Home Inspection St. Cloud, FL

A home inspection is an examination of the condition of a property in areas such as structure and safety.  It is conducted by a certified and experienced home inspector who has met the qualifications of the state in which he/she lives in and follows the practices set forth by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).

Home inspectors are generalists will typically look at the structure of the home and all of its components.

This can include the following:

• Grading, Driveway, Vegetation
• Foundation & Structure
• Crawlspaces & Attics
• Siding & Exterior Components
• Roof
• Electrical System Including Outlets & Electrical Panels
• Plumbing System Including Drains, Vents, Fixtures, Tubs, Showers, & Water Heaters
• Air Conditioning/Heating System
• Interior Components Like Cabinets, Countertops, Ceilings, Walls, & Floors

In Most Cases, all of inspectors findings from the above list can be broken into three categories:

Major Items

This might include:

• foundation issues
• roof leaks
• plumbing leaks/backups

Moreover, this might include if items are not working as they should be like the air conditioner or the water heater.

Major items of a home inspection are generally highlighted in the report.

Maintenance Items

Home inspectors will also look for general maintenance items.

Some examples of maintenance items on a home might be:

• cleaning out your gutters
• regular roof maintenance
• paint failing
• air handler filter needing a change

These maintenance items should be evaluated and completed once you move into the home.

Minor Items

Minor items are the last and least important thing inspectors look at when completing an inspection.

These findings are usually smaller and cosmetic. Furthermore, they could be added to a honey-do list once you move into the home and work on home maintenance.

Learn more in our blog post here.

As we know, a home inspections are not required but are highly suggested. This home is a large investment and you want to make sure it is safe and habitable for many years to come. A buyer can look at a property and maybe notice a few things that don’t look right.

However, a certified and experienced home inspector can dig in deeper, knows what to look for, and finds out if the areas mentioned above are functioning well.

You don’t want any surprises when you try to get insurance on the home. Nor do you want issues when you move in and discover a big problem. A home inspection is definitely money well spent and will give you a peace of mind.

Scheduling the home inspection right after a contract is on the home is the perfect time. However, you should be doing your research before this to find a certified and experienced home inspector.

The thought of trying to hire a cheap home inspector might have crossed your mind, but it is not a good idea. Cheap often means less experienced and not as thorough.

Also, as with appointments with any company, sometimes it takes a while to schedule. Researching for a good home inspector means looking on the ASHI and InterNachi sites for inspectors in your area, as well as Google reviews and recommendations from others.

An average home inspection can take about 2-3 hours. However, there are many factors that can determine the length of a home inspection. A home inspection may take longer if:

1. Large home and only one inspector

A larger home takes time to navigate the square footage and with one inspector will take a longer time.  However, if there are two inspectors, the time is cut in half, no matter the size of the home.

2. Poor condition of a home

A home that is in poor condition can create obstacles for the inspector.  If there is water coming through a ceiling, frayed wires, wires hanging down in random places, rooms under construction, or walls falling in, it will take a home inspector time to navigate and evaluate the condition.  Ultimately, the more issues that come up, the longer it will take.

3. An older home

An older home may have a lot of issues such as an outdated FPE panel or old water heater to name a few. Additionally, homes that are 75 years old or older have their own problems that need to be looked into and can add an hour to the length of the inspection

4. Crawl spaces are blocked

Having too much “stuff” in the home that blocks crawl spaces or areas the inspector needs to evaluate will cause the inspection to take longer. In order to alleviate this problem, take a look in these areas before the inspection and make sure they are clear.

5. Storms may limit accessibility to the outside

The weather outside can make the completion of a home inspection difficult. The HVAC, roof, and foundation areas will need to be accessed, but not during a storm. Now, if it is storming, it will take time to make sure the weather system has passed or part of the inspection may need to be rescheduled.

6. Questions the inspector has for the seller / buyer and vice versa

While waiting for the inspection day to arrive, jot down questions you may have for both the seller and the inspector.  Don’t stress about this as it is okay if you don’t know all your questions ahead of time.

During the inspection, you may have additional questions and it will be up to you if you want to ask them or contact the inspector later.  If you are pressed for time, this will be the best way to communicate.

7. Requirements for add-ons by the insurance company

Insurance companies may ask for add-on inspections. These inspections include mold, wind mitigation, 4-point inspection, asbestos etc. as mentioned above.

While waiting for the inspection day, find out from the insurance company the required add-on inspections and communicate this to the company. The inspector will appreciate this information and it will allow him/her to bring the proper tools needed and save you time.

A home inspection may not take as long if:

1. Smaller space to inspect

The smaller spaces and square footage, like a condo, allow an experienced inspector to do a thorough, quicker, and efficient job. The smaller the space, the less time the inspection checklist takes to go through.

2. Two inspectors on the job

Many companies are using two inspectors to team up and split the checklist. In fact, two inspectors can cover more area in half the amount of time than one and the second set of eyes is great if there are questions.

3. Accessibility to areas that are on the checklist

An inspector will need access to areas on the checklist he/she brings to the inspection. Prepare for this by making sure nothing is blocking doors, the electrical panel, etc.  Additionally, pets need to be somewhere out of the way or off the property.

Learn more in our blog post here.

Yes, here at Atkinson Inspection Services, we provide 4-Point and Wind Mitigation Inspections, along with Termite Treatment.

• 4-Point Inspection: Insurance companies will require this if you are buying a home that is 30 years old or older. Sometimes homes as young as 10 years old require this too. This type of inspection covers a limited scope of A/C, roof, electrical, and plumbing. The price is about $50-100.
• Wind Mitigation: An inspection that involves checking the home’s wind-resistant features. This is especially important in states that experience hurricanes and many states give huge discounts for this type of inspection. Protecting your family and valuables is something you can’t put a price tag on so our wind mitigation reports are definitely worth the cost and the time. This type of inspection is about $50-$100 as well.
• Termite Treatment: A home that has a wood frame or concrete block would benefit from this type of inspection. Many homeowners may also have a Termite Protection on the home they are selling and this is a win-win if they do. This hopefully means that an inspector has been out regularly to the home to check for these organisms.The cost for pest inspection can range from $75-$200 with an average of around $95. If the home inspection company you hired doesn’t do these add on services, they can probably refer you to a company who does.

We also provide mold inspections and water testing.

Thermal Imaging

More often, the buyer pays for the home inspection and does this when making the appointment or on the day of the inspection. This depends on the preference of the company.

The reason the buyer pays for the home inspection is he/she is making sure the property is safe for the people who will be living in the home. Also the buyer wants to know that it is a good investment.

The buyer also chooses the inspector for the home and this will be someone who is an “outside” party who will give an objective and unbiased evaluation of the home.

If the seller paid for the inspection, the buyer wouldn’t know if it was a fair evaluation. This is because many home sellers wouldn’t want a list of repairs to appear on an inspection report.

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