Home Inspection Customers

Sure, we don’t mind our customers following along and asking questions, however, we do need to lay some ground rules.  We need adequate and distraction free space to do our job efficiently and thoroughly.  If we are distracted, the chances go up for us to miss something important and we don’t want that.  We want to do a great job for our customers, and that requires focus and concentration.  So,if you have some questions, please ask.  We do, however, request that you limit the questions somewhat until the end of the inspection.  If you are attending the inspection, we will do a verbal high level summary at the end and that is a great time to answer questions.

Yes, a signed inspection agreement is required by state standards of practice and our insurance providers PRIOR to beginning the inspection. The link to sign the inspection agreement is included in the initial scheduling email. Please take a moment and sign the inspection agreement online using the convenient electronic signature feature of our scheduling software so we can begin the inspection at the appointed day and time.

Please note, a signed inspection agreement is required before you are able to view the inspection report.

It is important to note that home inspectors are never required to walk on any roof.  Inspectors must inspect the visible portions of the roof but are not required to walk it.  That means that sometimes we use a ladder at the eaves, binoculars, or even a drone.  We will do the very best we can for you, but sometimes, we do not walk on a roof because we all want to go home safely to our families.  It is up to each individual inspector whether they feel they can safely walk on a roof or will use other inspection methods.  Common reasons for not walking on a roof include:

  • Too high
  • Too steep
  • Slippery conditions like snow, ice, frost, wet wood shingles or shakes, wet metal roofing
  • Tile roof – fragile

Just to reiterate: a home inspector is never required to walk on any roof.  We must however, inspect the roof using other methods if not walking the roof.   We estimate that we walk 90% or more of roofs.

Yes. We charge a late cancellation fee of $300 for cancellations received less than 24 hours from the inspection date / time.  $300 is about half the price of our average inspection fee. Just like an airline, we sell ‘inspection seats’ or slots on the calendar to perform inspections and earn income.  In the event of late cancellation, we lose the ability to earn income for that calendar slot. Even though many companies charge full price for cancellations, we do not charge full price, just half of the average inspection fee.  We understand life happens, and want to help out.   We don’t mind sharing the burden with the customer.   That is why we ask people to please let us know as soon as possible if anything changes or if they need to cancel. Short notice cancellations greatly reduce our ability to re-book the spot, and therefore are subject to a cancellation fee.

There are a few difference kinds of scenarios for cancellations:

  • Cancellation the day of the inspection – unless it was scheduled that same day, it’s always subject to the cancellation fee
  • Someone forgets or neglects to notify us – always subject to the cancellation fee
  • Financing falls through – Usually, people already have their financing secured before having an accepted offer, so this should not be an issue. If it occurs, we will try and do what we can to adjust the schedule and utilize the inspection slot – may be subject to cancellation fee if we cannot fill the slot
  • Seller backs out of transaction – notify us as soon as you learn of this so we can try to adjust the schedule and fill the inspection slot – may be subject to cancellation fee if we cannot fill the slot
  • Buyer backs out of transaction – Notify us as soon as this happens so we can try to adjust the schedule and fill the inspection slot – may be subject to cancellation fee if we cannot fill the slot

We include information in our scheduling email to clients and real estate agents that outlines things that are required to help us fully complete our inspection and help avoid repeat visits which incur additional charges.  Those items are:

  • All utilities to the property be on
  • Clear access to the attic entrance
  • Clear access to the crawlspace entrance
  • Clear access to remove the electrical panel cover – move any shelving, vehicles, etc away from the front of the panel cover
  • Access to appliances such as water heater, furnace, air conditioner / heat pump
  • Unlock gates so we can easily access the back yard
  • Unlock any locked doors in the home
  • Animals be crated or removed from the property during the inspection to protect the animal, and all people at the inspection

We strongly prefer to complete our inspections at the appointed day / time, and do not like to charge for a repeat visit, so please ensure the home owner or occupants are aware of our inspection requirements.

