Our Home Inspection Clients ask Some Great Questions

A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a home, from the roof to the foundation. Having a home inspected is like giving it a physical check-up. If problems or symptoms are apparent, the home inspector may recommend further evaluation. Home inspectors do not perform any destructive testing. Consumers should not expect their reports to include the condition of every nail, wire, or pipe in the home. Although we are thorough, we are primarily concerned with pointing out major concerns and safety-related items rather than cosmetic issues, which are considered readily apparent to the consumer.

The purchase of a home is probably the most significant investment you will ever make. You should learn as much as you can about the condition of the property and the need for any major repairs before you buy, which can minimize unpleasant surprises and difficulties. Of course, a home inspection also points out the positive aspects of a home, as well as the maintenance necessary to keep it in good shape. After the inspection, you will have a much clearer understanding of the house you are about to purchase. If you are already a homeowner, a home inspection may be used to identify problems in the making and to learn preventive measures, which might avoid costly future repairs. If you are planning to sell your home, you may wish to have an inspection before placing your home on the market. It will give you a better understanding of conditions that may be discovered by the buyer's inspector. You will have an opportunity to make repairs that will put the house in better selling condition.

Even the most experienced homeowner lacks the knowledge and expertise of a professional home inspector who has inspected hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of homes in his or her career. An inspector is familiar with the many elements of home construction, their proper installation, and maintenance. The inspector understands the home's systems and components and how they are function together, and they fail.

A home inspector is typically contacted right after the contract, or purchase agreement has been signed and is often available within a few days. However, before you sign, be sure that there is an inspection clause in the sales contract. That will make your final purchase obligation contingent upon the findings of a professional home inspection. The clause should specify the terms to which both the buyer and seller are obligated.

A professional home inspection is an examination of the current condition of your prospective home. It is not an appraisal, which determines market value, or a municipal inspection, which verifies local code compliance. A home inspector, therefore, will not pass or fail a house, but rather describe its physical condition and indicate what may need major repair or replacement.

No house is perfect. If the inspector identifies problems, it doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't buy the home, only that you will know in advance what to expect. A seller may adjust the purchase price or make repairs if there is a discovery of significant repairs during the inspection. If your budget is tight, or if you don't wish to become involved in future repair work, this information will be essential to you.

Definitely! Now you can complete your home purchase with your eyes open to the condition of the property and its equipment and systems. You will also have learned many things about your new home from the inspector's written report and will want to keep that information for further reference.

A home inspection typically takes between 3 to 4 hours. We suggest that you leave small children with a sitter if possible since you may want to follow the inspector as he inspects your home and explains his findings.

You don't need to be present for the inspection but recommended that you attend. You will be able to observe the inspector and ask questions directly, as you learn about the condition of the home, how its systems work, and how to maintain it. You will also find the written report easier to understand if you have seen the property first-hand through the inspector's eyes.

Definitely! Many home buyers are led to believe that the county or municipality inspection and the final walk-through with the builder's representative is an adequate way to inspect a home. Most county or municipality inspectors spend no more than 30 minutes at a home site. The builder's final walk-through inspection is very unlikely to disclose any problems with the home they built as some repairs can prove to be expensive. A certified InterNACHI home inspector will spend 2-4 hours during a typical inspection and could save you thousands of dollars in repairs later on. Homeowners will have to correct defects that were present at the time of construction when they sell their homes in the future.

When you schedule your home inspection or service, you will receive an email with a link to pay via credit card or debit card. If you would like to use another form of payment, please let me know. Accepted methods are Cash, Credit Card, Debit Card, Check, Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal The full payment is due before the inspection service unless otherwise arranged.

We encourage you to ask all the questions you want at the inspection. However, should you have additional questions or concerns after the inspection, please feel free to call or email. Some of our clients call with specific and general questions well after the inspection takes place. The inspector is also available for a complete phone consultation to go over your report in detail if you are unable to attend the inspection. We believe client support during the inspection and beyond is one of the many reasons that our company is so successful.

We offer a re-inspection after each performed inspection. The inspector will have a copy of the original report and will verify that all requested repairs were corrected. We will also issue another report based on our findings of the re-inspection. However, there is an additional charge for this inspection. Please call with enough advanced notice (usually 3-4 days) to schedule a re-inspection.

Fusion Home Inspections is committed to providing our clients with the highest level of service possible. We pride ourselves as one of the better inspection companies in the Triangle area with competitive pricing and outstanding service throughout the inspection process. When you call Wicked Good Inspections, you'll always talk to a "live" person who can assist you with any questions. You will not get lost in some complex voicemail system. So be sure and call to schedule your next home inspection.

Home inspections are not required by law, but they are definitely worth the money. The home inspection helps protect your investment. It gives you the peace of mind that comes from knowing the actual condition of the home. The home inspection also gives you a way to back out of the contract if the inspector finds something you are unwilling to accept. So in a word, yes. They are necessary.

In most cases, the inspection takes place shortly after the seller accepts the buyer's offer. It happens before the appraisal. You want to schedule the home inspection as soon as you can, so you can have time to make repair requests. If the inspector uncovers something severe enough to be a deal-breaker, you'll want to know sooner rather than later. As the buyer, it is your responsibility to schedule the inspection.

In nearly all cases, the home buyer pays for the home inspection. It is designed to protect the buyer alone, so the buyer bears the cost.

No. You will have to pay for the inspection when it's performed. It's not part of your closing costs. The same goes for any repair costs.

That will depend on the kind of real estate market you're in and the severity of the item to be repaired. In a seller's market, you won't have much leverage to request repairs. In a buyer's market, you'll have much more leverage. It would be best if you always considered the cost of the repair work when making these decisions.

It's customary for sellers to fix items that either (A) interfere with the proper function of the home or (B) pose a safety risk.

For example, you should always ask for repairs to faulty electrical systems, sink disposals that don't work, etc.

Remember that the worst the sellers can do is say no. So when in doubt, ask for the repair.

No, they are not required to leave, but they usually do. It would be awkward if both the buyer and seller were present for a home inspection. So the sellers typically leave before it starts.