FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions
We’re glad you asked!
HouseCheck brings a whole new philosophy to the home inspection industry, so naturally, people ask us a lot of questions about our business model and how we expect it to impact the industry. We’ve assembled a handful of the most frequently-asked questions here for your convenience. If you have a question that’s not answered here, email us at faq@HouseCheck.com, or call us toll-free at 844.94.CHECK.
Questions consumers have asked about our HouseCheck Inspections:
There are many advantages to ensuring that your house is ready to sell before you place it on the market with an agent or sell the home yourself. First, an upfront inspection speeds up the closing cycle by avoiding the surprises often associated with home inspections that are performed at the buyer’s request during the closing cycle. Second, inspecting a home before offering it for sale greatly reduces the buyer’s post-contract negotiating power, because the seller has already taken care of any deficiencies before the home is even listed for sale. Even if the homeowner chooses not to fix every deficiency that the inspection identified, the inspection is still valuable, because it establishes the true cost of making repairs. Then, the listing price of the home can be realistically adjusted in advance, which is better than being forced to react to a buyer’s demands that the home’s price be reduced far beyond the normal price of the repairs. This scenario is often played out when the buyer commissions the home inspection and tries to use the resulting information to their own advantage. In this way, a proactive home inspection can help eliminate price erosion after a contract has been signed. In every case above, a proactive HouseCheck inspection commissioned by the seller enables the seller to maintain more control of the entire home selling process.
When you allow the buyer to initiate the home inspection after a contract is signed, you’ve given away a significant amount of control in the purchasing process. If the buyer’s home inspector comes in and finds deficiencies that warrant repairs, this will likely increase the amount of time required for the closing cycle, as contractors will need to be located, quotations will need to be obtained, and work will need to be commissioned, completed, and verified. Meanwhile, having a list of deficiencies that must be remedied within a short timeframe will increase the chances of more negotiation, as a buyer may use such information as leverage to request price concessions from the seller. In addition, getting repairs completed during the due diligence period may require paying additional fees for rush work, which reduces the net proceeds from your home.
A home inspection by HouseCheck involves an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a home, from the roof to the foundation. Having a home inspected is like giving it a physical check-up. If problems or symptoms are found, the HouseCheck inspector may recommend further evaluation by a licensed contractor who specializes in the required discipline, such as plumbing, electrical, or roofing. HouseCheck inspectors do not perform any destructive testing; our high-tech testing systems enable us to obtain detailed data without causing damage in your home. It’s important to note that while HouseCheck Inspectors are thorough, consumers should not expect their HouseCheck report to include the condition of every nail, wire or pipe in the home. Our inspectors are primarily concerned with pointing out major concerns and/or safety-related issues rather than cosmetic flaws that are considered readily apparent to the consumer themselves.
The purchase of a home is probably the largest single investment you will ever make. You should learn as much as you can about the condition of the property and the need for any major repairs before you buy, so that you can minimize unpleasant surprises and difficulties afterwards. Of course, a good home inspection should also point out the positive aspects of a home, well as detailing the maintenance necessary to keep the house in good shape. After the inspection, you will have a much clearer understanding of the house you are about to purchase. If you are already a homeowner, a home inspection may be used to identify problems in the making and to learn preventive measures, which may help avoid costly future repairs. If you are planning to sell your home, you may wish to have an inspection prior to placing you home on the market. This will give you a better understanding of conditions which may be discovered by the buyer’s inspector, and an opportunity to make repairs that will put the house in better selling condition.
Even the most experienced homeowner lacks the knowledge and expertise of a professional HouseCheck Inspector, who has inspected hundreds — perhaps thousands — of homes in his or her career. A HouseCheck inspector is familiar with the many elements of home construction, proper installation methods, and recommended maintenance protocols. They understand how the home’s systems and components are intended to function together, as well as how and why they are prone to failure.
A HouseCheck inspector is typically contacted right after the contract or purchase agreement has been signed, and is often available within a few days. However, before you sign, be sure that there is an inspection clause in the sales contract, making your final purchase obligation contingent upon the findings of a professional HouseCheck inspection. The clause should specify the terms to which both the buyer and seller are obligated.
No, absolutely not. A professional HouseCheck inspection is an examination of the current condition of your prospective home; it is not an appraisal, which determines market value, nor is it a municipal inspection, which verifies local code compliance. A HouseCheck inspector, therefore, will not “pass or fail” a house, but rather describe its physical condition and indicate what may need minor or major repairs or replacement.
No house is perfect. If your HouseCheck inspector identifies problems, it doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t buy the house, only that you will know in advance what to expect. A seller may adjust the purchase price or make repairs if major problems are found. Especially if your budget is tight, or if you don’t wish to become involved in future repair work, the information contained in a HouseCheck Home Inspection Report will be very valuable to you.
