At ALL-AMERICAN HOME INSPECTIONS, we understand the home buying or selling process can be confusing. Below you will find some common questions we receive regarding home inspections. We hope you find these helpful. If you have any additional questions about our home inspection services, prices, or guarantee please contact us using the information provided below.
(360) 957-0357
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What exactly is a Home Inspection, and why would I need one? | A home inspection is a visible inspection of the home you are about to purchase from top to bottom. The primary purpose is to discover major defects prior to closing. The inspection covers the quality and condition of the home at the time of the inspection. The systems and components include: Structure and foundation, insulation, ventilation, heating, cooling, electrical, roofing, gutters, walls, floors, windows, ceilings, basement, attic, chimneys, built-in appliances, drainage and grading, and the quality, condition and life expectancy of all systems. |
| Should I attend the home inspection? | It is very important the perspective home buyer or seller attend the home inspection. The inspector will be able to show you how the house operates, as well as what issues that may come with the house. It is easier to see and get an explanation on the spot as well as ask any pertinent questions. In addition, the implications could be hard to fully understand for a failed heat exchange (for example) if you were to just read it in the report. |
| Does the inspector help me decide if I should buy the home? | In a round-a-bout way... but we don't advise you to buy or not buy a home. We merely provide you with the facts regarding the condition of the home at the time of inspection as well as components that we believe are at the end of their service life. |
| Can a house fail inspection? | NO. 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 repair or replacement. |
| What is a pre-inspection? | A pre-inspection allows a home seller to get an unbiased examination of the systems and components of their home. it is important for the seller to understand what issues will come up when they go to sell their home. The items could be repaired prior to a prospective buyer's home inspector finding issues. This also will reduce the bargaining power that the buyer will have. |
| How long does the inspection take? | Because of the extensiveness and thoroughness of our inspection and report, a typical home inspection takes approximately 2 1/2 to 3 hours. |
| What is "Errors and Omissions" Insurance? Is it mandatory and does AAHI carry it? | YES! ALL-AMERICAN HOME INSPECTIONS carries E&O insurance. E&O insurance is insurance provided by the inspection company to protect the consumer from having to pay for costly repairs or replacements in the event the inspector failed to report the faulty system or component. E&O insurance is not mandatory. Not all companies carry E&O insurance and will sometimes try to pass off General Liability (GL) insurance as a good protection. GL insurance basically protects the house or persons from damage caused by the inspector (e.g. the inspector breaking a window or dropping a tool onto a car, etc.). Don't be fooled... if the inspection company you choose does not carry E&O insurance, they do not have your best interests in mind. Be sure to ask for E&O insurance specifically. |