​Buying a home is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make in your life, so doesn’t it make sense to get all the information possible about the house you’re going to buy?
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​I mean, think about it - this is where you’re going to raise your family, celebrate important milestones in your kids’ lives, and create years of memories. So, there’s also a lot of emotion that will be invested into this place.
Therefore, it’s essential to make an informed decision.

First of all, it’s important to understand what home inspections and home energy audits are.
​A home inspection is a full-scale visual examination of a house that will give you a good idea of what you can expect in terms of future repairs, improvements and maintenance should you choose to purchase that house.

An Experienced inspectors can pick up on certain clues that could uncover hidden issues. For example:

• A fresh coat of paint could be hiding something underneath
• Ceiling stains could be indicative of roof leakage problems​

Energy audits partner perfectly with home inspections to provide you with an even deeper look at the inner workings of a home. An energy audit is an in-depth analysis of a home’s energy performance. Why is this important? Because an energy audit will reveal where and how a home is losing energy.
Losing energy can result from any number of issues, including:

• Poor insulation,
• Air leakage,
• ​Inefficient appliances.

These are some of the areas that home inspectors look at and while at first glance even this partial list seems pretty wide-ranging, would you be surprised to learn that an energy audit can tell you even more?

Certified Home Energy Auditors are skilled specialists in energy efficiency. They understand how a house functions as a set of inter-related systems, and how an issue or change in one area can impact on another area of the home.

An energy audit pinpoints those parts of your home where energy is being lost. Typically, an energy assessment includes a visual inspection, just like a standard home inspection 🏠🔍

Providing a computerized simulation analysis utilizing an accredited rating software to calculate a rating score on the HERS Index. This report will also contain a cost/benefit analysis for the recommended improvements and expected return on investment.

A home inspection is the first step towards understanding the condition of the home that you’re buying, or selling – and it is absolutely essential! Most buyers don’t know what to expect from a home inspection/report or what’s included in a typical home inspection.

Standards of Practice are designed to identify both the requirements of a home inspection and the limitations of an inspection.
​As a consumer, you should take the time to examine the Standards of Practice followed by your inspector.
Do Not Hire an inspector who isn’t associated with a professional inspection organization!
His reports follow no particular standards!

Many modern home inspectors will deliver you a report in a digital and PDF format, that is viewable on a mobile device. The home inspection report will be highly visual and easy to navigate with a table of contents and summary.

Whether you’re selling your current home, or you’re shopping for a new house, chances are that you’ll need a home inspection at some point in the process. So, what can you expect and what’s included in a home inspection?

Home inspectors are hired to perform a visual, detailed walk-through of the home that you’re looking to buy, and give a comprehensive review of the following sections of the home:

• Roof – Some inspectors start with the roof, which includes the roof coverings (type and condition of shingles), gutters, downspouts, vents, flashings, skylights, chimney and other roof penetrations.
• Exterior – One of the first things that an inspector does is inspect the exterior structure of the home, including the siding, eaves, soffits, fascia, windows, doors, trim, walkways, driveways, porches, decks, drainage and other basic structural elements of the house, to ensure that they are free of major issues.
• Basement, Foundation, Crawlspace & Structure – An important part of the home inspection covers the foundation, basement and crawlspace. The important part here is differentiating major structural signs versus typical settling and hairline cracks.
• Plumbing – Understanding the functionality and location of the main water and fuel shut-offs is very important. You’ll also learn about your water heater, operation of toilets, sinks, tubs, showers, drain, waste & vent systems, and sump pumps.
• Electrical – Another critical area that includes service drops, conductors, mast, electrical meter and panels, grounding and bonding, testing a representative number of switches, lighting fixtures and receptacles (AFCI & GFCI), and the presence of smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors.
• Electrical systems will be checked, too. Fuse boxes and circuit breakers are tested, as are light switches, power outlets, and other electrical systems.
• Heating/Cooling Elements – The inspector will inspect the heating and cooling systems, using normal operating controls and describe the location of the thermostat, energy source and heating/cooling method.
• Fireplace – If applicable, the inspector will check readily accessible portions of fireplaces & chimneys, lintels, damper doors, and clean out doors and frames.
• Attic, Insulation & Ventilation – Making sure the home has sufficient insulation and ventilation can save problems down the road.
• Doors, Windows & Interior – Checking a representative number of doors and windows, floors, walls and ceilings, stairways, railings, and the garage door and openers is all important since it’s the areas where you’ll spend the most time!

