Homebuyers Inspections Inc. - Rely on Inspectors You Can Trust

About Home Inspections

A BRIEF WORD ABOUT OUR COMPANY
Homebuyers Inspection Service, Inc. was formed in Virginia Beach in 1982. It was the 1st full time dedicated professional home inspection company in southeast Virginia. Over the years, the business grew to be a multi-inspector firm expanding to the Peninsula and Greater Richmond in 1986. In 1991, the business reincorporated as Homebuyers Inspections, Inc. Eastern. Currently the company is the largest, most experienced and most successful Home Inspection Service in Southeastern and Central Virginia.

BASIC PREMISE OF A HOME INSPECTION
The purpose of a home inspection is to find out if there are any MAJOR problems with any of the structural or mechanical systems of the home, which could significantly affect the value of the property. As your inspector goes through his procedure to discover any major problems, he will uncover many minor problems. We make no claim we can find all the minor problems, but all those we observe will be on the report, whether major or minor. The purpose of the home inspection is NOT to identify each and every maintenance task. When your inspector reviews the inspection report with you, he will try to help you understand the significance of each item he reports. Usually we classify items, which need further evaluation and repair as:

1. Maintenance items - these are routine repetitive repairs necessary periodically with any house. Most people, but not all, can usually correct these problems themselves, (i.e. leaky faucets, broken windows, deteriorated paint, caulking, glazing, etc.).

2. Service call items - these repairs are more serious and usually require calling a qualified contractor to correct, such as HVAC repairs / servicing, all electrical repairs, plumbing repairs other than periodic valve leaks, etc.

3. Major repair items - these repairs are very serious and may be expensive. They include replacement of worn out equipment such as furnaces, air conditioners, water heaters, major appliances, repairs / replacement to the structure itself - replacing roof shingles, structural repairs, differential settlement, drainage problems, etc.

4. Health / Safety items - these are situations which pose an IMMINENT danger to a persons health or safety. Some of these items may be simple and inexpensive to repair but are of great importance because of the danger they pose. (i.e. carbon monoxide hazards, electrical shock hazards, trip hazards, etc.)
Note: Not all maintenance or service call items will be identified by the inspector.

THE INSPECTION AGREEMENT
The Agreement for Home Inspection Services is necessary for a Professional Inspection. This agreement clearly defines what a home inspection can and can not do for our customer. ALL TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT ARE NEGOTIABLE. Read the agreement thoroughly. If there is anything you don't understand, ask your inspector. If you misunderstood what a home inspection is and decide you do not want to continue, there will be no charge. We request that you read, discuss, understand, negotiate and sign the agreement before we release the inspection report. Our customers are very important to us and we can make no exceptions. Please read the agreement carefully; we will follow it throughout our relationship.

OBSERVATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HOME INSPECTION REPORT
Each item on the inspection report is going to be categorized into one of three observations. See Page One of the Inspection Report for a definition of each Observation.

The inspector may recommend:
     repairs / replacement
     further evaluation
     improvements
     monitoring

In accordance with your Real Estate Sales Contract, some of the recommendations may be the sellers' responsibility to correct, some may not be the sellers responsibility or some may be negotiable. As professional inspectors, we do not make this judgment. We report the condition of the property at a point in time only. Our inspection provides a baseline to start your home maintenance program. Consult with your Real Estate professional and attorney. If you can get others to correct any of the observations of the Home Inspection report, great! But remember, you are ultimately responsible for the condition and maintenance of the property, including repairs performed or contracted for by the seller, observations not addressed, recommendations not followed, evaluations not performed, improvements not implemented, monitoring not done, maintenance not identified and performed, unexpected and unplanned for repairs, etc. In other words, YOU need to ACT on the findings of the inspection report.

PARTICIPATING IN THE HOME INSPECTION
A home inspection is an educational experience for our customers. If you do not attend and participate in this educational experience, you are missing out on the full benefit of our service. Therefore, we highly recommend you attend the inspection so we can do the best possible job for you. There are many benefits to attending and participating in the home inspection. You can see what a thorough and detailed job your inspector does. You can learn about maintenance which may be required. You will learn how and where to shut the water off, how to light the pilot on your furnace, how, where and when to change the filters on your HVAC system, etc. If the inspector observes any problems, you can see them first hand and ask the inspector questions. Unfortunately, it isn't always possible for the customer to attend the inspection. If you can't be there for the entire inspection (1 1/2to 2 1/2hours), at least show up at the end so the inspector can review the findings with you and you can ask questions. If you can't attend at all, after you get a copy of the report, call the inspector and go over the inspection report in detail over the phone.
If you can't attend the inspection, you must sign and return the Agreement for Home Inspection Services before the inspection or have an authorized representative attend the inspection and sign the required paperwork for you.
If you do not attend the home inspection, you will not receive the highest quality service we are capable of delivering, the chance for misunderstanding the observation and recommendation are higher and your overall satisfaction with the service we provide will be diminished. PLEASE ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THE HOME INSPECTION.

