Q.  What distinguishes All-Points Home Inspection Services from other inspectors?
A.  Karen Swanson and All-Points Home Inspection Services are committed to providing a thorough, accessible and highly-informative home inspection experience for our clients, fully grounded in customer service.

Q.  Can a home fail its inspection?
A.  No.  The purpose of an inspection is solely to give you information about the current condition of your home.  It is likely to identify defects, ranging from minor defects that can be easily addressed to significant safety issues.  However, this information may indicate different actions to different home buyers -- what may be a potential nightmare for one, may be an opportunity for another home buyer.

Q.  What will I learn from a home inspection?
A.  A home inspection provides an objective assessment of the structure and systems within your home, based upon a thorough visual inspection.  The inspection will be conducted to conform with, and frequently exceed, the Standards of Practice promulgated by the American Society of Home Inspectors, the most comprehensive inspection standards applied in the industry.  It will identify the materials used in your home, the condition and serviceability of each of the principal components of your home and provide recommendations to address any defects identified.  You will also learn about the workings of the individual systems of your home and how best to maintain those systems to protect your investment into the future.  It is important to understand,  however, that a home inspection is non-invasive and is limited to visually accessible defects; it does not consititute a warranty against hidden or future defects. 

Q.  Will I be asked to sign an inspection agreement?
A.  Yes.  Before the inspection can begin, you will be asked to sign an Inspection Agreement (download sample agreement) that details the scope of the inspection and outlines the limits of liability of the inspection.  This document will be emailed to you in advance of the inspection and we will take time at the beginning of the inspection to review it together.

Q.  What will I receive at the end of the inspection?
A.  Immediately upon the conclusion of the inspection, you will receive a bound copy of a personalized, computer-generated Inspection Report (download sample report excerpt) that will detail all the findings of the inspection and make recomendations for repairs and routine maintenance as indicated by the findings.  Also included with your report will be a fully-executed copy of the Inspection Agreement, a copy of the American Society of Home Inspectors Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, and an informative home maintenance guide to help you further understand your home and how to maintain it properly.

Q.  Should I plan to attend the inspection myself?
A.  Absolutely.  The inspection is a highly valuable learning experience for most homebuyers.  Throughout the inspection, your inspector will point out conditions that merit comment and educate you about the systems within your home.  You will have ongoing opportunities to express any concerns or questions that you have about your home and have the inspector address them together with you.  An inspection typically takes 3-4 hours depending upon the complexity of the home.  To enable you to get the most from your inspection, it is recommended that you not have any children join you, since they will likely distract your attention.  Your real estate agent should also attend to provide complete access to the property; it is also important for your agent to confirm with the seller that the utilities are on and systems functioning for the 24-hour period prior to the inspection.

Q.  What happens if the inspection reveals problems with the home?
A.  Virtually no home will be without any problems, ranging in scope from minor items to major and potentially life-threatening issues.  Sometimes the defects identified become issues that impact the negotiations with the seller and you will need to review those items carefully with your real estate agent.  Most importantly, the goal of a home inspection is to make sure that you are as educated as possible about the condition of your home to make well-informed decisions about your investment and repairs that may need to be done.

Q.  If there are problems, will All-Points Home Inspection Services LLC help fix them?
A.  No.  Membership in the American Society of Home Inspectors specifically prohibits inspectors from performing any repairs on homes that they have inspected.  This is to ensure that you have the benefit of a completely objective, third-party professional to provide you with accurate and unbiased information.

Q.  How much does a home inspection cost?
A.  The cost of a home inspection varies due to the size and complexity of a property, as generally reflected in the asking price.  You will be quoted a specific fee when you call to book your appointment.

Q.  Is All-Points Home Inspection Services LLC insured?
A.  Yes.  All-Points Home Inspection Services LLC carries both Professional Liability coverage (commonly known as Errors & Omissions coverage) and General Liability coverage, as well as Referring Party coverage.