Buying or selling a home involves a lot of specific procedures, and the most important step is getting your home inspected. ​ Although a home inspection is not a requirement for closing a home sale, it is crucial that you do not overlook the importance of this process. In many cases, a buyer will hire a home inspector to inspect the homes major systems and components. If an inspector finds any issues, a buyer may ask for a reduction in the cost of the home or for the homeowner to repair the problems before closing the sale. ​ Home inspectors operate in accordance with standards set and regulated by the state. They look for unsafe mechanical or structural issues. This comprehensive inspection of the condition of a home can help a buyer understand what they’re purchasing in a way that’s not possible during a simple walkthrough. Home inspections are performed by a licensed and certified home inspector. Although these professionals will look at the general condition of the home, they don’t repair any of the issues they find. They can, however, make recommendations for the professionals you’ll need to make those repairs.

A pre-listing inspection informs the seller of any defects or problems, so that they can be addressed before prospective buyers discover them. Sellers can then take the time to obtain reasonable repair estimates to address defects, so that they don’t become obstacles later. A seller inspection is also a demonstration to prospective buyers that the seller is dealing in good faith and is interested in providing full disclosure as to the home’s condition, including repairs already performed as a result of an earlier seller inspection. It has the added advantage of helping the seller obtain his asking price.

The duration of a home inspection will vary depending on a number of variables. How long your on-site inspection takes depends on the characteristics of your home and how well you’ve prepared. But you’ll also need to consider how long it takes for the inspector to finish their reports. We’ve broken down the length of a home inspection into 3 different components: the on-site inspection, the report, and the preparation time. The On-Site Inspection If you’re the person who arranged and scheduled the home inspection, you need to be present when the inspector arrives and inspects the home. Being present for your inspection is also helpful in that you’re able to ask any questions you may have at the conclusion of the inspection. For the average home, an inspection can take anywhere from 3-5 hours. The amount of time the inspection takes will vary depending on a number of items. These include: how big the home is how old the home is and the condition of the property how accessible certain areas are the number of systems in the home the weather (bad weather can affect the inspection) What won’t the inspector be looking at? Peeling paint, broken fixtures, and other cosmetic issues. The home inspector is only concerned with broken, defective, and hazardous issues around the home. The Report Following your home inspection, the home inspector prepares a comprehensive report of their findings. It usually takes 72 hours to complete this report and return it to the client. The Preparation You can significantly reduce the amount of time your home inspection takes by properly preparing. Once you schedule an appointment with us, you will be receiving a preparation check list and some other instructions.

The purpose of a home inspection is to identify and disclose to the client, visible and apparent condition of the major systems and components of the house at the date and time of the inspection.

You can significantly reduce the amount of time your home inspection takes by properly preparing. Once you schedule an appointment with us, you will be receiving a preparation check list and some other instructions.

We offer competitive & fair pricing. Our prices are on the low-end of Palm Beach County average; without sacrificing quality and professionalism. We want to provide pricing that won't break the bank and will help our clients feel confident that they'll get the proper value for their investment. The advice I would give to any customer that is looking to hire a home inspector is; "You get what you pay for”. A poorly paid inspector may offer poor work, which can ultimately cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.

You can schedule now by emailing or calling us. If we are busy inspecting houses, we will contact you back as soon as possible! All voicemails will be answered the same day.

We are servicing Palm Beach County and Broward County. Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Greenacres, Palm Springs, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Westlake, Loxahatchee, Weston, Jupiter, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, and surrounding areas.

The client and I speak over the phone to determine what type of services are needed. Then, I look up the property address and square footage to provide a price quote for the inspection. After that, I schedule the inspection, and a contract agreement is sent to the client for review. Within 24 hours after the inspection, the client receives a detailed report with photos and videos through an online report software called “HomeGauge”. This report can be printed or sent to the realtor. That simple!

Whenever you are calling a home inspection company for a quote, be sure to ask them what home inspector organizations they belong to. InterNACHI is known to be the world's leading association for home inspector. Make sure your home inspector is licensed in the state of Florida and make sure their license number is active. You can also explore their websites and online reviews. Visit our "About page" to view our credentials.

I am InterNACHI & Florida Certified. InterNACHI is the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. They are the world’s leading association for home inspectors. I trained with inspectors with decades of experience and learned through a mix of field training and textbook education. I've conducted countless residential inspections and insurance reports. I’ve succeeded with the Florida licensing exams and keep on learning everyday through continuing education programs. Learning about home inspection/construction is my passion.

The short answer is no. Home inspectors are not contractors and repair pricing tends to fluctuate depending on your area, the economy, and the company. Ultimately, you should speak with your realtor and ask for recommendations for contractors to inquire with.

Yes and no. You are not required to have a re-inspection after an inspection. However, in some cases, you may opt to do so or need to. For example, with a four-point inspection, you may need a re-inspection to verify repairs have been made for insurance purposes. We do charge for re-inspections for a nominal fee.

The advice I would give to anyone looking to hire a home inspector is; do not price shop for the lowest inspection price. In this industry, you get what you pay for. An inspector, who is not getting paid enough, may cut corners, provides poor work, and can ultimately cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.

Structures classified as “outbuilding” are the following; detached garage, guest house, shed, small cottage, or mother-in-law suite.

Typically, your home inspection report will be done within 72 hours. You may receive the report the same day too! It comes down to the condition of the house. The more deficient items the inspector finds, the longer it takes to create the report.

