Dave Your Home Inspector

Many people think it is only beneficial to hire a professional home inspector when you are preparing to buy or sell a home.  While those are excellent times to hire an inspector, a homeowner can greatly benefit from having a maintenance inspection performed on their home.  A maintenance inspection is virtually the same inspection that is performed on a home before you purchase it.  The biggest difference would be who is responsible to repair any issues that are found. 

Like I said, this inspection is just as in depth and thorough as a Pre-purchase Inspection.  The benefit of a maintenance inspection is a set of trained eyes that have been taught to locate, analyze and report any inconsistencies in your home.  We look at each component of your home, inside and out, and inform you of any structural, safety and maintenance issues related to that component.  During the inspection we will discuss what you should be doing to maintain your home to try to prevent any major problems from occurring. 

Let’s face the truth here.  Whether your home is a few years old or a few decades old, things change.  Most everything in your home has an ‘expected life’.  With proper maintenance and a good idea of how components work individually and together, you may be able to extend that life, or at least help it last that long.  Some people get lucky and never have problems regardless of whether they perform maintenance or not.  But in my experience, there are far less of them than those who face significant problems earlier than expected.

Wouldn’t you like to know the true condition of your home?  Maybe it’s time you give us a call to schedule your Maintenance Inspection.

First of all, what is a typical inspection?  To keep everything as simple as possible, our definition of a typical inspection is a 1500-2500sf home with a basement, 3-4 bedrooms, 2-3 bathrooms, one furnace, one central air unit and one water heater.  When scheduling an inspection like this, we recommend that our client be prepared to spend 2 ½ – 3 hours with us in the home.

If you look back a few posts, you will see there is a lot to look at during an inspection.  Obviously, the square footage of a home can affect the amount of time needed to complete an inspection.  But don’t think that just because a house is small it will be a fast inspection.  There may be less space but all the same basic elements are there.  The furnace, water heater, electrical box, plumbing, etc. still have to be looked at.  For that reason, even a small home may take up to 2 hours to complete an inspection.

Another factor that effects inspection times is the age and general condition of the house.  An older home or a home in disrepair may require more time to determine if items noted during the inspection are original to the home and may be ‘grandfathered’ in.  As years have gone by, general building practices have changed to improve the functionality of the home and make it safer for the occupants.  As homes are updated it is required that the new practices are put in place.  If the electrical system is simply outdated, it doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be updated prior to the sale.  If the electrical system is outdated and unsafe, that can be a totally different story.

Each home inspection is unique in its own way.  If you have a question about an inspection on a particular home, call our office and we can answer all your questions.

David Novalinski Sr.

About Your Home Inspection, Inc.

847-669-9040

The most important thing you can do to prepare your home for an inspection is make sure all areas of the home are easily accessed by the home inspector.  Most insurance carriers, including ours, do not allow inspectors or their clients to move the occupant’s belongings.  If the inspector cannot gain access to a particular area or system of the house, that portion of the inspection can not be performed.  This generally makes home buyers uneasy because the inspector is not able to give them complete information on the home they are purchasing. 

Some of the areas that are commonly not accessible are:

• Attic entrance
• Electric panel
• Under sinks
• Garage
• Crawl space 

Don’t leave anything to the buyer’s imagination. 

Some other good ideas are to make sure light bulbs are not burned out in fixtures.  If the light switch is turned on and the light doesn’t work, it cannot be assumed that the light bulb is burned out.  You may also want to check smoke detectors for proper operation and make sure fresh batteries are installed.  

Speaking of smoke detectors, did you know there is a law in Illinois that requires the installation of CO detectors?  If there is not a CO detector within 15’ of sleeping areas, you should install one.  

Paying attention to the details of your home will make the inspection go much smoother.

If you are putting a contract on a house there should be a contingency provided to allow for a home inspection.  This holds true even if you are purchasing a home listed ‘as is’.  An inspection gives you an idea of the true condition of the home you are buying.  It doesn’t matter if the seller is willing to fix things or not, it is beneficial for you to know exactly what you are getting into!  There are many issues that may be uncovered during an inspection that may not necessarily kill the deal, but may require some planning and extra cash outlay for the buyer.

Some of those issues are:

• Foundation cracks
• Structural defects
• Attic problems (i.e. insulation deficiencies, moisture, ventilation, animals)
• Improper operation of mechanical equipment (i.e. Furnace, water heater, AC)
• Electrical deficiencies
• Outdated plumbing

Knowing these problems exist can help you make a more educated decision about the property you are about to buy.  As I stated earlier, you may not change your mind about buying the property, but it may change your approach after the sale is final.  Don’t you think that would be a benefit?

