What You Need To Know About Inspection Services.

Are you a first-time buyer of a home or commercial property? You may have some uncertainty or even a little doubt. That’s perfectly normal, even for experienced buyers.

Real estate is a significant investment and addressing all of your concerns is important. You need guidance and expertise from professionals to help you feel confident in your decision.

That’s where we come in.

At Assured Home Inspectors, we provide complete inspection services to find existing or potential issues before they become major (and expensive) problems.

Our entire team is made of trained and licensed professionals who assess the property from top to bottom to help you make the most informed purchase. We have the tools and expertise to inspect areas of the property that might otherwise go unchecked or are hidden from the untrained eye, including the roof, attic, crawl spaces, HVAC units, electrical panels and other places where buyers do not venture (but can be costly down the road).

But before scheduling your home or commercial inspection service with us — or even with someone else — here are the things you need to know.

What to look for from a home or commercial inspector.

Naturally, we want you to pick us and guarantee the results of our service. Literally. However, we still encourage you to do your due diligence to make sure you’re comfortable and confident with whoever inspects your property, even if it’s not us.

When looking for an inspector, you should ask for professional referrals from realtors, lenders, and appraisers. We also recommend you don’t just take their word for it, and do your own research. Consult with colleagues, look at reviews, make sure the inspector carries a valid license, and call the inspector to ask about their qualifications, certifications and experience.

We also recommend you look for inspectors who are part of a professional organization, like InterNACHI, which require inspectors to abide by a strict code of ethics. These organizations can also be good resources for finding a licensed inspector in your area.

How to make sure you’re getting the right services.

Not all property inspections are created equal. You want to make sure that your inspection is appropriate for your property so that you don’t overpay for the inspection — or worse, get a limited inspection that doesn’t cover everything. This is why it’s so important to find an inspector from a professional organization, as they will steer you in the right direction, and won’t over-sell you or under-serve you.

Once you’ve selected an inspector and described your property, your inspector should recommend additional specialized inspections, such as a structural inspection, wood destroying organism inspection, pool and spa inspection, or sprinkler inspection. If they don’t, that’s a red flag.

We recommend booking these during your general inspection, so that you get a complete picture of the entire property.

Do I need to be present during the inspection?

You don’t need to be present, but we do highly recommend it.

By attending, you can be a part of the inspection process firsthand, see the defects with your own eyes, get your questions answered, and eliminate later confusion. If you’re not able to attend the full inspection, we recommend coming to the overview at the end of the inspection so you can get a summary. If you can’t attend at all, confirm that your inspector will review the report and answer any questions over the phone.

How long does an inspection take?

The time it takes for your property inspection depends on various factors, including the size of the property, location, and the type and number of ancillary services, among other factors.

A typical inspection of a 2,000 square foot slab house takes about 2 to 2.5 hours. An experienced inspector should be able to look at the information and give you an estimate.

What do I need to do to prepare for my inspection?

Every professional inspector is different, but here’s what we recommend you do to prepare for your property inspection.

Before

  • Send us any specific questions or concerns.
  • Make sure gas, electricity, and water are turned on properly.
  • Realtors/Sellers: Make sure all areas of the home are easily accessible.
  • Read our “How to Prepare for an Inspection” guide and download our checklist.

During

  • Don’t be shy. Get your questions answered. There are no bad questions.
  • Ask your inspector to explain your property’s operating requirements, including: how the heating system works, how to turn on appliances, and how to check for maintenance issues in the future. Find out now so you’re not confused later.

After

  • Read your inspection report thoroughly. Your inspector will review this with you on-site or on the phone.
  • No matter how minor the issue may seem, ask questions now.
  • Use the report as a guide to know what to fix, or get bids by qualified contractors to fix.
  • If appropriate, work with a realtor to create a request list. Our inspection reports include free access to an online CRL feature that’s integrated with the report.

Schedule an inspection Assured Home Inspectors for a top-to-bottom inspection that exceeds the state standards of practice. We are licensed by the state of Oklahoma, certified, and insured, and every property inspection is backed by a guarantee. If we miss anything during your home or commercial inspection, we will buy back the property for the full purchase price. Period.

Have a question? Let us help. If you would like more information or would like to schedule a pre-listing inspection, please contact us.