Definitely! Now you can move forward and complete your home purchase with your eyes open as to the actual condition of the property and all its equipment and systems. You will also have learned many things about your new home from the HouseCheck inspector’s written report, and will want to keep that information for further reference.
A HouseCheck inspection typically takes between 2 to 3 hours for homes 3,000 sq. ft. and less; larger homes will take a bit more time. We suggest that you leave small children with a sitter if you want to be present as the inspector inspects the property and explains his findings.
It is not necessary for you to be present for the inspection, but it is recommended. If you’re present, you will be able to observe the Inspector and ask questions directly, as you learn about the condition of the home, how its systems work, and how to maintain it. You will also find the HouseCheck written report easier to understand if you have seen the property first-hand through the HouseCheck inspector’s eyes.
Definitely! Many homebuyers are led to believe that the county or municipality inspection and the final walk-through with the builder’s representative is an adequate way to inspect a home. In reality, most county or municipality inspectors spend no more than 30 minutes at a home site. The builder’s final walk-through inspection is very unlikely to disclose any hidden problems with the home, as some repairs can be expensive, and the builder has a vested interest in not spending money on repairs. In contrast, your HouseCheck inspector will spend two to three hours during a typical inspection, and could help you avoid thousands of dollars in repairs later on. Homeowners will need to correct defects that were present at the time of construction when they sell their homes in the future.
We accept most credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express) and the charge is made at the time you schedule your inspection either online or through our call center.
Our home inspection prices are determined by two variables: The size of the house, and the age of the house. For an immediate price quote, please call our Customer Care team toll-free at 844.94.CHECK.
We encourage you to ask all the questions you want during the HouseCheck inspection. However, should you have additional questions or concerns after the inspection, please feel free to call our call center toll-free at 844-94-CHECK; some of our clients call with general or specific questions well after the HouseCheck inspection takes place. The inspector is also available for a complete phone consultation to go over your report in detail if you are unable to attend the inspection. We believe client support during the inspection and beyond is one of the many reasons that HouseCheck should be your inspection firm for all your house inspection needs.
We offer a low-cost re-inspection option after each inspection that is performed. When re-inspecting a property, the inspector will arrive equipped with a copy of the original report, which will enable them to verify that any deficiencies specified by the original report have been properly rectified. The charge for this re-inspection is significantly less than the cost of the original inspection, and we will issue an updated report based on the findings of our re-inspection.
We’re glad you asked!
HouseCheck brings a whole new philosophy to the home inspection industry, so naturally, people ask us a lot of questions about our business model and how we expect it to impact the industry. We’ve assembled a handful of the most frequently-asked questions here for your convenience. If you have a question that’s not answered here, email us at faq@HouseCheck.com, or call us toll-free at 844.94.CHECK.
Questions consumers have asked about our HouseCheck Inspections:
There are many advantages to ensuring that your house is ready to sell before you place it on the market with an agent or sell the home yourself. First, an upfront inspection speeds up the closing cycle by avoiding the surprises often associated with home inspections that are performed at the buyer’s request during the closing cycle. Second, inspecting a home before offering it for sale greatly reduces the buyer’s post-contract negotiating power, because the seller has already taken care of any deficiencies before the home is even listed for sale. Even if the homeowner chooses not to fix every deficiency that the inspection identified, the inspection is still valuable, because it establishes the true cost of making repairs. Then, the listing price of the home can be realistically adjusted in advance, which is better than being forced to react to a buyer’s demands that the home’s price be reduced far beyond the normal price of the repairs. This scenario is often played out when the buyer commissions the home inspection and tries to use the resulting information to their own advantage. In this way, a proactive home inspection can help eliminate price erosion after a contract has been signed. In every case above, a proactive HouseCheck inspection commissioned by the seller enables the seller to maintain more control of the entire home selling process.
When you allow the buyer to initiate the home inspection after a contract is signed, you’ve given away a significant amount of control in the purchasing process. If the buyer’s home inspector comes in and finds deficiencies that warrant repairs, this will likely increase the amount of time required for the closing cycle, as contractors will need to be located, quotations will need to be obtained, and work will need to be commissioned, completed, and verified. Meanwhile, having a list of deficiencies that must be remedied within a short timeframe will increase the chances of more negotiation, as a buyer may use such information as leverage to request price concessions from the seller. In addition, getting repairs completed during the due diligence period may require paying additional fees for rush work, which reduces the net proceeds from your home.
