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Frequently
Asked Questions: What is a Home inspection? A Home
inspection is a professional, complete visual examination of all of
the systems of a home. A Home inspection is a visual
"snap-shot" of the house that day. My inspections identify potential
problems that may affect a purchasers buying decision.
Why Do I need a Home
Inspection? A home is
the largest purchase that most people will ever make. It only makes
sense to find out as much as you can about the house you are
interested in BEFORE you buy the property. By having the home
inspected, you can avoid costly surprises and repairs as well as
have advice on what maintenance is required to keep your new home in
great condition. If you are selling your house, a pre-listing
inspection is recommended to uncover any potential problems before
the buyers inspector finds them resulting in out of pocket expense
or lower dollars for you house. What is a Pre-listing
Inspection? A
pre-listing inspection is an inspection of a property prior to
listing the property to be sold. The pre listing inspection will
identify issues that can be corrected in advance of a potential
buyers own inspection. A house in great move in condition commands a
higher price. The pre listing inspection saves time and money in the
long run because you can make any necessary repairs on your own
schedule and without being pressured by a real estate contract's
time frame. Listing inspections don't cost, they SAVE YOU
MONEY!! What is a one year warranty
inspection? A one year warranty inspection is an
inspection of a newer property that is still covered by the home
builders warranty. Typically, the warranties are for 12 months and
the builder will correct any defects or deficiencies within that
time frame, if discovered and brought to their attention. Many
people are emotionally attached to their homes and believe that
because their home was just built that there can't be anything wrong
with it. Not true. The benefit to the 1 year warranty inspection is
to correct any defects within the time frame of the warranty and
avoiding any future out of pocket expense to the home owner. The
builders warranty will typically provide service for anything that
may require repair or replacement. Many home owners do not take
advantage of their 1 year warranty only to wish later on that they
had a professional home inspection on the property prior to the end
of the warranty. The 1 year warranty inspection could potentially
save you thousands later.
What does a Home Inspection
include? A standard report covers all of the major systems
of the house. Pool and spa Inspections are always
FREE at AVAIL-A-PRO Home Inspection Services, Inc.
Do I need to be there during the
inspection? No, but we recommend that you be
present. A home inspection is a valuable learning experience for
most people and many people benefit from the inspection. By
following the inspector you can see first hand specific areas that
may need maintenance or repair. Also, feel free to ask us any
questions during the inspection about the home.
How long will
the inspection take? The time
will vary due to the size and condition of the house. Be prepared
for a 3-4 hour inspection, but larger and older homes may require
more time.
Does a newly
constructed home need an Inspection? Absolutely.
A professional inspection of a new home is important. We can spot
problems early while they are still easy to correct. Also, even
experienced home builders make mistakes.
Why can't I do the inspection
myself? Chances are
that even if you are familiar with home construction, you don't have
the broad knowledge, training, and experience of a professional home
inspector. We are not only familiar with all of the systems in a
house and how they work, but we also know what to look for before
systems fail. But beyond technical expertise that a professional
inspector brings, it is important to remember that the inspector
remains an impartial third party. The professional inspector will
provide an opinion based on visual facts.
What if the inspection uncovers
problems? No house is
going to be perfect. Our report will tell you the condition of the
house including needed repairs. It is up to you to decide how the
inspection is going to affect you with your decision making. In the
end, the decision rests with you but you will have the knowledge of
potential problems before you buy which gives you power to better
negotiate your contract or make better decisions.
Will you fix any of the problems
you find during the inspection? No. The code of
ethics of the American Society Of Home Inspectors
(ASHI) prevents members from doing repair work on
properties they inspect. This assures you that there will be no
conflict of interest by the inspector. Our goal is to provide an
unbiased, objective third party report on the condition of the home.
Who is responsible for any defects found during the
inspection? Generally,
after the inspection is complete, it is up to the buyer and seller
to negotiate any repairs and to further negotiate the sales price of
the house depending on how much major work is needed. It is very
common for the seller to repair or replace any defective part of the
house prior to closing. Usually, there is a dollar amount for such
repairs in the purchase contract.
What about the report? Your report
will be an easy to read and understand format with all
explanations and details in the body of the report. An average
report is aprox. 25-30 pages in length including photo and a summary
sections. Report formats are PDF and sent via E-mail. Please take a
look at my sample report using the online report button in the left
hand column to see what you should expect.
Hard-copy reports are available upon request.
When do I receive my report? You will
receive your report within 24 hours after the conclusion
of the inspection, and in most cases the same day as the inspection.
You may also visit us online to download or view your
report.
What if I have a
question? Give me
a call. I am here to serve your needs and answer all of
your questions. It's that simple. You may also e-mail me with
questions. jaastl@hotmail.com
4 Point Inspection Frequently Asked
Questions:
What is Four Point Inspection? After
Hurricane Andrew, Insurance companies in Florida have been trying to
encourage home owners to make their homes safer and reduce claims.
Many insurance companies and JUA (Joint Underwriting Association)
now request 4 point inspections, which often include, but not
limited to:
Roof
inspection
Electrical Inspection
HVAC
(Heat, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Plumbing
Some
insurance companies require 4 point inspections by verifiable 3rd
party. Some require a 4-point inspection for a home over 30 -
40 or most commonly 50 year old homes.
What are they looking for in these
reports? They are
generally looking for most systems in the 4 points to have been
updated to current standards and are in good condition. Basically,
the insurance company wants to know what it is that they are
insuring.
Forms. Are there special forms
? Some insurance companies like Citizens and others have
forms that may be used for at least one of the four points
(Electrical). In this particular form they have asked about the age,
type and certain elements of the electrical system, which may have
high claim ratios.
Who can perform this type of inspection ? Can I Fill
out the paper work myself? No. Usually a
Licensed Roofing Contractor, Electrical Contractor,
Inspector, Engineer inspection and signature is
required to certify homes of a certain age when required by most
insurance companies. As of November 2005 ASHI members in
good standing are permitted to conduct 4-point insurance inspections
for Citizens Insurance WITHOUT the previous license requirements,
using the ASHI/Citizens required forms.
I am buying a home. Can I use a 4-point inspection as
a less expensive pre purchase inspection? No. This
type of inspection is not intended for use as a pre sale or pre
purchase comprehensive inspection. As it is geared for your
insurance needs, It will not contain the type of information you may
need to make an informed decision for purchase.
Call for An Estimate or to Schedule
Your Inspection Today! 813-972-5206 Inspections performed 7 days a
week.
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