Inspection Services:
Lake Country Home Inspections, Inc. will conduct an inspection on a newly built or previously occupied home, condominium, town house, or other residential property. The inspector will report on the physical condition of the home (structure, construction, and mechanical systems), and identify any items that should be repaired, replaced, or further evaluated.
Each inspection will include, but not be limited to the following items:
Exterior:
- Structure/Framework
- Roof, vents, flashings, and trim
- Gutters and downspouts
- Skylights, chimney, and other roof penetrations
- Eaves, soffit and fascia
- Electrical panels, breakers, and fuses
- Decks, stoops, porches, walkways, and railings
- Foundation and Landscape Drainage
- Main water shut off valves
- Electrical service line and meter box
- Main disconnect and service amperage
Interior:
- Heating and cooling systems
- Fire and carbon monoxide detection devices
- Fireplace damper doors and hearths
- Windows – fixed and moveable
- Plumbing and electrical fixtures
- Insulation and ventilation
- Garage doors, safety sensors, and openers
Upon scheduling an appointment, clients will receive a copy of the inspection contract for review prior to the inspection date. At the inspection, the inspector will have the client sign the original contract prior to beginning the inspection. By previewing the contract ahead of time, the inspector is available to answer any questions a client may have before the inspection begins.
For each type of inspection we conduct, we encourage our clients to accompany the inspector so they can clearly see the items being described, and can freely ask any question they may have about the house. As a rule, inspecting a 2000 square foot home will take approximately three hours.
Payment for services is expected upon completion of the inspection.
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PRE-PURCHASE & PRE-LISTING INSPECTIONS
A pre-listing inspection and a pre-purchase inspection are one and the same. The difference is that for a “pre-listing” inspection the seller obtains a home inspection prior to putting the house up for sale, whereas a “pre-purchase” is where the buyer has the home inspected after the seller accepts a purchase offer contingent upon an acceptable home inspection.
For the seller, having a home inspected prior to listing the property with a realtor allows for the opportunity to have items requiring attention repaired or corrected before the house is officially on the market. In this type of inspection, the inspector visually inspects the interior and the exterior of the home so that he can point out issues that require attention. In the case of a pre-listing inspection, the owners may choose to follow through on some or all of the inspector's recommendations prior to putting their home on the market. Either way, the home owner can provide full disclosure on the condition of the house to a potential buyer.
For the buyer, having a home inspection clause in the purchase contract allows for a licensed inspector to visually inspect the house as a contingency of the purchase offer. No house is perfect, and more than likely the inspector will find some issues that might require attention. If so, the buyer is then better aware of future repairs that might be necessary, or if a major problems is found, the seller may agree to make repairs, or renegotiate the selling price. Either way, the inspection is a way of finding out more information about the house; good, bad, or indifferent, so informed decisions can be made if necessary.
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NEW HOME - CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS
A new home is constructed in various phases: foundation, framing, home components, and finishing. During the four phases of construction, many tradesmen of many different skill levels may work at the construction site. Consider hiring a home inspector who works for you to inspect the new home following each of the four phases of construction, or at pre-determined intervals. By having the home inspected, there is that added assurance that a trained inspector is on site looking out for your best interests.
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NEW HOME – 11th MONTH WARRANTY INSPECTIONS
A new home, 11th month warranty inspection is conducted when the buyer of a brand new home wants to have it inspected by an independent, licensed home inspector before its warranty expires. Not all new homes are perfect, and the inspector is visually trained to look for issues, which may require attention when conducting his inspection. By having the house inspected prior to the warranty expiration date, the builder can be contacted and given a punch list of necessary item requiring attention, if needed.
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MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS
A maintenance inspection is conducted as a proactive approach to maintaining the home in a condition desired by the homeowner. By hiring a trained inspector to conduct a maintenance inspection, you will be able to determine and prioritize items that will require repair or replacement in the foreseeable future, in some cases, unbeknownst to the homeowner. A maintenance inspection is conducted with the assumption that it is being performed to develop a five-year repair and financial plan for maintaining one's home. The inspector will be able to provide you with a general estimate for repairs, and he will make suggestions to help maintain the value and efficiency of your home. This inspection does not include determining the life expectancy of appliances or mechanical components. To avoid any perception of conflict of interest, the inspector will not solicit for any of the repair work determined to be necessary.
Note: A home inspection does not estimate the value of a home. For that service, one would need to contact a home appraiser.
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RADON INSPECTIONS
Radon is a gaseous radioactive element derived from the natural decay of uranium in soil and rock. It has been found in nearly one out of every 15 homes, and has been identified as the second leading cause of lung cancer, killing 15,000 to 22,000 people each year.
Winter is the best time to test for radon as homes are less ventilated during the heating season. If high levels of radon are found, measures should be taken to mitigate the radon.
Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that can seep through cracks in a slab, or basement floors and walls, and through openings around sump pumps. All homes, new and older are susceptible.
For additional information, please visit the following website:
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HUD 203(k) CONSULTANT
This is a type of loan available through HUD to purchase or refinance a home. The borrower can obtain one mortgage loan at a long-term rate to finance both the acquisition and the rehabilitation of the property. At loan closing, mortgage proceeds are used to pay the seller to acquire the property. An escrow account is established to finance the rehabilitation. The loan is eligible for FHA mortgage insurance following closing, before the rehabilitation is complete. The consultant guides the buyer through the process and inspects the rehabilitation work performed for satisfactory completion before the lending agency releases payment to the contractor(s).
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