THE IMPORTANT FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION
We provide a follow-up inspection at a reduced fee. The purpose of the follow-up inspection is to determine that the previously reported items to be evaluated and corrected have actually been addressed and corrective action implemented. All receipts, reports, statements, guarantees / warranties, etc. should be available for the inspector to review. We encourage our client along with the inspector to review any repairs that were made.

WALK THROUGH INSPECTION
Most Real Estate Purchase contracts contain a clause reserving the buyer's right to a walk through inspection prior to settlement to determine all the building equipment is in working order and the home is in primarily the same condition as when the purchase contract was signed. DO NOT WAIVE THIS RIGHT. This is your last chance to make sure everything is in the condition agreed to in the Real Estate Purchase contract. You need to:

1. Visually examine and operate all mechanical equipment.

2. If you didn't get a follow up inspection, verify all agreed to repairs were done and done properly.

3. Check all areas which weren't visible when the house was occupied with furniture, decorations, window treatments, pets and people. This includes attics, crawls and basements, closets, etc.

If you find any mechanical equipment which does not operate to your satisfaction, repairs not done or done shabbily, items missing which were supposed to convey with the property (light fixtures, window treatments, etc.), or significant damage which wasn't apparent when the house was occupied, inform your Real Estate Professional, fill out the Walk Through Report and notify your closing attorney.

If the problems observed during the walk through inspection are not resolved before settlement or funds put in escrow in lieu of repairs, your chances of resolving these problems after settlement are slim. Remember, conditions will change between the Home Inspection and the Walk Through Inspection. Also, if the house was occupied during the Home Inspection, not everything was readily accessible and visible.
THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE; TAKE IT SERIOUSLY.

IMPLEMENTING A HOME MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
Many of the items your inspector will report in need of evaluation and repair are due to a lack of maintenance. Your inspection report will give you a "snapshot" of the condition of your new home at the time of inspection. You need to repair all the items your inspector reported and then implement a PROGRAM of regular inspection and maintenance to keep your home trouble free. To help you establish your maintenance program, your inspector will give you:

1. The HOME MAINTENANCE GUIDE which details a series of simple but important tasks that require only a few hours per year that will save you time, money and frustration. The Guide includes: a monthly maintenance schedule and a detailed description of the maintenance tasks presented in the schedule.

2. CONSUMERS GUIDE, NEW COMPLETE HOME REPAIR MANUAL. This 384 page hard back book claims to provide "Everything you need to know about home maintenance and repair". These two aides will help you get started on properly maintaining your new home.

Unfortunately, a professional home inspection can only identify existing problems at the time of inspection; it can't predict or eliminate future problems. The older your home is, the higher level of maintenance required and the higher the chances of having unexpected repairs.

There are several other precautions, besides setting up a maintenance program, that can reduce the cost of unexpected repairs. They are Home Warranties and Maintenance Contracts.

HOME WARRANTIES
Virginia has very strict rules on home warranties, therefore, there are only a few home warranties available. Check with your Real Estate professional. They will have this information for you. A home warranty is like an insurance policy. It will reimburse you for the cost for specific repairs which occur while the warranty is in effect. Warranties do not protect you from every possible unexpected expense. They only protect you from those expenses addressed in the warranty. All warranties have limitations and deductions. Also, you must strictly follow the reporting procedure outlined in the warranty. Read your warranty carefully and be fully aware of what is and isn't covered, what the limitations are and what costs you will be responsible for.

A HOME INSPECTION IS NOT A WARRANTY.
You will have unexpected repairs after the inspection. If you follow your inspectors recommendations and implement a maintenance program, you can reduce your risk.

MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS
Maintenance contracts are agreements with local contractors to provide agreed to maintenance and unexpected repairs for a period of time for an agreed to price. They are offered by Pest Control contractors and Mechanical Equipment contractors primarily. Again, read the agreement thoroughly. Pest control maintenance contracts are usually a good idea. Whether a mechanical equipment maintenance contract would be advisable would depend on the age and previous maintenance history of your mechanical equipment and the level of risk you are personally comfortable with. One intangible benefit of a maintenance contract is that in unusual hot or cold weather when equipment failure increases dramatically, the customers with the maintenance contracts usually get taken care of first. A HOME INSPECTION IS NOT A MAINTENANCE CONTRACT OR INSURANCE POLICY AGAINST UNEXPECTED REPAIRS. We hope by defining the current condition of your new home and providing you the information necessary to maintain your home, you will truly experience the joys of home ownership and be better equipped to handle the task of home maintenance.

If you ever have a question about anything involving maintenance or repairs, feel free to call your inspector anytime you own this home.