The inspection report will describe and identify the inspected systems, structures, and components of the property and will list any unsafe or non-functioning conditions that were visible and apparent at the time of the inspection.

Our reports are made using HomeGauge Software services. One of the best home inspector software in the industry. With HomeGauge dashboard, you can manage your inspection experience all in one place. You can view and sign your agreement online, sign in to access your reports, and create an innovative CRL repair list. Your reports will be easy to understand and custom to your needs. In our report, you will find videos and pictures to identify defective items. Each component of the home will be classified into different categories for quick navigation and a repair summary will be provided. If you have any questions after viewing the report, you can call us at any time. *See other Question & Answer to find out more about the HomeGauge CRL repair list*

Once you have viewed your report, you will have access to the innovative "Create Request List (CRL)" feature by HomeGauge. You will be able to create your own repair request list without having to copy and paste every piece of information found in your report. Simply select each deficient components that you would like to include in your request list. And done! By using this online program, buyers and agents are able to save time while still creating a repair addendum.

The purpose of a wind mitigation inspection is to determine the appropriateness of a given structure's construction in the event of strong winds, such as those present in a hurricane. A homeowner with windstorm insurance can often submit the results of this report to their insurer and obtain discounts on their windstorm insurance premium.

The wind mitigation inspection is NOT an inspection of the overall structure of the home and does NOT determine the condition of your home. If you are interested in knowing the condition of the home we suggest also having a full residential inspection completed in addition to your wind mitigation.

Wind mitigation inspections in Florida are valid for five years. When you think about it, you pay for the inspection up front, but you save money on your home insurance premium every year for five years provided that no material changes have been made to the structure.

As with most things insurance-related, there’s no way to know for sure. That depends on where you live and your home’s features. Savings can range from none to a few hundred dollars to over $1,000. Wind mitigation savings are most substantial in Florida because the state requires insurers to offer these discounts. The cost of a wind mitigation inspection is $150, which is usually more than offset by the insurance savings. It is extremely rare for no credits to be earned. Without a wind mitigation inspection, your insurer assumes that your home has the least wind-resistant features available. Notifying them that you have at least a few will require them to offer a discount.

A 4-point inspection is an examination of the current condition of a house reviewing four major systems: roofing, electrical, plumbing and HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning). This specific inspection might be requested by homeowners insurance companies before someone can renew or be eligible for their desired coverage plan, especially on a home that is more than 15 years old. It allows insurers to determine how much risk they would take by offering you a home insurance policy and how much to charge you.

The 4 Point inspection is NOT an inspection of the overall structure of the home and does NOT determine the overall condition of your home. If you are interested in knowing the condition of the home, we suggest also having a full residential inspection completed in addition to your 4 point inspection.

Not all insurers require this inspection. However, if you purchase an older home (more than 15 years old), especially in Florida, it might be needed. Ask your homeowners insurance company prior to closing.

No. whether your home "passes" or "fails" a 4 point inspections, it does not change the cost of homeowners insurance. This inspection simply determines whether an insurance company will offer insurance on your home. A wind mitigation inspection will, more likely, reduce your insurance premium.

You can provide your insurance company the full home inspection in lieu of a 4 point inspection. However, we strongly recommend that you don't do this. It is better to provide a 4 point inspection report rather than the entire inspection report. Often, a home inspection will also list other minor issues and/or maintenance recommendation. We don't recommend sending all the minor issues to your prospective insurance company.

Yes and no. There are insurance companies that will offer insurance, but they might exclude coverage for the problematic system(s). Often, the only way to get insurance on a home with problematic systems is to accept damage exclusion. Other times, you might not be able to purchase homeowners insurance until necessary remedies are made. Since it will gives you a clearer picture of what to expect, providing your insurance company with a 4 point inspection prior to closing is crucial. A house might fail a 4-point inspection for defects such as leaking pipes or a damaged roof that's not structurally sound. If you're not interested in making the repairs yourself, perhaps in return for a reduced sale price, you can negotiate with the current owner to fix the issues. In worse case scenario, it might be a deal breaker for you. However, you will be able to walk out of the deal instead of making a bad investment.

A wood destroying organism’s inspection (WDO) is carried out by an experienced and licensed wood destroying organisms inspector. The primary goal is searching for insects and non-insect organisms that destroy wood. Those insects and organisms work to eliminate or otherwise degrade wooden building components by eating it. Therefore, the inspector will look and search for specific evidence inside and outside of the home and report it’s findings on a standard wood destroying organisms form developed by the Florida Department of Agriculture.

While a WDO inspection is sometimes called a “termite inspection”, there is difference between the two. A termite inspection is specific for the search of termite-specific damages caused by both subterranean termite and dry wood termite species. On the other end, a WDO inspection goes above and beyond. WDO inspectors are looking for all signs of any wood-destroying organism such as; termites, carpenter bees, wood boring beetles, anobiid beetles, bostrichid beetles, powderpost beetles, and carpenter ants.

Wood destroying organisms consume cellulose materials found in wood. Therefore, they damage and deteriorate all wood structural members and components found within a structure. Common signs of WDO and termite infestation include exit holes, fecal pellets, frass, termite wings, mud tubes, wood decay, galleries, blistering, and general wood decay. Wood destroying organisms can seriously damage the structure of your home. Damage repair and treatment can cost thousands of dollars! A WDO inspection is an important part of the home buying process. Don’t wait before it’s too late.