Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.   If your questions is not below, do not hesitate contacting us.

General Questions

Q. How long does the inspection take?

A. This depends on the size of the home.  Most homes will take about 2 hours to inspect.  Expect another 30 minutes afterwards for the summary and questions.

Q. Do I need to be there at the inspection?

A. Yes.  You can attend the entire inspection or arrive towards the end to go over the summary and ask questions.

Q. Is it okay if our parents, kids, friends, contractor, my roofer friend, etc show up at the inspection?

A. This is your time!  Please bring anyone you’d like.  Sometimes family and friends will shoot it straight with you and provide personal insight that the inspector does not provide.

Q. Can my husband (or can I) follow you around at the inspection.

A. Yes.  This is your time.  Please do not expect a lot of commentary from the inspector while he is doing his job.  Keep in mind that the inspector follows a strict routine while performing his job and excessive questions and/or commentary may distract him from the job.

Q. Is this a code inspection, or does our house pass code?

A. A home inspection is not a code inspection.  A lot of the home inspection is based on national code however, we do not confirm compliance with local and national codes and do not have authority to enforce any violations.  A city code inspector looks for basic, minimum building standards within the structure at the time of construction, or when permits are pulled for renovations/repairs.  A city code inspection in most cases do not test the functionality of systems or recommend improvements.  The home inspection that we perform makes you a more informed buyer by documenting defects, potential defects, improvements, and general condition of the structure.

Payment & Scheduling

Q. What forms of payment do you accept?

A. We accept all forms of payment – cash, check, card, paypal, bitcoin, etc.

Q. When do we pay you?

A. Payment is typically taken care of at the time of the inspection.  Arrangements can be made to prepay the inspection, or an invoice can be sent afterwards where payment can be made securely online.

Q. Do you work weekends?

A. No.

Q. Do you work on holidays?

A. We do not work on major holidays such as Easter, Thanksgiving & Christmas.  The inspector MAY work on holidays such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Independence Day depending on his personal schedule.

Q. Do you accept payment at the time of closing?

A. We can accept payment at close of escrow.  Please communicate this ahead of time prior to the inspection.  There is an additional charge of $50 for this arrangement.

After The Inspection

Q. What does the seller have to fix?

A. The seller doesn’t have to fix anything.  The seller is not required to fix anything reported in the inspection report.  The inspector does not have authority.  The inspector is working on your behalf to make you a more informed buyer by providing you documentation (the inspection report) regarding the condition of the structure.

Q. How long does it take to get the report?

A. The inspector will sacrifice personal time to get the report to you by the end of the day, or before you wake up the next day.  In instances where that may not be possible due to the inspectors schedule, that will be expressed to you at the inspection.

Q. What happens if the house fails the inspection.

A.  With a home inspection, it is not a “Pass” or “Fail” situation.  This misconception comes from a city or municipal code inspection.

Q. Would you buy this house?

A. My answer is always NO XD.  Just kidding.  I am working for your best interest but I don’t have the freedom to make that determination because there are multiple reasons why you might like the house.  For example, the current house I live in is older and has multiple problems.  There were probably better deals out there, homes with minimal issues, homes that were move-in ready, or homes that had more value however, I WANTED TO LIVE THERE.   Over time, my family has been renovating, updating, and increasing the homes value – essentially making it our own.  So in other words, I am making you a more informed buyer — it is now your turn to make an educated decision with the information I provide you and all other conditions effecting your purchase.  I feel each home buyer is smart and can make their own decisions.

Q. We had a contractor out to evaluate an issue like the report recommended and the contractor said there was no problem.  Who do we believe?

A. You can always give us a call to review the issue.  We always recommend getting several opinions or bids.  Some contractors may be lazy and not want to perform the work.  Some contractors may not be qualified or will provide an answer such as, “this is the way it’s always been done”.  Some contractors may say, “this meets code” (remember, code is minimum standards).

Q. We moved in to our home and a week later, our ______ system failed.  We had a contractor out and he said the home inspector should have caught this.  Did you miss this problem?

A. The home inspection is a snap shot of the structure at the time of the inspection.  A home inspection is not a guarantee of future performance.  Stored items or clutter in the home at the time of the inspection can limit accessibility or restrict access, limiting the inspection.  In regards to the contractor, I don’t know what the contractor is supposed to do, so how does he/she know what I’m supposed to do?  Some contractors like to throw home inspectors under the bus.

Ancillary Services

Q. Do you perform Septic Inspections? 

A. Yes.  The Inspector is a Missouri Certified OWTS Inspector.  A MO septic inspection is an additional fee

Q. Do you perform sewer line inspections?

A. No.  We can provide contacts for that type of work.

Q. Do you perform mold inspections?

A. No.   We can provide contacts for that type of work.