What is a home inspection?
A home inspection is a visual inspection of all of the installed, activated, and readily accessible components and systems of a residential property as they exist as of the date and time of the inspection.  The best way to describe what I do is it is similar to being a general practitioner in medicine.  I know a lot about a lot of things and recommend seeing a specialist when there is an area of possible or obvious concern.  It's a lot like giving a home a physical.

What is NOT part of a home inspection?
A home inspection is not intended to be an exhaustive or invasive exploration, determination of a home's value, an evaluation of any code compliance, will not include a recommendation to buy or sell, and is not a guarantee or implied warranty of any kind.

Why should I have a home inspection?
A home inspection is the best way to know your home.  While many people think the only reason to have a home inspection is to find things that are broken, the Trusted View approach is to provide an education about the overall condition of the home as well as caring for the home over time.  And, yes, we do want to find things that are broken too.

How much does an inspection cost?
It depends on the type of property.  Most condominiums and townhomes are usually priced $300-400 and most single family homes are $400-500.  Please call me at 847.567.2818 for an exact quote.

What about the inspectors who only charge $100 or $200?
Like most things, you get what you pay for.  In my experience most of the inspectors who have extremely low pricing do so because of a lack of experience or are not working as a full time inspector and are trying to pick up a couple of bucks on the side.  Beware.

What kind of report do you provide?
All Trusted View inspection reports are typed with specific statements about the findings and recommended next steps.  The preferred delivery method is email.

What kind of a guarantee do I have after a home inspection?
A home inspection is NOT a guarantee of any kind and it should never be sold or misconstrued as such.  While my goal is to provide a thorough inspection the reality is that a home is a living, breathing structure that needs maintenance and eventual repairs or replacements.  I stress with all clients that our goal is not to guarantee or warrant any part of a home but it is to learn as much about the condition of a home at the time of the inspection to help set their expectations for the property.

I don't need an inspection for a foreclosure or as-is property, right?
WRONG!  Even if you are purchasing a home that you cannot renegotiate pricing or request repairs for, it is very much in your best interest to have an inspection to more fully understand the condition and care prior to moving in.  Of course, there may also be something revealed during an inspection that changes your mind about moving forward with the purchase.  Ultimately, it is YOUR investment and YOUR responsibility to understand it.

What about new construction?
There are a couple of different approaches to new construction.  One is to have an inspection before closing to make sure that everything works and minimize any potential inconvenience due to repairs or unfinished work after moving in.  Just because it is new doesn't mean it is perfect.  The other is to have an inspection just prior to your home warranty expiring.  This is typically the last time you will have to address concerns with the builder.

What if something breaks after I move in?
I tell clients that it is not a matter IF something will break it is a matter of WHEN.  While no inspector likes to hear that an issue or concern was uncovered after an inspection was performed, the reality is that a home is a living, breathing structure and, like our own bodies, things breakdown and sometimes that can happen as soon as we walk out the door.  It is rare but it does happen.  Also, there are some things we just can't identify such as latent (hidden or covered) items inside walls or underground.

During an inspection we are trying to identify any existing concerns through normal testing and identify any indications of potential future concerns.  We also want to stress maintenance.  After all, maintenance is usually  a lot cheaper than repair.  Remember, this is an education that is part of a continual process and not a one time event.

Will you recommend a qualified person for any concerns found during an inspection?
While I do know many qualified contractors and service personnel it is standard practice and IL state law to not make any direct recommendations in order to prevent a conflict of interest.  In most cases, though, your agent or attorney can provide a referral.

After an inspection, what do I do with the findings?
If you are a buyer, my first recommendation is almost always to discuss the inspection with your agent and attorney.  They are positioned to advise you on what, if anything, should be addressed with the seller(s) and how.  If you are a seller, again it is best to discuss the findings with your realtor to discuss what, if anything, to disclose or repair.

Why do all of your recommendations suggest a "licensed" or "professional" technician?
In short it is to protect my business as well as the safety of any buyer or seller.  An inspection is not intended to instruct how to repair or replace any concerns therefore this protects me from making any improper or incomplete recommendations.  Also, I do not want to presume any individual's skill or comfort level, even with supposed do-it-yourself projects.  Ultimately, though, they are only recommendations and you can choose whether to follow them or not.

What if I have more questions?
Call me at 847.567.2818 or email me at jim@trustedview.com.