Yes, we charge for repeat visits.  Repeat visits can be due to returning to inspect things that were not able to be inspected on the first inspection, or to  perform a re-inspection for items repaired.

Currently, the mask mandate for Oregon and Washington has been lifted.  We still wear masks in occupied homes where the seller / owner is not present because we have no idea what their preferences and concerns may be.  In vacant homes and around people that are comfortable going maskless, we do the same.  Our inspectors are all vaccinated, but if anyone has concerns or prefers that people wear masks, we will gladly do the same.

We require the inspection to be accomplished in an orderly, safe environment.  As such, there are a few things, that can cause an inspection to be halted or terminated.  These things include:

  • Aggressive animals not caged
  • Aggressive or confrontational people
  • An injury to the inspector
  • An unsafe working environment for any reason as determined by the inspector
  • Unsafe conditions such as a gas leak

If an inspection must be halted or terminated, the inspection report will be delivered for the items that were able to be inspected.  Refunds or discounts will not be given.  Additional fees will apply if it is necessary to return to the property at a later date to complete the inspection once the situation causing the inspection termination has been resolved.

We currently use the most advanced software available and feel our reports give the customer the best visual experience possible.  There are multiple ways to look at the report.  You can look at the very visual web view where you can scroll through information and comments with photos and use the sidebar navigation to quickly jump between sections.  You can view summary or safety items only as well.  You can also choose from multiple PDF formats including full report, safety, or summary items.  We invite you to take a look at one of our sample reports.

View Sample Report Here

We try to be super easy to do business with.  We accept the following forms of payment:

  • Credit card – Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express
  • Cash
  • Check
  • Cashiers Check

Please note that payment is due prior to beginning the inspection.  The scheduling email also contains a link to pay your invoice online.

If you feel that we have missed something import that should have been in your opinion included in the inspection report, please bring it to our attention right away so we can help address the issue.  We are happy to address it and want you to have the best inspection we can provide.  Do not bring the issue to your realtor in the effort to resolve it, as they are not the ones who performed the inspection for you.  We need to address any issue with you directly. We ask that you notify us of an issue in writing and give us a proper chance to review the report, the reported issue and respond in a timely fashion.   Your satisfaction is our goal and we work very hard to make that happen with every inspection.

We also ask you to review the following information regarding the purpose of a home inspection.

The main focus of a home inspection is to find material defects in a property.  Material defects are ones that significantly impact the valuation of the property or that pose an unreasonable risk to the occupants.  We are not trying to document every single defect in a home, as that is not the purpose of a home inspection. While we try and report on some smaller items as a courtesy, some issues, especially in a home that is in poor condition will not be added to the report.  The focus is on bigger issues.  Cosmetic items and smaller defects that are readily noticeable when walking through the property will not always be included in reports. Reports would become too long and less usable.  We would also as inspectors not have enough time to properly evaluate the big picture more important items if we dwell on every small defect.

It is normal after moving into a home and spending significant time in it to notice things that were not in the inspection report.  This is especially true in homes with a large amount of defects.  Given the limited amount of time in a home that we can spend, some issues were either a) not present during the inspection or have changed since the inspection b) chosen to not be included in the report given the smaller or cosmetic nature of the defect or c) were just not noticed.

So, we ask you to pause a moment, and consider, is the item in question a material defect or big picture decision making item regarding the purchase of a home, or is it a smaller item that just needs routine maintenance or repair / replacement.

We follow the state standards of practice for home inspections.  We inspect the following:

  • Exterior
  • Grounds – if it affects the home
  • Roof
  • Attic
  • Foundation – visible areas
  • Crawlspace / basement
  • Electrical – electrical panel interior, visible wiring, and representative number of outlets
  • Plumbing – all fixtures and visible piping
  • HVAC / heating
  • Attached garage
  • Interior of the home (representative number of windows, doors, cabinets, etc)

Please visit our home inspection page for more details – Visit the home inspection page

Washington State Standards of Practice – Washington Standards of Practice

Oregon State Standards of Practice – Oregon Standards of Practice

Everyone has their own ideas when it comes to home inspection.  So we like to take a moment to try and get everyone on the same page with what a home inspection consists of.

