WHAT IS A HOME INSPECTION AND IS IT NECESSARY?
A home inspection is a very important part of the home purchase process. You as a home buyer need to have the peace of mind in your investment. A typical 2000 sq. ft. home inspection will take 2 1/2 to 3 hours to complete. During a home inspection, the following items are inspected, as long as they are accessible, to see how they are functioning: the roof covering, roof structure and attic space, A/C and heating system, plumbing system, drains and vents, electrical system, windows, walls, foundation (slab and pier and beam), drainage around the home, the water well, and septic systems. When inspecting a home, an inspector is not allowed to pull up carpet or other attached floor coverings, we are not allowed to move personal items from the walls, move furniture or appliances, or do anything that could damage the home or the contents. If I break it, I have to replace it. There are times when the entire attic space and the entire crawl space under a pier and beam home are not visually inspected if they are not readily accessible. Home inspectors do not tunnel under homes, and we are not allowed to modify homes during an inspection. No home inspector will put themselves in danger to perform an inspection.
Other items that can be inspected are swimming pools, hot tubs and, sprinkler systems as long as they have not been winterized. In order for a home to be properly inspected, all of the utilities in the home have to be turned on and the items have to be accessible. Be wary of any inspector that says they can inspect the home without having the utilities turned on. Always use a home inspector that is licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission. Any honest, professional home inspector will be glad to give you his license number so that you can find out more information about them at the TREC website link on the home page of my website. A home inspection is based upon the condition of the home at the time of the inspection. As you have probably experienced in living in a home, mechanical items in a home can break or fail at any time. There is no guarantee that the items that are functioning properly at the time of the inspection will still be functioning when you move into the home.
Coverage areas I perform inspections in Wise, Montague, Jack, Parker, Tarrant, Denton, Clay, and Cooke counties. Basically, I will go to any county that adjoins Wise County. I can go out farther out if my schedule and timing allow for it. It is very important that you choose an inspector that is familiar with the local area and surroundings around your home. I inspect homes on Monday through Saturday. Sunday belongs to the Lord and I need the rest.
If you are buying a home out in rural areas, most mortgage companies are now requiring that you have a water test to check for coliform and E-coli bacteria and a septic system inspection by someone who is licensed by the State of Texas. I am licensed to inspect all types of septic systems in the State of Texas. The VA and some FHA lenders are now requiring that the water also be tested for lead, nitrate, and nitrites. I also inspect water wells and draw water samples for the coliform bacteria test. I take the samples to the Tarrant County Health Department in Ft. Worth for analysis. I also take the water samples to the City of Ft. Worth water treatment plant for testing for the lead, nitrate, and nitrites.
I inspect old homes, new homes, manufactured homes, homes being built during various phases, homes getting ready to be sold, foreclosures, and just about anything that someone can live in, I can inspect it. The price for an inspection is based on the total square footage of the home and where it is located at. Please call or email me for a quote. When you contact me, please have the square footage and address available.