Frequently Asked Questions
Below are questions that every home buyer should ask their prospective home inspector. These questions can be found by searching the internet for "10 Questions to ask your Home Inspector." I have them listed with how I would answer them if asked.
Q:
How long have you been in business?
In any business, experience is valuable, so the longer the company
or individual has been in business the better, but it is important
to remember that this experience should be in actual home
inspection, not construction or related fields
A:
Jim (owner) has been inspecting residential
properties since 2007, and is a Certified Master Inspector.
In that time Jim has inspected over 3000 properties.
Q:
Do you have the proper licenses?
Here you may need to educate yourself on the requirements of your
geographical area, as licensing requirements may vary from state to
state.
A:
Colorado does not require home inspectors to
be licensed or certified. However,
OZ Property Inspections holds double certification the first is with
AHIT, and the second with InterNACHI. Additioanlly the
InterNACHI organization requires its members to perform 24 hours of
continuing education yearly..
Q:
Do you have references?
One of the best ways to establish confidence in a
home inspection company is to hear from others that the job was done
professionally, thoroughly, in a timely fashion and at a reasonable price. Ask
to see references from others who have been happy with the company’s work.
A:
Visit our Testimonials page to see what past
clients are saying about our services (this page is currently under
construction. Please call and references can be provided on request)
Q:
Do you provide a written report?
A proper home inspection will always include a
written report. Never accept a verbal report only. In addition to
providing all the details of the inspector’s findings, a written
report is your only recourse should differences surface after the
inspection.
A:
A written report is provided within 24 hours of
completing the inspection and sent to the buyer and the buyers
realtor via email in PDF format.
Normally the report is sent the same day the inspection is
completed.
Q: How long does an inspection take?
Here you want to be wary of inspections that are
extremely long or way too short. An average inspection should only
take two to three hours and any wide variance may indicate either a
lack of experience or a shady way to charge more.
A:
. Depending on the age
and square footage type of property an inspection will usually last
2.5 – 3 hours. Obviously a condo or townhouse will take less time
but larger the home the longer it takes..
Q:
What will it cost?
Charges for home inspections vary from company to
company. It is wise to get a price from several companies in order
to ensure that you are getting a fair price. Remember too, that the
most expensive price is not necessarily going to be the best
inspector. You still want someone with lots of experience and
knowledge.
A:
Our pricing is based on total square footage of
the home, it is never based on age, location or selling price.
Additionally our price schedule has been adjusted to hopefully aid
home buyers in deciding to "NOT" skip on the home inspection.
The home inspeciton is generally a very small fraction of the total
purchase price of the home. You can find the cost of your home inspection
by visiting our Services page, understand that these prices are subject to
monthly discounts so please call us for those discounts, 303-548-8321.
Q:
Will you provide an estimate for repairs?
While a home inspector can recommend what work
needs to be done and should be done to a home, the actual cost and
estimates for repair work must be obtained from a professional in
that field.
A:
We do not provide estimates for repair but we do
have a reference list that has trades that we trust to help you make
the repairs. We are not going
to offer to repair your new home, our sole job is to tell you what
needs to be take care of and give you advice on how it can be fixed.
Q:
What is the lead time for an inspection?
Time is often of the essence when arranging a
home inspection as the condition in the offer will be for a set
number of days. Be certain your inspection can be arranged,
completed and all reports available for your consideration in ample
time to meet the condition.
A:
OZ Property Inspections will always try to meet
your needs and help you meet your deadline.
Q:
Can I attend the inspection?
Be absolutely certain that the answer is yes! If
an inspection company suggests that you not be present, they are not
the company you want!
A:
We always encourage the buyer to attend the
inspection. This is the time
for them to learn more about their new home and ask questions they
may have. They get 2.5 – 3
hours to wander around the home, turn on lights, run water and
generally look over their new home with out undue influence from
anyone else.
Q:
How and when do I pay
Make certain you are clear on the accepted
methods of payment and when payment is due. Payment should not be
required until the inspection is complete.
A:
OZ Property Inspections accepts credit/debit
card, checks, and cash.