The main purpose of a home inspection is to perform a visual, non-invasive inspection of a property and identify material defects that are present at the time of the inspection. Material defects are the bigger defects in a home that can substantially affect the valuation of the property, or pose an unreasonable safety risk to the occupants.  What does that mean?  We are after the big fish, not the minnows. Things like roof end of life, unsafe or outdated decks, wood rot around the exterior, faulty or unsafe electrical panels, water in the crawlspace, and structural problems are a few examples of material defects.  We have a very limited time in the home, usually 2-3 hours to try and identify any larger, relevant, decision making kind of defects.  However, along the way, we try and give our customers as many smaller items as we can to assist in things that need repair to add to the repair / to-do list.  We like to give folks as many smaller items as we can, time permitting.  On a super tidy home that is in good condition, we have more time to add small items than on an older or fixer home that has a long list of defects.

Expect to find some things after moving in that either we chose not to comment on, did not notice, or was not present or has changed since the inspection.  Having repairs and maintenance to perform is a normal part of home ownership and something that every home buyer should expect.  What we don’t want is for you to move in and have an unpleasant surprise like a very large necessary repair that we didn’t notice or add to our report.  An example of that would be a roof that needs replacement that is in obviously poor condition or a lot of standing water in the crawlspace that would have obviously been present during the inspection.

We follow all state prescribed standards of practice for inspections in Washington and Oregon.  There are things we do not and are not required to inspect.  A home inspection is not technically exhaustive, meaning we don’t look at every board and nail in a home given our very limited time.

Oregon state standards of practice: Oregon SOP

Washington state standards of practice: Washington SOP

The bottom line is that we give people 100% effort every inspection to identify material defects in a home that are present on the day of the inspection in the effort to prevent any major surprises right after purchasing the home.

There are things excluded from home inspections, and that are beyond the scope of the inspection.  These items include:

  • Irrigation systems
  • Air conditioners / heat pumps (cooling mode) are not ran when outside temperatures are below 60 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid potential damage to the unit.  The unit will be visually inspected.
  • Heat pumps will not be ran in heat mode on very hot days to avoid potential damage to the unit, but it will be ran in cool mode
  • Low voltage electrical systems like lighting, security, utilities
  • Areas not visible that are blocked by furniture, storage, or personal belongings (we do not move any possessions in the home)
  • Any area deemed unsafe to inspect in the opinion of the inspector.  This could include such areas as:
    • crawlspaces with standing water, raw sewage, excessive animal feces, or excessive debris
    • attics and crawlspaces not readily accessible or with restricted access
    • High or slippery roofs (we will use other methods than physically walking on it such as binoculars, drone, ladder at eaves)
    • Areas containing aggressive animals
  • Grounds, vegetation, and landscaping around the home if not potentially affecting the home – we do, however, look at drainage and landscaping around the home and any vegetation that could negatively affect the home.  Example would be a large tree close to the home or a retaining wall close to the home that if failing could cause damage to the home
  • Pools
  • Hot tubs
  • Fences
  • Detached structures – unless paying for inspecting the structure(s)

Payment is due prior to beginning the inspection.  There is a link in the scheduling info email that you can use to pay online with a credit card.  You can also pay at the time of the inspection with check or cash if you prefer.  If you will not be able to attend, please pay online prior to the inspection.

Please note that payment for your inspection is required prior to being able to view the inspection report.

Buyer's Agent

Sure, we don’t mind our customers following along and asking questions, however, we do need to lay some ground rules.  We need adequate and distraction free space to do our job efficiently and thoroughly.  If we are distracted, the chances go up for us to miss something important and we don’t want that.  We want to do a great job for our customers, and that requires focus and concentration.  So,if you have some questions, please ask.  We do, however, request that you limit the questions somewhat until the end of the inspection.  If you are attending the inspection, we will do a verbal high level summary at the end and that is a great time to answer questions.

