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Frequently Asked Questions About Home Inspections
What factors should I consider when hiring a Home Inspector?
1.) First make sure they are licensed and insured. The company should be licensed to do Home or Building Inspections. Their license number should be posted or available upon request. Also the company you hire should carry both Errors and Omissions (EOM) insurance and a General Liability policy and have proof of coverage. The EOM insurance protects the client if the Inspector makes a mistake or misses something. General Liability protects you if the Inspector breaks or damages something on the property. The cost of insurance is sometimes so high that some companies skip this important step. It is important to remember that if you hire a company without insurance, you may be held liable by the seller for any problems.
2.) You need to know what is covered in the Inspection. The standards that each company works under can vary greatly. For instance FABI, ASHI, and NACHI have distinctly different standards. Some companies do not put estimates for repairs. This can slow the closing while estimates are obtained. Some companies do not inspect the appliances and there are even companies that do not check electrical panels. This can result in a major expense to the buyer after the closing.
A complete list of what is covered in my inspections is here.
What are your qualifications as a home inspector?
My qualifications are:
I am a member in good standing of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI).
I have passed NACHI’s Online Inspector Examination.
I have completed NACHI’s Code of Ethics Obstacle Course.
I have taken NACHI’s Standards of Practice Quiz.
I abide by NACHI’s Code of Ethics.
I follow NACHI’s Standard of Practice.
I have taken NACHI's Structural Course.
I have taken NACHI Roofing Course.
I have taken NACHI's Vermiculite Insulation Course.
I have taken NACHI's Polybutylene Plumbing Course.
I have taken NACHI's Water Heater Course.
I have taken NACHI's Emergency Exit Course.
I fulfill 24 hours of continuing education every year.
I own and use high-tech equipment such as a gas leak detector and SureTest meter.
I am available Saturdays.
I generate easy-to-read inspection reports.
How is your company different from all the other inspection companies?
As owner and Chief Inspector, I, Bruce Frasier, am committed to providing you with an unbiased opinion of your new home. I will work directly for you, the client!
My standards meet or exceed what is set by the state of Tennessee, the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors and the American Society of Home Inspectors. I will inspect your new home as carefully as I would my own home.
Let me put my 32 years of experience, training and education to work for you today!
What really matters?
Buying a home? The process can be stressful. A home inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind, but often has the opposite effect. You will be asked to absorb a lot of information in a short time. This often includes a written report, checklist, photographs, environmental reports and what the inspector himself says during the inspection. All this combined with the seller's disclosure and what you notice yourself makes the experience even more overwhelming. What should you do?
Relax. Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections. These are nice to know about. However, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories:
Major defects. An example of this would be a structural failure.
Things that lead to major defects. A small roof-flashing leak, for example.
Things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy or insure the home.
Safety hazards, such as an exposed, live buss bar at the electric panel.
Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property (especially in categories 2 and 4).
Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection. Realize that sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the report. No home is perfect. Keep things in perspective. Do not kill your deal over things that do not matter. It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller's disclosure or nit-picky items.
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