Throughout this process, the inspector will be taking notes, pictures, and other information about the home being examined.

t’s a common misconception that home inspectors are expected to examine the home for issues like mold, pests, parasites, interior structural issues, asbestos, lead, and other potentially hidden issues.
This is usually not the case. To use a medical analogy, think of a home inspection as a “general check-up” – not a comprehensive, x-ray exam. The home you’re buying or selling will be assessed thoroughly – but specialized issues like mold or termites will sometimes require specialist inspectors.

Note: Some inspectors will be licensed to do termite inspections, radon testing, mold testing and more.
Inspectors also won’t necessarily be looking to see if a home complies with local building codes, and they won’t tell you things like whether or not you’re getting a good deal on your home, or give you an opinion on the value of a home.

The time it takes for an inspection varies based on how many square feet the home is, but the vast majority of inspections will take about 2-3 hours, due to the complexity of examining each element of the home.
Tip: Home inspectors have hundreds of points to check in any given home.

At the end of an inspection, the inspector will give you a general overview of their findings as a verbal summary or show you on their phone/tablet. They will outline any potential obvious issues, and discuss what you should do to solve them, or whether they should be a cause for concern.

After the verbal summary is made, a written home inspection report will be written by the inspector, and sent to you. This report will have a much more detailed outline about the state of the home, and is accompanied by high-quality photos, notes, and other general information about the home like styles and materials.

InterNACHI® inspectors are trained and certified by the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, the world’s largest association of residential and commercial property inspectors. InterNACHI® provides its members with accredited training and education, free benefits, expert advice, and peer support—all to help them serve their homeowner-clients with the highest-quality inspections for their largest investments.

As an InterNACHI® Certified Professional Inspector®:

• I'm required to stay up to date with the industry’s most rigorous Continuing Education through online, video and live training courses, which have been awarded more than 1,400 approvals and accreditations by governmental and other agencies;
• I adhere to a comprehensive Standards of Practice to ensure that you receive a detailed and accurate home inspection;
• I abide by a strict Code of Ethics, which puts my clients first and protects their rights as consumers; and
• I use state-of-the-art inspection tools and reporting software so that my clients can make informed decisions about the homes they want to buy or sell.

My standard home inspection is an evaluation of the visible and accessible interior and exterior structure, systems and components. Your report will include my findings of any material defects I discover in an easy-to-read format. I will also provide my recommendations for monitoring, repair or replacement. And my job isn’t finished until you understand everything in your report.
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For the Home Buyer
A home is probably the largest purchase you'll ever make, so it's important to understand the condition of your investment. I will provide a non-invasive examination of the home’s accessible structure, systems and components. While a home inspection is not a prediction of future conditions, and cannot reveal every concern that exists (or ever could exist), it will significantly reduce your anxiety by arming you with the knowledge you need to make an informed home-buying decision.

For the Home Seller
Are you selling your home? Let me inspect it before you even list it. A Move-In Certified Seller Inspection alerts you to any defects or problems with your home so that you can address them before prospective buyers discover them. You can then take the time you need to obtain reasonable repair estimates. Show prospective buyers that you're dealing in good faith. Avoid 11th-hour negotiations and delays, and justify your full asking price by having your home pre-inspected now.

For the Real Estate Professional
Your reputation is your most valuable asset. Your clients rely on you to guide them through a complicated and sometimes stressful process. Demonstrate to them that their trust in you is justified by referring them to me. As an InterNACHI® Certified Professional Inspector®, my experience, training and professionalism will deliver the information your clients need. The best advertising is a happy client.

I will provide a personalized inspection of your home.
Contact me today to schedule your inspection!