Welcome - Inspector Homes

The purpose of a professional home inspection is to discover major
defects and safety issues that may affect your home buying
decision. This is primarily accomplished through a visual inspection
of the systems, components and conditions around the home.
Through the inspection process it is important to remember that all
homes, even new homes, will have some deficiencies that will need
to be addressed.

The home inspection is composed of three aspects:
- the inspection
- the verbal presentation
- the written report

The Inspection
The inspection begins with introductions and the signing of the contract. In
most cases you will receive a copy of the contract and Standards of Practice
prior to the inspection for your review. I begin by inspecting the roof, flashings,
chimneys and gutters. Next is the exterior: wall coverings, decks, site grading
and drainage, visible portions of the foundation and the garage. Inside I begin
with the mechanical systems - heating, plumbing and electrical. When that is
complete I systematically work my up through the rest of the house through the
kitchen, bathrooms, living areas, fireplaces and other components. Finally, I
look in the attic to observe the roof framing, sheathing and insulation. While
this is primarily a visual inspection, sophisticated equipment is also employed to
assist my inspection: a non-invasive moisture meter which can detect the
presence of moisture beyond the surfaces, such as tiles in a shower of the
flooring around a toilet; a combustible gas detector for natural gas leaks; a
carbon monoxide detector at gas-burning heating systems; electrical testing
equipment; an infra-red temperature probe; and a tool bag of other tools to
assist in the inspection.

The Verbal Presentation
Clients are strongly encouraged to participate in the inspection process. As I
move through all of the areas of your home I will communicate valuable
information on the condition of the home, how things work and what
maintenance can be performed to extend the life and comfort of your home.
Your presence allows us to look at deficiencies first hand so you can better
understand the severity and consequences of the condition. Your home
inspection is an valuable educational opportunity to better understand the
property and what's involved in maintaining it. While the written report is
thorough and well written there is no substiture for first hand experience.

The Report
Following the inspection I compile all of the findings, photos and notes from the
inspection and prepare your personalized report. Effective communication of the
details gathered during the inspection requires comments describing the specific
conditions in your home and not a checklist of vague pre-written comments.
Defeciencies are highlighted with detailed photos and personalized narritives so
that you clearly understand our findings. This cannot effectively be
accomplished on site at the time of the inspection and so the electronic report is
delivered to you by 9am the following morning in most cases. This electronic
report is secure and confidential with you having exclusive access to it unless
you designate otherwise. It is easily forwarded to any party you choose and
always availble to you from anywhere you have internet access. View a sample
report here and compare it to other inspectors you are considering.

The Follow-up
My services extend beyond the delivery of your report. As a client, you can
contact me by phone or email with any questions about your home, free of
charge, for as long as you own a home - not just the home I've inspected.