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.
Examples of items that are included in the inspection |
-
Attic
-
Insulation
-
Ventilation
-
Roof &
Flashings
-
Gutters
-
Foundation
-
Grading
-
Fences
-
Retaining
Walls
-
Siding & Trim
-
Driveways &
Walks
|
-
Ceilings
-
Floors
-
Walls
-
Doors &
Windows
-
Chimney
-
Fireplace
-
Major
Appliances
-
Electrical
System
-
Water Heater
-
Plumbing
System
-
Air
Conditioning
-
Heating
|
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.
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