Buying or selling a home is no easy task. Not only do you have to arrange a mutually satisfactory deal with the other party, but must also ensure there are no serious issues that could lower the value of the property and cost a fortune to repair down the line. 

Fortunately, an experienced home inspector in San Marcos can carefully examine the property and identify any crucial problems it might have before any contracts are signed. Needless to say, this can prevent a lot of frustration down the road. 

In this article, we’ll advise you on what to do if your desired property has mold problems, and explain what the extent of home inspector liability is. Read on to learn more. 

Can home inspectors detect mold?

Yes and no. The reality is that a home inspection is primarily a visual examination of a property, which means there are certain areas (such as inside walls, underneath floorboards, behind large furniture, etc.) that the inspector simply can’t get to. 

Still, your home inspector will search for signs of mold in certain common places, including:

• Around pipes, roofs, or windows,
• In the kitchen, bathroom, basement, and other areas that tend to see a lot of moisture,
• Under carpets,
• In areas with poor ventilation,
• In the cracks and corners of the walls,
• Near houseplants (especially if they look like they’ve been watered often),
• Any areas that have suffered water damage in the past. 
• Your inspector will also notify you if they detect any strange odors, or if the property looks like it may be in danger of a mold outbreak. 

What if my home inspector finds mold?

Some companies provide professional mold remediation services that can remove all traces of mold from a given property. Whether this is a worthwhile investment is up to you to decide, however. Your home inspector should be able to provide you with a rough estimate of how much the remediation may cost. 

What increases the risk of mold?

Molds are a type of fungi that thrives in damp areas, so be especially wary of it if the property you’re considering is located near, for instance, Lake San Marcos. Mold is also much likelier to appear in dirty homes, so make sure the place is cleaned regularly. 

Are home inspectors liable for missed items?

They are. Home inspectors are licensed experts who have undergone extensive training in order to be able to perform their tasks. And just like any licensed professional, they’re liable if they make mistakes that cause their clients to suffer unnecessary losses.

Of course, the extent of a home inspector’s liability depends on the contract they signed with their client. Some inspectors will insert a clause in their contract that limits their liability to the cost of the inspection. This way, should the inspector miss something, they can’t pay more than the return of their fee. 

A great way to tell if a home inspector is reliable is to ask them if they have insurance. First-rate home inspectors can get errors and omissions insurance, which protects them (and, by extension, their client) against losses caused by missed items. 

Where can I hire a superb home inspector in San Marcos?

Diving headlong into a house buying or selling deal is the way to go if you feel like wasting a lot of money and creating numerous problems for yourself in the future. To make a smart financial decision and long-term investment, you need to think ahead. The good news is, you are not alone and you don’t have to do it on your own. 

Inspectors Company provides world-class home inspection services in San Marcos and other California communities. Our experts are fully licensed and use state-of-the-art home inspection software that never fails to detect problems with a property. With our help, you’ll know what fixes are necessary, why you should get a pre-sale home inspection and what your priorities should be if you’re selling your property.

Get in touch with us today so that we may start making arrangements for a home inspection ASAP. 

For most Americans, selling or purchasing a house or any other type of real estate is a huge deal. The amount of money involved is often high enough to affect your standard of living for years, if not decades. You must make sure you have access to all the relevant information before committing to anything. 

A home inspection in San Marcos is a professional examination of a residential property. These inspections are conducted by trained and licensed experts whose goal is to supply you with an in-depth report that lists any minor or major problems the property in question might have.

In the following article, we’ll explain how home inspectors perform their tasks, and shed some more light on what you can expect from your inspector. Read on to learn more. 

What tools does a home inspector need?

Home inspections are non-invasive and non-destructive. This means the inspectors aren’t allowed to dig into walls, disassemble parts of the house, test stability by applying force, or do anything else that might damage the property. 

The tools a home inspector uses reflect this. Not all inspectors carry the same equipment, but the majority of them will bring along gadgets that help them answer your questions and perform a more thorough inspection. 

The tools home inspectors often use include:

• Flashlights. Dim light is all well and good if you’re creating a romantic atmosphere, but a home inspector needs to be able to see every detail, and to be able to point it out clearly to their client. Small LED flashlights that fit inside a pants pocket are ideal for this,
• Telescoping inspection mirrors allow inspectors to look at hard-to-reach areas,
• Measuring tape not only help the inspector determine find discrepancies, it also assists you, their client, in determining whether your furniture would fit a particular area,
• Extendable ladders are needed in order to take a closer look at things like rafters, roofs, high ceilings, and so on,
• Electrical GFCI outlet tester can be used to test GFCI outlets and switched wires, outlets that aren’t grounded, and more,
• Drones. Some tech-inclined home inspectors use drones to get aerial shots of the property and inspect difficult-to-reach areas. This is especially useful when examining large houses and apartments on higher floors,
• Digital cameras aren’t as necessary these days, seeing as everyone has a camera on their phone anyway. That being said, a quality camera can take extra-sharp pictures and make the final report all the more effective. 

Do home inspectors give repair estimates?

It depends. How much a repair will cost depends on many factors, and may be further affected by problems a home inspector simply can’t see (for instance, water damage inside walls). Because of this, many inspectors refuse to provide a cost estimate.

When a responsible inspector does provide an estimate (usually at the behest of their client), they will invariably point out that they’re providing them with a “ballpark” estimate that’s unlikely to be 100% accurate. 

As a client, your safest bet is to wait for your inspection report to arrive, then get in touch with repairmen or contractors whose field of expertise matches the problem in question, and ask for an educated cost estimate. 

Where can I book the best home inspection in San Marcos?

Are you looking to sell a property in Downtown San Diego? Or maybe you’re interested in purchasing a condo near the California State University San Marcos? Regardless of the specifics of your situation, you shouldn’t sign any deals before subjecting the property to a rigorous examination. 

At Inspectors Company, performing such inspections is our specialty! By booking our services, you’ll ensure you know all there is to know about the home you’re thinking of buying or selling. We’ll tell you what fixes are mandatory and what repairs you should prioritize, as well as help you understand which buyer repair requests are legitimate and which are not. Contact us today.