A home inspection by HouseCheck involves an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a home, from the roof to the foundation. Having a home inspected is like giving it a physical check-up. If problems or symptoms are found, the HouseCheck inspector may recommend further evaluation by a licensed contractor who specializes in the required discipline, such as plumbing, electrical, or roofing. HouseCheck inspectors do not perform any destructive testing; our high-tech testing systems enable us to obtain detailed data without causing damage in your home. It’s important to note that while HouseCheck Inspectors are thorough, consumers should not expect their HouseCheck report to include the condition of every nail, wire or pipe in the home. Our inspectors are primarily concerned with pointing out major concerns and/or safety-related issues rather than cosmetic flaws that are considered readily apparent to the consumer themselves.
The purchase of a home is probably the largest single investment you will ever make. You should learn as much as you can about the condition of the property and the need for any major repairs before you buy, so that you can minimize unpleasant surprises and difficulties afterwards. Of course, a good home inspection should also point out the positive aspects of a home, well as detailing the maintenance necessary to keep the house in good shape. After the inspection, you will have a much clearer understanding of the house you are about to purchase. If you are already a homeowner, a home inspection may be used to identify problems in the making and to learn preventive measures, which may help avoid costly future repairs. If you are planning to sell your home, you may wish to have an inspection prior to placing you home on the market. This will give you a better understanding of conditions which may be discovered by the buyer’s inspector, and an opportunity to make repairs that will put the house in better selling condition.
Even the most experienced homeowner lacks the knowledge and expertise of a professional HouseCheck Inspector, who has inspected hundreds — perhaps thousands — of homes in his or her career. A HouseCheck inspector is familiar with the many elements of home construction, proper installation methods, and recommended maintenance protocols. They understand how the home’s systems and components are intended to function together, as well as how and why they are prone to failure.
A HouseCheck inspector is typically contacted right after the contract or purchase agreement has been signed, and is often available within a few days. However, before you sign, be sure that there is an inspection clause in the sales contract, making your final purchase obligation contingent upon the findings of a professional HouseCheck inspection. The clause should specify the terms to which both the buyer and seller are obligated.
No, absolutely not. A professional HouseCheck inspection is an examination of the current condition of your prospective home; it is not an appraisal, which determines market value, nor is it a municipal inspection, which verifies local code compliance. A HouseCheck inspector, therefore, will not “pass or fail” a house, but rather describe its physical condition and indicate what may need minor or major repairs or replacement.
No house is perfect. If your HouseCheck inspector identifies problems, it doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t buy the house, only that you will know in advance what to expect. A seller may adjust the purchase price or make repairs if major problems are found. Especially if your budget is tight, or if you don’t wish to become involved in future repair work, the information contained in a HouseCheck Home Inspection Report will be very valuable to you.
Definitely! Now you can move forward and complete your home purchase with your eyes open as to the actual condition of the property and all its equipment and systems. You will also have learned many things about your new home from the HouseCheck inspector’s written report, and will want to keep that information for further reference.
A HouseCheck inspection typically takes between 2 to 3 hours for homes 3,000 sq. ft. and less; larger homes will take a bit more time. We suggest that you leave small children with a sitter if you want to be present as the inspector inspects the property and explains his findings.
It is not necessary for you to be present for the inspection, but it is recommended. If you’re present, you will be able to observe the Inspector and ask questions directly, as you learn about the condition of the home, how its systems work, and how to maintain it. You will also find the HouseCheck written report easier to understand if you have seen the property first-hand through the HouseCheck inspector’s eyes.
Definitely! Many homebuyers are led to believe that the county or municipality inspection and the final walk-through with the builder’s representative is an adequate way to inspect a home. In reality, most county or municipality inspectors spend no more than 30 minutes at a home site. The builder’s final walk-through inspection is very unlikely to disclose any hidden problems with the home, as some repairs can be expensive, and the builder has a vested interest in not spending money on repairs. In contrast, your HouseCheck inspector will spend two to three hours during a typical inspection, and could help you avoid thousands of dollars in repairs later on. Homeowners will need to correct defects that were present at the time of construction when they sell their homes in the future.
We accept most credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express) and the charge is made at the time you schedule your inspection either online or through our call center.
Our home inspection prices are determined by two variables: The size of the house, and the age of the house. For an immediate price quote, please call our Customer Care team toll-free at 844.94.CHECK.
We encourage you to ask all the questions you want during the HouseCheck inspection. However, should you have additional questions or concerns after the inspection, please feel free to call our call center toll-free at 844-94-CHECK; some of our clients call with general or specific questions well after the HouseCheck inspection takes place. The inspector is also available for a complete phone consultation to go over your report in detail if you are unable to attend the inspection. We believe client support during the inspection and beyond is one of the many reasons that HouseCheck should be your inspection firm for all your house inspection needs.
We offer a low-cost re-inspection option after each inspection that is performed. When re-inspecting a property, the inspector will arrive equipped with a copy of the original report, which will enable them to verify that any deficiencies specified by the original report have been properly rectified. The charge for this re-inspection is significantly less than the cost of the original inspection, and we will issue an updated report based on the findings of our re-inspection.