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HOME & PROPERTY
INSPECTION
Question: Why should I get a Home Inspection?
Answer: Buying a home is a huge investment and requires appropriate due diligence. The real estate in our region is, on the whole, quite old and understanding its condition will help you to plan for and protect your future. A key part of your due diligence process is to start by ordering a home inspection. While no home is perfect, a home inspection can help you to determine what repairs are needed, when they are needed, and how serious they may be. Most home repairs are fairly minor, but some can be major expenses, serious safety concerns, or could even be totally cost prohibitive.
If you are selling a home, having a home inspection before you list it for sale will help you to understand its condition and will help to clear away roadblocks, if you take action on identified repairs. Understanding the home's condition before you sell it can allow you to present it to potential buyers in the best possible light. We typically recommend a pre-listing inspection for original occupants, long time occupants, or for anyone who may have inherited a property and know very little about it.
Question: How much will it cost?
Answer: Our fees are based the size and age of the home. The price also varies if there are outbuildings such as detached garages, barns, stables, or guest houses. Optional services like radon testing and well water testing can also alter the costs involved. We are also glad to work in any area of Vermont or New Hampshire, but some remote locations, such as northern Coos or Grand Isle county, will also incur travel costs.
Cost is most always a concern for everyone, but be sure to consider all the factors in your decision making process. Hire the best home inspector you can afford! This is your one opportunity to collect as much high quality information as is possible and using the lowest price home inspector may end up costing you serious money in the long run. Ask us about our qualifications! We will be glad to provide you with all the details you need to know along with a sample report.
Question: Can't we save some money and do it ourselves?
Answer: Honestly, it is doubtful for a couple of reasons.
First, a home is a complex collection of individual systems that work together to allow a home to function. Most people do not have the experience necessary to evaluate all of these components. We inspect homes all day, everyday, and we have the experience you need to help you come to an understanding of its overall condition. We are trained to observe and identify issues and to call out safety concerns that may otherwise be ignored.
Second, objectivity is very important to this process. As a buyer, you owe it to yourself to engage an independent third party to assess the home for you. We have no financial stake in the transaction, so we will deliver to you an unbiased report that you can rely on to help you make repair requests or perhaps concessions. We know that buying real estate can often involve emotions, and our services help to minimize the impact that emotions can have on the real estate purchasing process.
Question: Can you tell us the market value of the home?
Answer: No. A professional home inspection examines and documents the current condition of a house. It is not an appraisal, which determines market value. The home inspection process also does not verify compliance with local codes.
Question: When should I setup the Inspection?
Answer: You should setup the home inspection right after you sign your purchase agreement. During the busy summer months, it can take us up to a week to get you on the calendar (sometimes sooner). Almost all purchase agreements have a satisfactory inspection as a contingency and we like to get the ball rolling immediately, especially if you have a private well or need radon testing. Water samples can take 3-5 business days to process and radon air surveys require that our equipment be in the home for a minimum of 48 hours. Bottom line is that you need to contact us right away (or schedule online) so we can get everything rolling along as fast as possible for you.
Question: Should I attend the inspection?
Answer: Absolutely, if it is at all possible. We recommend that you attend the inspection and get to know your potential new home while we perform the inspection. We typically perform the home inspection and have a recap meeting with our clients at the end of the inspection. We also like to give you a tour of the property, so you understand where the main shut offs are located (such as oil/gas, water main, electricity). We also want to be sure that you have a verbal understanding of any major issues before we leave the property.
Question: How long do we wait for the written report?
Answer: Your written inspection report will be delivered to you either on the same day or within 24-48 business hours depending on a conditions. It gets in your hands as quickly as possible so you can begin to digest its contents. Well water reports are delivered within 3-5 business days. Radon reports are usually delivered at the same time as the inspection report, if we were able to access the home before the inspection to setup the equipment. Of course, there are variables involved in these timeframes, so be sure to let us know if you have particular needs or a very tight deadline. We will work with you to make it happen.
Main Cities We Serve
We Serve Vermont & New Hampshire.
Hartford, VT | Norwich, VT | Woodstock, NH | Lebanon, NH | Grantham, NH | Hanover, NH | Barre, VT | Enfield, NH | Montpelier, VT | Concord, NH |