About Home Inspections A BRIEF WORD ABOUT OUR COMPANY Homebuyers Inspection Service, Inc. was formed in Virginia Beach in 1982. It was the 1st full time dedicated professional home inspection company in southeast Virginia. Over the years, the business grew to be a multi-inspector firm expanding to the Peninsula and Greater Richmond in 1986. In 1991, the business reincorporated as Homebuyers Inspections, Inc. Eastern. Currently the company is the largest, most experienced and most successful Home Inspection Service in Southeastern and Central Virginia. BASIC PREMISE OF A HOME INSPECTION The purpose of a home inspection is to find out if there are any MAJOR problems with any of the structural or mechanical systems of the home, which could significantly affect the value of the property. As your inspector goes through his procedure to discover any major problems, he will uncover many minor problems. We make no claim we can find all the minor problems, but all those we observe will be on the report, whether major or minor. The purpose of the home inspection is NOT to identify each and every maintenance task. When your inspector reviews the inspection report with you, he will try to help you understand the significance of each item he reports. Usually we classify items, which need further evaluation and repair as: 1. Maintenance items - these are routine repetitive repairs necessary periodically with any house. Most people, but not all, can usually correct these problems themselves, (i.e. leaky faucets, broken windows, deteriorated paint, caulking, glazing, etc.). 2. Service call items - these repairs are more serious and usually require calling a qualified contractor to correct, such as HVAC repairs / servicing, all electrical repairs, plumbing repairs other than periodic valve leaks, etc. 3. Major repair items - these repairs are very serious and may be expensive. They include replacement of worn out equipment such as furnaces, air conditioners, water heaters, major appliances, repairs / replacement to the structure itself - replacing roof shingles, structural repairs, differential settlement, drainage problems, etc. 4. Health / Safety items - these are situations which pose an IMMINENT danger to a persons health or safety. Some of these items may be simple and inexpensive to repair but are of great importance because of the danger they pose. (i.e. carbon monoxide hazards, electrical shock hazards, trip hazards, etc.) Note: Not all maintenance or service call items will be identified by the inspector. THE INSPECTION AGREEMENT The Agreement for Home Inspection Services is necessary for a Professional Inspection. This agreement clearly defines what a home inspection can and can not do for our customer. ALL TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT ARE NEGOTIABLE. Read the agreement thoroughly. If there is anything you don't understand, ask your inspector. If you misunderstood what a home inspection is and decide you do not want to continue, there will be no charge. We request that you read, discuss, understand, negotiate and sign the agreement before we release the inspection report. Our customers are very important to us and we can make no exceptions. Please read the agreement carefully; we will follow it throughout our relationship. OBSERVATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HOME INSPECTION REPORT Each item on the inspection report is going to be categorized into one of three observations. See Page One of the Inspection Report for a definition of each Observation. The inspector may recommend: repairs / replacement further evaluation improvements monitoring In accordance with your Real Estate Sales Contract, some of the recommendations may be the sellers' responsibility to correct, some may not be the sellers responsibility or some may be negotiable. As professional inspectors, we do not make this judgment. We report the condition of the property at a point in time only. Our inspection provides a baseline to start your home maintenance program. Consult with your Real Estate professional and attorney. If you can get others to correct any of the observations of the Home Inspection report, great! But remember, you are ultimately responsible for the condition and maintenance of the property, including repairs performed or contracted for by the seller, observations not addressed, recommendations not followed, evaluations not performed, improvements not implemented, monitoring not done, maintenance not identified and performed, unexpected and unplanned for repairs, etc. In other words, YOU need to ACT on the findings of the inspection report. PARTICIPATING IN THE HOME INSPECTION A home inspection is an educational experience for our customers. If you do not attend and participate in this educational experience, you are missing out on the full benefit of our service. Therefore, we highly recommend you attend the inspection so we can do the best possible job for you. There are many benefits to attending and participating in the home inspection. You can see what a thorough and detailed job your inspector does. You can learn about maintenance which may be required. You will learn how and where to shut the water off, how to light the pilot on your furnace, how, where and when to change the filters on your HVAC system, etc. If the inspector observes any problems, you can see them first hand and ask the inspector questions. Unfortunately, it isn't always possible for the customer to attend the inspection. If you can't be there for the entire inspection (1 1/2to 2 1/2hours), at least show up at the end so the inspector can review the findings with you and you can ask questions. If you can't attend at all, after you get a copy of the report, call the inspector and go over the inspection report in detail over the phone. If you can't attend the inspection, you must sign and return the Agreement for Home Inspection Services before the inspection or have an authorized representative attend the inspection and sign the required paperwork for you. If you do not attend the home inspection, you will not receive the highest quality service we are capable of delivering, the chance for misunderstanding the observation and