This is probably the most common question we receive as home inspectors.  While price is important, it should not be the main decisive point in which you choose an inspector. Make sure you are comparing apples with apples while conducting your search.  

With that being said, the cost of a home inspection at About Your Home Inspection, Inc., starts at $250 with an average inspection costing $350.  As a rule of thumb, an average home is 3-4 bedrooms, and 2-3 bathrooms with 1500-2500 square feet of living space.  The exact cost is determined according to the specific conditions relevant to your home. 

 *Other unusual circumstances may influence the cost.*

To get an exact price on an inspection for your home call our office at 847-669-9040.

First of all, let me start by saying, it takes more than just a ‘look’ to inspect a home.  I use all of my senses during an inspection.  Sight, smell, sound, feel, sometimes taste (not always by choice), and common sense!  With that being said I will go back to the original Question.  What do I look at during a home inspection?

Everything!  But maybe I should be a little more specific.  A typical inspection begins with a walk around the exterior.  At this time I talk with my client about the condition of the siding, windows, foundation, site grading, doors and roof.  I also recommend periodic maintenance that should be done to maintain the exterior. 

Next we start on the interior.  I usually like to begin at the top and work my way down.  Ceilings, walls, windows, outlets, doors, floors………and that’s just the bedrooms.  In the bathrooms I inspect the toilet, shower, tub vanity, faucets, and drains.  In the kitchen it is more of the same.  Lights, counters, cabinets, electric, appliances, floors…….. No stone is left unturned. 

Then it’s on to the mechanicals.  The furnace, AC, and water heater are inspected for wear, neglect and proper installation.  Each unit is operated to ensure proper function.  The electrical panel is opened and inspected for improper wiring practices. 

And if that’s not enough, we still have to look in the attic, crawlspace and garage.  So, as you can tell, a home inspection is an in depth look at the true condition of a house.

A Vacation Inspection is a service which provides ‘Peace of Mind’ to home owners that are away from their homes for long periods of time.  A perfect example would be a couple that resides in a retirement community here during the summer and spends the winter months in a warmer climate.  Our goal is to allow our clients to enjoy their vacation and not have to worry about their house.  We worry about it for them!

While the home owner is away, we make weekly visits to their home and perform a mini home inspection.  We begin with a walk around the exterior of the home looking for any weather related damage to the roof or siding and for any signs of intrusion.

Once inside we verify proper operation of the furnace and test for any combustible gasses near all the gas powered appliances.  A lot of emphasis is put on water supply and drain lines.  Even a slow leak can cause major damage if left un-repaired.   Any obvious changes are noted and relayed to the homeowner either via text message or e-mail.  If there is an issue which requires immediate attention, we will work together with the home owner to make it happen.

We’ve all heard the horror stories about people returning home from vacation only to find water damage, frozen pipes, and ‘unwanted guests’.  Don’t become the next subject in that story!

Whether you want to admit it or not, winter weather is just around the corner.  During the next couple weeks there are some maintenance items you should perform to winterize your home. 

1. Garden hoses should be disconnected from the spigots to prevent the possibility of freezing even if it is a frost proof valve.

2. You should have your furnace cleaned and serviced by a qualified technician.  Also remember to change your furnace filter monthly.

3. Gutters should be cleared of all leaves and other debris.

4. This is a good time to make sure your sump pump is operating properly.  Don’t wait for the spring thaw to find out it quit!

5. Check the weather stripping on all exterior doors and replace if necessary.  This includes garage doors.

6. Change batteries in smoke and CO detectors.  It’s often easier to remember if you change the batteries every time you change the clocks.

7. Storing firewood is always an issue.  It is not recommended to store it in the garage.  It is best stored outside, but you may want to cover it to keep it dry and don’t stack it too close to the house.  Don’t give the bugs an easier way to access to your house!

8. Make sure windows provide an airtight seal to the outside.  No use making your furnace work harder to heat the outside.

9. Remember to close the fireplace flue when not in use, and to open flue before starting a fire.

10. Get that snow blower tuned up and check your shovels.  It can be difficult to do this if you wait for the first snowfall!

Huntley, IL
office: 847-669-9040
cell: 847-772-0997
email: dave@aboutyourhomeinspection.com