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Frequently Asked Questions
Buying or maintaining a home comes with a lot of questions, and a home inspection is no exception. Our Frequently Asked Questions page is designed to give you clear, straightforward answers about the home inspection process, what to expect, and how to prepare. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer, seller, or homeowner, these FAQs will help you feel informed and confident before, during, and after your inspection.
About Our Inspections & Why They Matter
Why Should I Choose AHI Residential & Commercial Inspection?
Choosing the right home inspection company is a critical step in the home-buying process; the quality of the report directly affects your ability to identify hidden defects and negotiate repairs. With over 20 years of experience and more than 8,000 inspections performed, we combine seasoned expertise with the latest technology to provide the most thorough assessment available.
All our inspectors are highly trained, state-licensed, and certified by professional organizations like InterNACHI, ensuring they meet the industry’s most rigorous standards. As the owner of AHI, I personally oversee a strict mentorship program; our inspectors are only cleared to work independently once they consistently exceed our firm’s high-performance benchmarks. We take pride in our ‘quality over quantity’ approach to hiring, ensuring you receive the best possible inspection experience. We invite you to read our reviews on Google and Yelp to see why thousands of clients trust our work. If you see a company with over 1000+ reviews, please make sure and sort those reviews by lowest to highest before hiring!!!
When My Bank Is Having The House Appraised, Should I Still Have The Home Inspected?
Absolutely! The bank’s appraisal is an independent evaluation of the current market value of the property. The appraiser works for the bank while we work for you, helping you save time and money with a realistic unbiased inspection of your property’s current condition.
Does A Brand New House Need An Inspection?
Absolutely! Most builders try to provide a high quality house, but they have to balance that with staying competitive. For builders, it often comes down to ‘survival of the cheapest’. Much work is done by sub-contractors. A construction boom in recent years has caused a shortage of skilled labor. Coordinating schedules between different trades is a juggling act. New products are constantly being introduced into the market adding even more confusion.
Municipal inspectors try to do a good job but they’re vastly overworked, often looking at dozens of houses each day. A thorough home inspection takes hours, not minutes. Municipal inspectors simply don’t have the manpower to find all the construction defects.
Do You Offer A Home Guarantee?
No. Something can look and operate just fine today and still break tomorrow. We do our best to give you the most thorough inspection possible. If you want a home warranty they are available through other sources. Review the warranty carefully to determine what the warranty covers.
The Inspection Process: What to Expect
How Long Will The Inspection Take?
Most inspections take an average of 2–4 hours depending on the home size or things being inspected, not including the time needed to prepare a report. The time can vary based on the size and condition of the property. Attics and crawl spaces must be accessible or we won’t be able to access these areas.
What's Included In The Inspection?
The home inspection is, by definition, a visual overview of the entire home and all of its integral systems. This includes all of the following:
• Exterior
• Roof
• Structure
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Ventilation
• Insulation
• Heating and Cooling
• Interior
• Fixed Appliances
• Attic
• Crawl Space (if present)
• Fireplace
May I Attend The Inspection?
We invite you to be present during the inspection, though it’s not necessary. Your presence gives you the opportunity to see what our inspector is noting and the chance to ask any questions you may have. We know this is not possible for many people due to time constraints, so rest assured that we will provide you with a very detailed report whether you’re present or not.
How Do I Prepare For The Inspection?
Preparing a home for an inspection is a vital part of the home inspection process
A properly prepared home will certainly lessen the stress of the inspection, for all parties, by ensuring the home inspection goes smoothly and that there are no additional fees charged by the home inspection company.
Below is a list of items a seller should address prior to the inspection. This list may be rather useful for you in getting your house ready for a home buyer’s inspection. The majority of these items can be completed at little to no cost. They’re also a part of a regular maintenance plan for any home.
Pets
Ensure to secure or remove all pets from the premises. The inspector reserves the right to cancel inspection if pets are deemed unsafe. In that case, full fee for inspection will be due.
Utilities
Turn on all the utilities before the inspector arrives. Also, turn on the Electricity, Water, & Gas if applicable. Additional fees will apply if the inspector has to make an additional trip.
Exterior
All exterior doors are accessible. Be sure all door locks are working properly. Be sure keys are available for all locked doors. Remove soil or mulch from contact with siding. Six or more inches of clearance is best. Trim trees, roots, and bushes back from the foundation of the home.
