Douglas Barkee, Certified Inspector

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Table of Contents

Home Sellers:

  1. As the Seller, is it really a good idea to have a pre-listing home inspection performed?

Home Buyers:

  1. Do I really need to invest in a home inspection?

  2. The Seller's told me they already had a home inspection performed, so should I have one done?

  3. The Seller's have a copy of a recent inspection done on the home by another potential buyer, so do I really need to have another one done?

New Home Owners:

  1. Why do I need to have you inspect our new home, when the builder said they would come out and correct items during our warranty period? 

  2. My new home is less than one year old.  Can there really be anything needing attention anyway?

Real Estate Agents:

  1. My Buyers aren't sure they need to invest in a home inspection.  What should I tell them?

  2. Am I, as a referring Real Estate Agent or Broker, protected when we refer your services to our client?

Home Owners:

  1. Are you also available to inspect just for specific concerns, as I don't need a full home inspection performed?

  1. As the Seller, is it really a good idea to have a pre-listing home inspection performed?

Yes.  It is much better to know the full condition of your home prior to listing so that any issues may be resolved first, ensuring a fast, smooth sale.  You will also learn the strong and weak points of the home, which may help you in marketing your home.  Don't let an unknown condition jeopardize your transaction.  Instead, have the confidence to reassure your potential buyer.  As we like to say, "See your home from the buyer's perspective."

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  1. Do I really need to invest in a home inspection?

Yes, you should.  We will uncover the full conditions by identifying strong and weak points of the home.  Most people do not have the trained eye necessary to see all that a professional Inspector can see.  Home inspections are our business, so trust us to help you.

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  1. The Seller's told me they already had a home inspection performed, so should I have one done?

Yes.  There are a few things to consider here.  First, you have no way of knowing the quality of the inspection, or the conditions or limitations under which the inspection was performed.  Anything can be excluded by the client when an inspection is performed, and it was for the seller's use.  Also conditions can change at any time.  Second, the seller was the client of the inspection company, and you as the buyer would have no legal contract with the inspection company or the inspection report information.  If there were ever any issue, you would have no recourse against the inspection company.

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  1. The Seller's have a copy of a recent inspection done on the home by another potential buyer, so do I really need to have another one done?

Yes.  As mentioned in the above explanation, you have no way of knowing the conditions or parameters of the earlier home inspection, nor are you the client of the inspection company.  You have no legal rights to the information in the report, and thus are not protected.  Also a full inspection includes a Post-Inspection Consultation with the professional Inspector and the option of calling for additional information or clarification.  Don't rely on someone else's partial information, instead select the Inspector you trust.

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  1. Why do I need to have you inspect our new home, when the builder said they would come out and correct items during our warranty period? 

It is always a good idea to have an objective third-party document the conditions of your new home that you need corrected, before your builder warranty expires.  We will thoroughly review your home, providing you a "Punch List" (along with the full report) for you to provide to your builder, identifying the conditions that need their attention.  We have no vested interest in the outcome of the inspection, unlike the builder or product representative. 

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  1. My new home is less than one year old.  Can there really be anything needing attention anyway?

Unfortunately Yes.  There are literally thousands of components and steps involved in the construction of a new home.  Often many issues are not caught before the home is completed and the unsuspecting buyers move in.  Maintain your safety, and the integrity of your investment.  Let us help you catch issues before they cause dangerous or costly conditions.

Examples of Common Issues Frequently Found in New Homes

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  1. My Buyers aren't sure they need to invest in a home inspection.  What should I tell them?

Always recommend a full home inspection to ensure a smooth transaction.  Purchasing and maintaining a home is usually the single largest investment that any of us will make.  Making such an important buying decision without all of the available information can be a risky adventure.  It is much better to know the true conditions of the home, having the confidence to make the right decision.  Help your clients avoid unexpected surprises, and the resulting expense.  Also full disclosure allows you and your clients to "Close with Confidence", avoiding potential issues down the road.

Go to our For Agents Page for additional information

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  1. Am I, as a referring Real Estate Agent or Broker, protected when we refer your services to our client?

With us you are.  We not only carry general liability insurance, but we also go one step further with Errors and Omissions insurance (E & O).  Our insurer extends this coverage to indemnify the referring Real Estate Agent, Broker, and other professionals involved in the real estate transaction for damages brought against them for wrongful referral.  You can be confident in your referral choice with us.

Go to our For Agents Page for additional information

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  1. Are you also available to inspect just for specific concerns, as I don't need a full home inspection performed?

Yes we are.  We are well educated and trained about all of a home's structures and systems.  We are available for your specific component evaluation, such as Siding or Roofing, or to help you with conditions that concern you such as water entry into a basement.

Go to our Individual Components Page for additional information

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A few testimonials from satisfied customers on our Client Comments Page

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