Parties other than the inspection customer sometimes pay for a home inspection.  Parents and realtors are the most common people other than the customer that pay for an inspection.  Yes, you can pay for your customer’s inspection, however, we ask you to consider this.  It somewhat muddies the waters when other parties pay for home inspections.  Our job as the home inspection company is to work for the end customer, not the person that pays for the inspection if it is a different person or party.  It would be a better choice to let the customer pay for the inspection and reimburse them outside of the transaction in our opinion because we want there to be a clear delineation of the customer and provider relationship.

If you choose to pay for the customer’s inspection, that is fine, but please keep in mind, our customer is still the end customer of our service, not the person who paid for the inspection.

Yes, of course!  We happily accept scheduling by realtor partners.  We just need the basic info such as buyers name, email, phone, and the inspection address.  As the buyer’s agent doing the scheduling for your customer, please be aware that we do have a cancellation policy for late cancellations less than 24 hours from the date and time of the inspection.

In short, no.  The home inspection agreement is required to be signed prior to beginning a a home inspection and is a legal document and agreement between the customer and the home inspection company.  The inspection agreement outlines what the home inspection company is doing and not doing for the customer and also discusses limitations and limits of liability.  While, as a realtor, you may be legally entitled to sign documents on your customer’s behalf, it is not in your customer’s best interest to not know the contents and read a document they are legally entering into.  Also consider that if there were to arise an issue in the future with an item or for that matter a missing item on the report, and the customer were to file a lawsuit against the home inspection company, the first thing the insurance company is going to ask for is all of the documentation regarding this client and the inspection.  If there is no inspection agreement signed by the end customer, that would definitely not be in their best interest.  We want the customer to be totally informed and protected.  In looking out for our mutual customer’s best interest, they should always read, understand, and sign the inspection agreement.

Exception: say for example, our mutual customer is traveling internationally and does not have any access to technology, cannot sign online, and has entrusted you to arrange and execute the home inspection.  Well, in that case, OK.  You are legally entitled to sign on behalf of your client.   It’s your judgement call, we just encourage you to be judicious about signing on their behalf.

 

We include information in our scheduling email to clients and real estate agents that outlines things that are required to help us fully complete our inspection and help avoid repeat visits which incur additional charges.  Those items are:

  • All utilities to the property be on
  • Clear access to the attic entrance
  • Clear access to the crawlspace entrance
  • Clear access to remove the electrical panel cover – move any shelving, vehicles, etc away from the front of the panel cover
  • Access to appliances such as water heater, furnace, air conditioner / heat pump
  • Unlock gates so we can easily access the back yard
  • Unlock any locked doors in the home
  • Animals be crated or removed from the property during the inspection to protect the animal, and all people at the inspection

We strongly prefer to complete our inspections at the appointed day / time, and do not like to charge for a repeat visit, so please ensure the home owner or occupants are aware of our inspection requirements.

Yes, we charge for repeat visits.  Repeat visits can be due to returning to inspect things that were not able to be inspected on the first inspection, or to  perform a re-inspection for items repaired.

Currently, the mask mandate for Oregon and Washington has been lifted.  We still wear masks in occupied homes where the seller / owner is not present because we have no idea what their preferences and concerns may be.  In vacant homes and around people that are comfortable going maskless, we do the same.  Our inspectors are all vaccinated, but if anyone has concerns or prefers that people wear masks, we will gladly do the same.

We require the inspection to be accomplished in an orderly, safe environment.  As such, there are a few things, that can cause an inspection to be halted or terminated.  These things include:

  • Aggressive animals not caged
  • Aggressive or confrontational people
  • An injury to the inspector
  • An unsafe working environment for any reason as determined by the inspector
  • Unsafe conditions such as a gas leak

If an inspection must be halted or terminated, the inspection report will be delivered for the items that were able to be inspected.  Refunds or discounts will not be given.  Additional fees will apply if it is necessary to return to the property at a later date to complete the inspection once the situation causing the inspection termination has been resolved.