On Mar. 7, 2023, My inspector Hunter conducted a full home inspection with radon testing, mold testing and thermal imaging. I was extremely impressed on how thorough he inspected the home; furthermore, he ability to articulate the findings to a unexperienced homebuyer is the reason for this post. Due to his diligence, I was able to avoid a poor home selection. His inspection detected composite panels that needed cut, seal and paint. He also discovered moisture in crawl space as well as rotten wood underneath the deck and around the external of the home. High elevation of aspergillus and penicillium was discovered due to Hunter’s guidance on the area of home to test for mold. While the home passed the common homebuyer eye test with flying colors, this experience is a testament why a thorough home inspection is warranted. I will be using AHI Residential & Commercial Inspections, Inc again for the next home search and specifically requesting Hunter as my inspector again!
Interior
Be sure all doorways and closets are accessible. The inspector shall not move any furniture nor personal items.
Also ensure that all doors and windows are in proper operating condition, including repairing or replacing any cracked window panes.
Heating and Air Conditioning
Clean or replace heating and cooling filters. Also, clean dirty air returns and plenum.
Have the chimney, fireplace or wood stove serviced and then provide the buyer with a copy of the cleaning record.
Electrical
Be sure the main electrical panel and any sub-panels are not blocked (VERY COMMON). Replace all burned out or missing light bulbs. Replace all broken and missing receptacle and switch cover plates. Ensure GFCI receptacles are functional.
Plumbing
Repair any known leaks and all malfunctioning components, i.e. loose faucet handles, inoperable sink stoppers and ventilation fans. Be sure that there is easy access to the under sink plumbing at Kitchens as well as the Bathrooms. Ensure that all plumbing fixtures such as the toilet, tub, shower, and sinks are in proper working condition. Also check bath vents to see if they are in working condition and there are no blockage. Clear out areas under sinks so that the inspectors can examine them.
Basement, Crawl Spaces and Attics
Remove all wood debris from the crawl space (Very Common). Also, remove belongings that may be blocking and/or preventing entry to the attic and or crawlspace. The inspector is not required to move furniture nor personal items. Check to ensure that the crawl space is dry and then install a proper vapor barrier if necessary. Check crawl space and attics for animals.
What If The Inspection Reveals Problems?
We may find things that weren’t expected. That’s what you want, right? No house is perfect, not even new construction. The report is not a seller’s “Must-Fix” list; it’s just an impartial reporting of the condition. Every situation is different — it’s up to you and your real estate agent to decide how to proceed after the inspection.
Are There Limitations To The Inspection?
Yes, we can’t see through walls or predict the future! If we could do either of those, we’d be in another line of work earning a lot more money. Keep in mind that a home inspection lasts only a few hours, and it’s not technically exhaustive. A home inspection is not an appraisal or a check for compliance with building codes and it’s not an evaluation for any biological or environmental hazards.
Scheduling, Pricing, & Reports
How Much Does A Home Inspection Cost?
The price of the inspection is determined by the size and age of the house and any other buildings. The price of any other additional testing that you want to be performed at the time of the inspection will be added to the price of the inspection. Call us for a quote. (If you’re a home buyer, it will be helpful to have a copy of the listings available when you call.)
Why Do Some Of Your Competitors Cost Less?
All home inspectors are not equal. You only have one chance to get a good home inspection. You don’t want cheap — you want the best home inspection possible! Saving a few bucks by using a bargain-priced home inspector could cost you thousands of dollars in repair costs in the long run.
When Should I Call To Schedule The Inspection?
As soon as possible after you have a signed purchase contract. We’re often scheduled a week or more in advance, so make sure that your purchase contract has plenty of time for you to get repair estimates for major problems that may show up during the inspection.
For newly constructed homes, schedule the inspection a few days before your walk-through with the builder so that you’ll have our written report in your hands during the walk-through. You should schedule warranty inspections at least a month before your warranty expires.
When Will The Report Be Delivered?
Typical majority of our home inspections will be delivered the same day; however, we are not your typical inspection company that generates standard cookie cutter reports. Our reports will be proofed and modified to meet the need of each individual home inspected as not all homes are the same. Inspection report writing times can vary based on how much time we have in report writing, some reports may take up to 72 hrs. to generate, if you are present when we perform the inspection, we will give you an approximate time of when you can expect your report.
Because reports are customized and proofread rather than auto-generated, delivery can take up to 72 hours depending on the complexity of the home. All of our inspection reports are computerized with digital photos. All inspection reports will be e-mailed. We want you to have a full understanding of the home when you review the inspection report.
What If I Have Questions Later?
Your understanding of the home is my highest priority. You can ask questions for as long as you own your home.
Schedule Your Inspection Today