What is an appraisal?  What is a home inspection? And what are the differences?

An Appraisal & a Professional Home Inspection are both completely different evaluations of the property. The appraiser establishes an estimated 'market value' of the property; comparing it to similar homes within the listing neighborhood. While a Real Estate Inspector evaluates the actual physical condition of the structure and all of the related components of the house that you are buying. Some people believe an Appraiser 'inspects' because they have to look at the “overall condition” of the house. But while they are an integral component in the real estate industry, Appraisers don't provide you a detailed report about the conditions of the house. Also, an Appraiser generally reports directly to the mortgage lender, you might not see there report until you are closing. You have control over which home inspection company is right for you; we are working for you, not the Real Estate Agents or the Government. Discovery Real Estate Inspections provide you with an objective visual examination of the structure and an assessment of all of the mechanical systems located within the property. Property inspectors do not evaluate whether the home complies with local building codes (which are subject to periodic change) and they couldn't possibly guarantee that an item inspected might not fail in the future. Nor should it be considered a "technically exhaustive" evaluation, but rather a total evaluation of the properties condition on the day it is inspected.  Having the right information can make a major difference in this critical time of decision making and negotiations.
               BUY WITH CONFIDENCE - Call DISCOVERY Real Estate Inspections Today.

  Why should I use the services of a Professional DISCOVERY Home Inspector?

Buying a new home may be the biggest investment you'll ever make. Although the process may be very exciting it can quickly become overwhelming. The home you have selected may appear to be in perfect condition & exactly what you have been looking for; however, unknown & potentially serious defects could make this investment in your future a costly one. Having your home professionally inspected by a DISCOVERY Real Estate Inspector as early as possible in the buying process is a wise idea. WE COULD SAVE YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. Defects within the property may exist, you may be able to have the seller or builder correct these problems before your transaction is considered complete.

A home inspection is an excellent opportunity for home buyers, home sellers & current home owners to gather valuable  information, helping them determine not only the condition of the structure, but to also help expose any immediate maintenance issues that may go unnoticed without the help of a trained Professional Home Inspector. At DISCOVERY Real Estate Inspections, we are dedicated to providing you with valuable information about your new home. We thoroughly inspect all major components & installed appliances of the subject property to expose any unknown defects and advise you about future maintenance and safety issues. Our knowledgeable professional inspectors will give you the accurate information you'll need when making any informed real estate transaction decisions.

  Why can't I have someone I know who is handy or a contractor inspect my home?

You could, however, this is the big mistake few potential homebuyers make when they are possible making the largest single purchase in there life time. Although the person you are considering may be very skilled, they are not trained or experienced at home inspections. Professional home inspection is a unique skill that is the result of years of training. Professional inspectors have an "Inspector's Instinct" for discovering problems. That instinct takes extensive training and lots of experience to develop. By using the services of a trained, experienced & licensed Discovery Home Inspector, you'll gain a better understanding of the condition of the property, especially whether any items do not "function as intended" or "adversely affect the habitability of the dwelling" or "warrant further investigation" by a person who specializes in the item in question.

  What will be evaluated during the property inspection?

At Discovery Real Estate Inspections we believe that a thorough Inspection should cover everything from the foundation to the top of the roof, and all points between. However, other inspection companies report on items they feel are most important to them. In Texas, a Professional Inspectors must at least conform to the Standards and Practices as set forth by (TREC) The Texas Real Estate Commission. Better inspection firms, like Discovery Real Estate Inspections strive to exceed the industry standards by reporting on safety and home maintenance issues as well.

  How long will the inspection take?

Most inspections take about two to four hours. These times may vary depending on the size, age & condition of the home, and on level of interaction between you and the inspector.

  How do I choose a home inspector?  Who makes the best inspector?

You have already located Discovery Real Estate Inspections, one of the most competent & reliable inspection firms in Houston. If you have any questions about our services or if you would like to review a completed report please do not hesitate to call our office for further information at: (713) 681-1884. If you are still unsure about who you can trust, ask your family members, your friends or co-workers. A Realtor should recommend 2 or 3 inspection firms for you to contact, that way you can choose a firm that best meets your needs. You can arrange for the home inspection yourself or ask your real estate agent to assist you. However, the final choice of inspector should always be one that YOU are comfortable with.

Having a familiarity with how a home is constructed and how all of its systems interact is imperative. In Texas, all inspectors have to satisfy certain education requirements and pass a state licensing examination. You'll find that every home inspector will promote their strengths, as they should. A structural engineer certainly knows the most about structural issues, but an electrician would similarly know the most about your electrical systems, and a roofer about your roof. But any one of these might not be as knowledgeable in HVAC or with plumbing. So whom do you choose?

Many home inspectors are generalists, kind of like your family doctor. Your family doctor is very knowledgeable about many aspects of your health. The same is true of the home inspector about your home. If any inspector happen to find something beyond there expertise and training, they should recommend further evaluation by an expert in that field. But if not, why spend the inflated extra expenses on the specialist if you don't have to?

At Discovery Real Estate Inspections, it comes down to training and experience, service and reputation, the quality of our work, and the ability of the inspector to communicate his findings. This is where we stand apart from other inspection companies. Our experience includes over 20 years working within the construction industry including:    multi-family housing, home, town-home & condominium construction, maintenance & remodeling and much more.          Peace of Mind & Quality Assurance   -   THAT'S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT.

  Should I be present during the inspection?

You'll get more value from the inspection if you join us. It's better for you, and better for us. We like it when you're there and you take part in the exploration with us. That way we can make sure you have a clear understanding of what we're talking about in the property report. The inspector will review the results of the inspection with you and point out any problems or issues discovered at the property.

However, if you are unable to attend the inspection, don't worry. We present you with a detailed computer generated report, usually within 24 hours. The walk through summary does not necessarily include all items that have been discovered to be defective or deficient. Therefore, do not just rely on the walk-through summary. We want you to carefully read and understand the entire inspection report.

  Are all inspection reports the same?

No. While The Texas Real Estate Commission has established a minimum requirement for report-writing, reports can and will vary greatly. They can range from a very limited "checklist" and a hand written summary of the systems and components to a full narrative evaluation. Discovery Real Estate Inspections provides an extensive narrative and easily understood report complete with digital photographs (as needed and appropriate) to enhance particular findings. We also include safety & maintenance information to help you better understand your house. 

  Do you offer any guarantees?

We guarantee to do our best, to give 110% to what we do. We guarantee to offer you the most professional service. We guarantee that we strive to exceed the standards set by The Texas Real Estate Commission. We also guarantee that we will report everything in writing before the inspection is complete so you'll know exactly what was discovered on the day of the inspection.

What we 'sell' is our professionally trained evaluation of the condition of the house on the day we see it. We do this every day…day in and day out. There's also the chance that something that looked good on inspection day, could break the day after the inspection. Life is funny like that. If you decide on an inspection company other than Discovery Real Estate Inspections, we strongly recommend that you read their fine print of their guarantee. Be sure, its better to be safe than sorry.

  Can I have repairs inspected that are made by the seller AFTER the initial Inspection?

Yes. Some repairs may not be as straightforward as they might seem. Discovery Real Estate Inspections can help you evaluate the repair, but you should be aware that any re-inspection of repairs will not serve as any warranty or guarantee of these repairs.

 What about payment information for the inspection?

Unless otherwise agreed upon, you will be responsible for the payment of the home inspection upon completion of the on sight walk-through inspection, for services rendered. For security reasons, we can not release the written report without the full payment for the inspection. The inspector will except cash or personal checks, if you please.