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Frequently
Asked Questions
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What is a home inspection?
A home inspection is a visual
examination of the physical structure
and systems of a home, from foundation
to roof. A home inspector is
trained
to be a detective in regard to the
construction and working
parts of houses.
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What does a typical home inspection include?
Click on
"Essential Areas"
for a list of items that will be covered in the home inspection.
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Is a
home inspection for home buyers only?
Home inspections are not just for purchasers of a resale house. If you are planning to
sell your house, or if you are just interested in the current condition of your
property, you may wish to get a "pre-listing" inspection or a maintenance inspection, which can
inform you of what concerns and repairs may be necessary before placing your home on the market,
or just to let you as the owner know what items need attention to keep your home
in good condition. Also, owners of new houses may want a 10th or 11th month
inspection to help determine if there are any concerns that need to be brought
to the builder's attention prior to your one year warranty expiration.
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What a home
inspection is NOT -
A home inspection is not a warranty, guarantee, appraisal or certification. Nor
does a home inspector have X-ray vision. He cannot see inside walls, floors,
ceilings, appliances, under ground, or see items or conditions intentionally
blocked from view. The home inspector does not disassemble items or components, or
do anything to cause damage to things. To avoid possible damage or personal
injury, the home inspector does not light
gas pilot lights, open or close water or gas valves, start systems that are turned off,
or reset tripped circuit breakers. The home inspector does
not move furniture, boxes, or personal possessions to access areas or
components.
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Do
you offer a radon test?
Yes, we do offer
a radon test at an additional fee.
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Do you do
termite inspections?
No, this inspection requires in-depth
knowledge and training to do it properly with accurate results. We'll be glad to refer a company to do
this inspection.
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Do you do
mold inspections?
There are currently no industry standards for mold inspectors. There are widely
different methods for collecting samples (and the customer's money), but there
are no standards that all governing bodies can agree upon. We
can tell you this: if you can detect a damp or musty smell, that is mold. Until
there are recognized standards and procedures, we recommend that a Certified Industrial Hygienist be consulted for any mold
concerns.
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How
to benefit the most from a home
inspection? Click on
"Benefit
the Most"
.
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Do I need to be present for the Inspection?
You will learn a lot more if you
are present for the entire inspection, but you do not absolutely have to be.
You will need to read and sign our inspection contract prior to the start of
the inspection, as mandated by the State of North Carolina Home Inspector
Licensure Board. It contains the scope of what we will be doing and not
doing, and our liabilities and their limitations. Our standard procedure is
to email you an
inspection contract for you to read, sign, and scan or fax back to us prior to the inspection.
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What if
I have questions after the home inspection?
If you have any questions regarding the home inspection or report, please
contact us.
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Should I just use the home inspectors that the
realtor recommends?
Many home inspectors market aggressively to real estate firms, in hopes of
getting agents to give referrals, Sometimes, though, a home inspector who is
"too picky" and jeopardizes too many of the agent's sales may not be
recommended, even though the clients were happy with the inspection.
The majority of our business comes from
personal referrals and from real estate agents who are truly looking out for
their clients and want a highly detailed home inspection. Your inspector will take his time
to find everything he can, big or small, as that is what you are paying us for.
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Won't using a
big firm with a big ad get me a better inspection?
Your home inspection will only be as good as the inspector who performs it. We
promise individual attention
by taking our time on each and every home inspection,
and we strive for quality not quantity.
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Do you walk every Roof?
Simply put, No. There are many roofs that should not be walked at all such as
Tile, Clay, Slate, Wooden Shingle and Shake roofs, as special precautions are
necessary to prevent possible damage to these roofs and to prevent possible
personal injury during repair. Metal roofs or
steeply pitched roofs are dangerous even for professional roofing contractors to
access. All roofs are dangerous to walk on when wet or have debris covering
them, and roofs that are extremely hot or cold can easily be damaged by walking as well.
Your inspector will make a determination on a house by house basis whether
it is prudent and safe to walk the roof.
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Won't you
miss things by not walking every roof?
Most concerns can be detected by the experienced eye, as usually roofs show
evidence of problems with signs visible in the attic, under the eaves, on the soffits or trim
boards, or maybe on the upper level ceilings. The most difficult roof to
determine if a deficiency exists is a roof with no readily visible indicators of
problems, but has potential problems anyway that only a roofing
professional would find.
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Will you match the price from another home inspector?No. Unfortunately there are home inspectors out there who offer quick and
cheap home inspections, and some even offer discounts and coupons.
It is smart to shop around by price for identical products, but it is not a
good idea to shop for service by price alone. A professional home
inspection is no place to cut corners, as a house and property are a large
investment, and the client needs to have the best information possible to make
an informed decision. We feel that First Step Home Inspections, Inc. provides home inspections
that are fairly and competitively priced, and reflect the client service being provided.
Please
contact us for any additional questions you may have.
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First Step
Home Inspections Inc.
6229 Tryon Road, Cary, NC 27518
Ph: 919-858-9930FSHInc21@gmail.com |
Inspections