FAQ

Why do I need a home inspection?

• If you are purchasing a home, you want to protect the largest single investment you may ever make.  A home inspection will help you learn about the condition of the property and the need for any major repairs before you buy.

• If you are planning to sell your home, a home inspection will give you a full understanding of the condition of the home.  This will also alert you to any repairs you may wish to make to get the house in better selling condition.

What is a Home Inspector?

• Home Inspectors come from a very wide variety of backgrounds and experience levels.  They have a very broad understanding of the systems comprising the home and are trained to recognize and evaluate the severity of problems with any of those systems. 

• When selecting your inspector, look carefully at their background, formal training, continuing education, membership in professional associations such as the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI).

• The home inspection should be viewed as an opportunity for the prospective homeowner to walk through the home with a professional who will educate while inspecting. 

What repairs will the inspector make?

• None!  Home Inspectors do not represent themselves as experts in any specific field though their background may include licensure or certification as a contractor.  The Home Inspector is a neutral   party whose task it is to identify items in need of repair or replacement and safety concerns.  These items will come with a recommendation to seek the assistance of a qualified professional in the area of concern. 

• The Code of Ethics of the major Home Inspector associations do not allow inspectors to offer their services to repair any of the defects they may find. 

Who should attend the inspection?

• The prospective homebuyer(s) and their Real Estate Professional may be present for the inspection. 

• The seller and their Realtor are also welcome to participate in the inspection.  The inspection should be viewed as an opportunity to learn about the home in detail from the Home Inspector. 

Is there a contract documenting what will be inspected?

• Yes - Before the inspection begins, you will be asked to sign an Inspection Agreement which you will find on our WEB Site.  It will clearly document what will and will not be inspected as well as the legal obligations and limitations of both parties to the inspection. We encourage you to review it with your Realtor.  Your Inspector will be happy to answer any questions you might have about the contract and its provisions. 

 How much will the Home Inspection cost?

• The cost of the Home Inspection will depend on the property itself.  When REGAL Services quotes a price for the inspection, we take into account the size and age of the home (older homes require additional inspection time), the type of foundation (accessible crawlspaces take additional time and   may have unknown hazards), and any outbuildings you desire to be inspected.

How long will the inspection take?

• A home inspection will take from 2 to 3 ½ hours, sometimes longer depending on several variables such as house size.

When and how long does it take to get a final report of the inspection?

●    A hand written checklist report may be available at the time of the inspection.  The typed version  may be available the next business day…either faxed or attached to an e-mail.  The same could be said for the narrative type of reporting except that this style is almost never hand written.  A report should not take longer than three days after the inspection is completed.

A written report of the inspection may come in two basic forms.  They are either checklist style or narrative.  They may be hand written as is customary with the checklist, or; the report can be typed.  The typed version of either style is preferred because there is less room for error; and it shows  some professional thought was given to the final result.

Recently, there has been a trend to offer the final inspection report online…usually a link from the Home Inspector’s website.  Access is password protected.  The client is the only person who is given the password.  He can make the report available to anyone to whom he has given this information.  The report is often available only for a specified amount of time.  Up to one week is customary.

Photographs of abnormal conditions should accompany either method of reporting.  And; this also may be done in a couple of ways…either integrated with the report, or; grouped together at the end of the report.  The preferred method is integrated into the body of the report.

REGAL Services has improved somewhat on these methods by offering a narrative style report, typed, and with photographs integrated into the body of the report.  Additionally, the final report is available on-line before the close of business on the same day as the inspection.  The protecting password for access is e-mailed when the report goes on line; or, it is given to the client at the time of the inspection.