We currently use the most advanced software available and feel our reports give the customer the best visual experience possible.  There are multiple ways to look at the report.  You can look at the very visual web view where you can scroll through information and comments with photos and use the sidebar navigation to quickly jump between sections.  You can view summary or safety items only as well.  You can also choose from multiple PDF formats including full report, safety, or summary items.  We invite you to take a look at one of our sample reports.

View Sample Report Here

We follow the state standards of practice for home inspections.  We inspect the following:

  • Exterior
  • Grounds – if it affects the home
  • Roof
  • Attic
  • Foundation – visible areas
  • Crawlspace / basement
  • Electrical – electrical panel interior, visible wiring, and representative number of outlets
  • Plumbing – all fixtures and visible piping
  • HVAC / heating
  • Attached garage
  • Interior of the home (representative number of windows, doors, cabinets, etc)

Please visit our home inspection page for more details – Visit the home inspection page

Washington State Standards of Practice – Washington Standards of Practice

Oregon State Standards of Practice – Oregon Standards of Practice

Everyone has their own ideas when it comes to home inspection.  So we like to take a moment to try and get everyone on the same page with what a home inspection consists of.

The main purpose of a home inspection is to perform a visual, non-invasive inspection of a property and identify material defects that are present at the time of the inspection. Material defects are the bigger defects in a home that can substantially affect the valuation of the property, or pose an unreasonable safety risk to the occupants.  What does that mean?  We are after the big fish, not the minnows. Things like roof end of life, unsafe or outdated decks, wood rot around the exterior, faulty or unsafe electrical panels, water in the crawlspace, and structural problems are a few examples of material defects.  We have a very limited time in the home, usually 2-3 hours to try and identify any larger, relevant, decision making kind of defects.  However, along the way, we try and give our customers as many smaller items as we can to assist in things that need repair to add to the repair / to-do list.  We like to give folks as many smaller items as we can, time permitting.  On a super tidy home that is in good condition, we have more time to add small items than on an older or fixer home that has a long list of defects.

Expect to find some things after moving in that either we chose not to comment on, did not notice, or was not present or has changed since the inspection.  Having repairs and maintenance to perform is a normal part of home ownership and something that every home buyer should expect.  What we don’t want is for you to move in and have an unpleasant surprise like a very large necessary repair that we didn’t notice or add to our report.  An example of that would be a roof that needs replacement that is in obviously poor condition or a lot of standing water in the crawlspace that would have obviously been present during the inspection.

We follow all state prescribed standards of practice for inspections in Washington and Oregon.  There are things we do not and are not required to inspect.  A home inspection is not technically exhaustive, meaning we don’t look at every board and nail in a home given our very limited time.

Oregon state standards of practice: Oregon SOP

Washington state standards of practice: Washington SOP

The bottom line is that we give people 100% effort every inspection to identify material defects in a home that are present on the day of the inspection in the effort to prevent any major surprises right after purchasing the home.

There are things excluded from home inspections, and that are beyond the scope of the inspection.  These items include:

  • Irrigation systems
  • Air conditioners / heat pumps (cooling mode) are not ran when outside temperatures are below 60 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid potential damage to the unit.  The unit will be visually inspected.
  • Heat pumps will not be ran in heat mode on very hot days to avoid potential damage to the unit, but it will be ran in cool mode
  • Low voltage electrical systems like lighting, security, utilities
  • Areas not visible that are blocked by furniture, storage, or personal belongings (we do not move any possessions in the home)
  • Any area deemed unsafe to inspect in the opinion of the inspector.  This could include such areas as:
    • crawlspaces with standing water, raw sewage, excessive animal feces, or excessive debris
    • attics and crawlspaces not readily accessible or with restricted access
    • High or slippery roofs (we will use other methods than physically walking on it such as binoculars, drone, ladder at eaves)
    • Areas containing aggressive animals
  • Grounds, vegetation, and landscaping around the home if not potentially affecting the home – we do, however, look at drainage and landscaping around the home and any vegetation that could negatively affect the home.  Example would be a large tree close to the home or a retaining wall close to the home that if failing could cause damage to the home
  • Pools
  • Hot tubs
  • Fences
  • Detached structures – unless paying for inspecting the structure(s)

Listing Agent

No.  We only send the report to the customer / home buyer and the buyer’s agent.  If you would like a copy of the report, please ask the buyer or listing agent to forward it.