recommendation are higher and your overall satisfaction with the service we provide will be diminished. PLEASE ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THE HOME INSPECTION. THE IMPORTANT FOLLOW-UP INSPECTION We provide a follow-up inspection at a reduced fee. The purpose of the follow-up inspection is to determine that the previously reported items to be evaluated and corrected have actually been addressed and corrective action implemented. All receipts, reports, statements, guarantees / warranties, etc. should be available for the inspector to review. We encourage our client along with the inspector to review any repairs that were made. WALK THROUGH INSPECTION Most Real Estate Purchase contracts contain a clause reserving the buyer's right to a walk through inspection prior to settlement to determine all the building equipment is in working order and the home is in primarily the same condition as when the purchase contract was signed. DO NOT WAIVE THIS RIGHT. This is your last chance to make sure everything is in the condition agreed to in the Real Estate Purchase contract. You need to: 1. Visually examine and operate all mechanical equipment. 2. If you didn't get a follow up inspection, verify all agreed to repairs were done and done properly. 3. Check all areas which weren't visible when the house was occupied with furniture, decorations, window treatments, pets and people. This includes attics, crawls and basements, closets, etc. If you find any mechanical equipment which does not operate to your satisfaction, repairs not done or done shabbily, items missing which were supposed to convey with the property (light fixtures, window treatments, etc.), or significant damage which wasn't apparent when the house was occupied, inform your Real Estate Professional, fill out the Walk Through Report and notify your closing attorney. If the problems observed during the walk through inspection are not resolved before settlement or funds put in escrow in lieu of repairs, your chances of resolving these problems after settlement are slim. Remember, conditions will change between the Home Inspection and the Walk Through Inspection. Also, if the house was occupied during the Home Inspection, not everything was readily accessible and visible. THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE; TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. IMPLEMENTING A HOME MAINTENANCE PROGRAM Many of the items your inspector will report in need of evaluation and repair are due to a lack of maintenance. Your inspection report will give you a "snapshot" of the condition of your new home at the time of inspection. You need to repair all the items your inspector reported and then implement a PROGRAM of regular inspection and maintenance to keep your home trouble free. To help you establish your maintenance program, your inspector will give you: 1. The HOME MAINTENANCE GUIDE which details a series of simple but important tasks that require only a few hours per year that will save you time, money and frustration. The Guide includes: a monthly maintenance schedule and a detailed description of the maintenance tasks presented in the schedule. 2. CONSUMERS GUIDE, NEW COMPLETE HOME REPAIR MANUAL. This 384 page hard back book claims to provide "Everything you need to know about home maintenance and repair". These two aides will help you get started on properly maintaining your new home. Unfortunately, a professional home inspection can only identify existing problems at the time of inspection; it can't predict or eliminate future problems. The older your home is, the higher level of maintenance required and the higher the chances of having unexpected repairs. There are several other precautions, besides setting up a maintenance program, that can reduce the cost of unexpected repairs. They are Home Warranties and Maintenance Contracts. HOME WARRANTIES Virginia has very strict rules on home warranties, therefore, there are only a few home warranties available. Check with your Real Estate professional. They will have this information for you. A home warranty is like an insurance policy. It will reimburse you for the cost for specific repairs which occur while the warranty is in effect. Warranties do not protect you from every possible unexpected expense. They only protect you from those expenses addressed in the warranty. All warranties have limitations and deductions. Also, you must strictly follow the reporting procedure outlined in the warranty. Read your warranty carefully and be fully aware of what is and isn't covered, what the limitations are and what costs you will be responsible for. A HOME INSPECTION IS NOT A WARRANTY. You will have unexpected repairs after the inspection. If you follow your inspectors recommendations and implement a maintenance program, you can reduce your risk. MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS Maintenance contracts are agreements with local contractors to provide agreed to maintenance and unexpected repairs for a period of time for an agreed to price. They are offered by Pest Control contractors and Mechanical Equipment contractors primarily. Again, read the agreement thoroughly. Pest control maintenance contracts are usually a good idea. Whether a mechanical equipment maintenance contract would be advisable would depend on the age and previous maintenance history of your mechanical equipment and the level of risk you are personally comfortable with. One intangible benefit of a maintenance contract is that in unusual hot or cold weather when equipment failure increases dramatically, the customers with the maintenance contracts usually get taken care of first. A HOME INSPECTION IS NOT A MAINTENANCE CONTRACT OR INSURANCE POLICY AGAINST UNEXPECTED REPAIRS. We hope by defining the current condition of your new home and providing you the information necessary to maintain your home, you will truly experience the joys of home ownership and be better equipped to handle the task of home maintenance. If you ever have a question about anything involving maintenance or repairs, feel free to call your inspector anytime you own this home.
Copyright 2001, Homebuyers Inspections, Inc. All rights reserved.