Arranging for home inspection services is common practice in obtaining expert assessments about the condition of houses on the market. However, the inspection services trade is more expansive than simply satisfying the contingency on a real estate purchase agreement. Also, some customers err in thinking that a home inspection is more comprehensive than it really is, despite the pages and pages of checklists inspectors use. The standard inspection has both specific and general exclusions, well documented, and the customer is better served by understanding them.

This article on inspection services focuses mainly on the various service extensions or add-ons available to clients. As a generalist, the home inspector has the authority to furnish some of these features; others demand a qualified specialist. In either case, obtaining extra work usually implies an additional fee. First we look at services closely related to the house inspection, then we review those somewhat more removed.

A critical service typically included with the home inspection is inspecting for destructive insects and other organisms. Since it is possible for wood damage from carpenter ants, termites, and other pests to compromise the total structure of a house, it is mandatory for this detailed evaluation to take place. Customers are advised to investigate the pest inspecting expertise of candidate inspectors, as skills vary considerably. The ideal person knows not only how to recognize conditions that engender infestation but also how to identify insect species from damage, debris, and constructed habitats left behind as well as from specimens.

Most home inspectors offer other types of inspection services in addition to the standard. One type is geared towards assisting an owner in getting and keeping his home in good condition, not for the purpose of selling it but of enjoying it and of squelching fears that there might be major problems with it arising from long-term neglect. Another type, the warranty inspection, is geared towards buyers of brand new homes that are covered by a builder\’s warranty, the idea being not to overlook any construction defects and to derive a complete punch list. A third type, called a re-inspection, is a follow-up to a standard home inspection in which defects needing immediate attention have been identified. Here, the client has renegotiated contract terms to include repairs (before closing) and he hires the inspector to examine the work contracted out by the seller and to verify that it is proper. Incidentally, depending on the inspector, the warranty or re-inspection service may or may not incur an additional fee.

As noted above, contracts proclaim circumstances in which items are excluded from the inspection. Sometimes the client wishes the inspector to include items normally excluded and to pay extra for it. The most common exclusionary rule is detachment from the house, applying to fences, retaining walls, out-buildings, swimming pools, and the like.

Energy audits are popular today, either as independent services or in conjunction with a home inspection. However, many home inspectors are not certified and don\’t have the extra equipment required to provide this service. The audit usually assesses levels of filtration, ventilation, insulation, and ways in which energy is being \”wasted.\” Often customers forgo the audit unless government or industry is offering some form of assistance or financial incentive.

Occasionally customers request an inspection service regarding the presence of harmful substances such as radon, lead paint, or asbestos (possibly motivated by someone in the family having a respiratory condition). Or they may be interested in an evaluation of air, soil, or water quality. Few inspectors offer such services and in fact it may even be difficult to locate a specialist in some areas.

John W. Gordon, a Bellingham home inspector, is licensed by Washington State. He also has the credentials to conduct complete pest inspection services. John focuses on customer service and writes comprehensive reports. He invites you to visit his website, www.HomeInspectionWA.net.

John W. Gordon, a Bellingham home inspector, is licensed by Washington State. He also has the credentials to conduct complete pest inspection services. John focuses on customer service and writes comprehensive reports. He invites you to visit his website, http://www.HomeInspectionWA.net.

Author Bio: John W. Gordon, a Bellingham home inspector, is licensed by Washington State. He also has the credentials to conduct complete pest inspection services. John focuses on customer service and writes comprehensive reports. He invites you to visit his website, www.HomeInspectionWA.net.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: inspection services, home inspector, home inspection, pest inspection, pest inspector