We include information in our scheduling email to clients and real estate agents that outlines things that are required to help us fully complete our inspection and help avoid repeat visits which incur additional charges.  Those items are:

  • All utilities to the property be on
  • Clear access to the attic entrance
  • Clear access to the crawlspace entrance
  • Clear access to remove the electrical panel cover – move any shelving, vehicles, etc away from the front of the panel cover
  • Access to appliances such as water heater, furnace, air conditioner / heat pump
  • Unlock gates so we can easily access the back yard
  • Unlock any locked doors in the home
  • Animals be crated or removed from the property during the inspection to protect the animal, and all people at the inspection

We strongly prefer to complete our inspections at the appointed day / time, and do not like to charge for a repeat visit, so please ensure the home owner or occupants are aware of our inspection requirements.

Currently, the mask mandate for Oregon and Washington has been lifted.  We still wear masks in occupied homes where the seller / owner is not present because we have no idea what their preferences and concerns may be.  In vacant homes and around people that are comfortable going maskless, we do the same.  Our inspectors are all vaccinated, but if anyone has concerns or prefers that people wear masks, we will gladly do the same.

We require the inspection to be accomplished in an orderly, safe environment.  As such, there are a few things, that can cause an inspection to be halted or terminated.  These things include:

  • Aggressive animals not caged
  • Aggressive or confrontational people
  • An injury to the inspector
  • An unsafe working environment for any reason as determined by the inspector
  • Unsafe conditions such as a gas leak

If an inspection must be halted or terminated, the inspection report will be delivered for the items that were able to be inspected.  Refunds or discounts will not be given.  Additional fees will apply if it is necessary to return to the property at a later date to complete the inspection once the situation causing the inspection termination has been resolved.

We are very sensitive to moving people’s belongings.  Where someone lives is their sacred space, so we try to have as minimal impact as possible.  We try to leave things just like we found them like the thermostat, heat controls, window positions, etc.  Be aware that part of our job is to test and inspect things so things will be touched and operated like heating controls, light switches, plumbing fixture handles, doors, windows, etc.  We may move minimal things to get to the crawlspace hatch or electrical panel or attic entrance if necessary, but ideally, we don’t because those spaces have already been cleared for the inspector like we requested prior to the inspection. If there is more than just a minimal amount of light belongings to move to gain proper access to those spaces, we will notify the realtor or customer that we will not be moving belongings to access an important location.  It may be necessary to return and and inspect those areas at a later date.  We do not move personal possessions like clearing closets, moving furniture, to get to windows or receptacles or see unseen areas.

As a home occupant, prior to the inspection, please do the following to assist us in completing our inspection with minimal impact:

  • Crate animals or take them with you
  • Clear pathways to major appliances like the furnace and water heater
  • Clear area in front of electrical panel enough to stand and work and remove the panel cover
  • Clear any areas surrounding the crawlspace and attic entrance to give the inspection plenty of space to place a ladder and to enter these spaces
  • Unlock any locked interior doors
  • Unlock gates around the home for easy access to the back yard

Do these things will allow us to perform our inspection with minimal impact to your home.

Sewer Line Inspections

The inspector will inspect the portion of the main sewer line from the entry point to the destination or farthest point reached.  The inspector attempts to reach either the main city sewer connection or the septic tanks in the event of a septic system.  Reaching the destination is not always possible as there could be excessive bends from the entry point making it impossible to push the camera, or debris / roots / damage in the line that prevents going further.  The portion of the sewer line inspected will be commented upon in the report and video provided.

