and chimneys.
- lintels above the fireplace openings.
- damper doors by opening and closing them, if readily accessible and manually operable.
- cleanout doors and frames.
The inspector shall describe:
- the type of fireplace.
The inspector shall report as in need of correction:
- evidence of joint separation, damage or deterioration of the hearth, hearth extension or chambers.
- manually operated dampers that did not open and close.
- the lack of a smoke detector in the same room as the fireplace.
- the lack of a carbon-monoxide detector in the same room as the fireplace.
- cleanouts not made of metal, pre-cast cement, or other non-combustible material.
Interior
The inspector shall inspect:
- a representative number of doors and windows by opening and closing them.
- floors, walls and ceilings.
- stairs, steps, landings, stairways and ramps.
- railings, guards and handrails.
- garage vehicle doors and the operation of garage vehicle door openers, using normal operating controls.
The inspector shall describe:
- a garage vehicle door as manually-operated or installed with a garage door opener.
The inspector shall report as in need of correction:
- improper spacing between intermediate balusters, spindles and rails for steps, stairways, guards and railings.
- photo-electric safety sensors that did not operate properly.
- any window that was obviously fogged or displayed other evidence of broken seals.
About Your Inspector
Hello! My name is Chip Barrett and I have been a real estate inspector since 2013 and am trusted by new and second home buyers, sellers and real estate agents. With over 30 years of construction and contractor experience I know what to look for to ensure a house is safe and cost effective.
I am a member of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) and licensed in New York State and Florida, Connecticut and a FEMA Inspector.
Let’s inspect your real estate!
My License Numbers:
CT State License HO10000716
NY State License 16000061732
FL State License HOI.0000716
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