All sewer drain lines are not inspected, or that portion of the main line from point of entry to the farthest point reached.

Radon Testing

A Radon test conducted for a real estate transaction is conducted for 48 hours which is the minimum amount of time for a Radon test for real estate transactions.  Usually, the Radon monitor will be placed during the home inspection, or 2-3 days prior to the home inspection.  The Radon technician will walk the house to establish whether closed house conditions exist prior to starting the test. After verifying or establishing closed house conditions, the test will be started.  The Radon technician will select a room on the lowest livable level of the home to place the Continuous Radon Monitor.  The Radon monitor is a small piece of equipment on a tripod that continuously monitors Radon concentration in the air and other factors such as temperature, humidity, and air pressure.  The Radon monitor will stay in place anywhere from 48 – 72 hours and then be retrieved.  The Radon test report will be retrieved from the monitor and delivered to the customer.

Occupants / Tenants

Please do not leave pets at home unattended during the inspection. This applies to typical pets such as cats and dogs, not birds, lizards, fish, etc that are already in cages or enclosures.  Most people leave for a while to allow us to complete the inspection.  You should crate or take any pets with you for their safety as well as the inspector and any other person attending the inspection.  We are not responsible for animals during the inspection, so leaving notes such as ‘Please do not let the cat out’ is not a good idea.  Our focus is on performing a home inspection and thus, we will be opening doors and going in and out of the home and not watching for pets trying to escape the home.  The home occupant is responsible for the welfare of pets, so please, once again, crate or take pets with you for their well being as well as any person visiting the home.

Currently, the mask mandate for Oregon and Washington has been lifted.  We still wear masks in occupied homes where the seller / owner is not present because we have no idea what their preferences and concerns may be.  In vacant homes and around people that are comfortable going maskless, we do the same.  Our inspectors are all vaccinated, but if anyone has concerns or prefers that people wear masks, we will gladly do the same.

We require the inspection to be accomplished in an orderly, safe environment.  As such, there are a few things, that can cause an inspection to be halted or terminated.  These things include:

  • Aggressive animals not caged
  • Aggressive or confrontational people
  • An injury to the inspector
  • An unsafe working environment for any reason as determined by the inspector
  • Unsafe conditions such as a gas leak

If an inspection must be halted or terminated, the inspection report will be delivered for the items that were able to be inspected.  Refunds or discounts will not be given.  Additional fees will apply if it is necessary to return to the property at a later date to complete the inspection once the situation causing the inspection termination has been resolved.

We are very sensitive to moving people’s belongings.  Where someone lives is their sacred space, so we try to have as minimal impact as possible.  We try to leave things just like we found them like the thermostat, heat controls, window positions, etc.  Be aware that part of our job is to test and inspect things so things will be touched and operated like heating controls, light switches, plumbing fixture handles, doors, windows, etc.  We may move minimal things to get to the crawlspace hatch or electrical panel or attic entrance if necessary, but ideally, we don’t because those spaces have already been cleared for the inspector like we requested prior to the inspection. If there is more than just a minimal amount of light belongings to move to gain proper access to those spaces, we will notify the realtor or customer that we will not be moving belongings to access an important location.  It may be necessary to return and and inspect those areas at a later date.  We do not move personal possessions like clearing closets, moving furniture, to get to windows or receptacles or see unseen areas.

As a home occupant, prior to the inspection, please do the following to assist us in completing our inspection with minimal impact:

  • Crate animals or take them with you
  • Clear pathways to major appliances like the furnace and water heater
  • Clear area in front of electrical panel enough to stand and work and remove the panel cover
  • Clear any areas surrounding the crawlspace and attic entrance to give the inspection plenty of space to place a ladder and to enter these spaces
  • Unlock any locked interior doors
  • Unlock gates around the home for easy access to the back yard

Do these things will allow us to perform our inspection with minimal impact to your home.