How Experts Implement Thermal Imaging

Regular home inspections should be on every homeowner’s checklist. Sometimes it’s hard to see leaks, pest infestations, or electrical irregularities with a naked eye, and, given that they can be potential health hazards, it’s important that you do regular checkups of your home. This is where thermal imaging comes in handy. Equipment used for thermal imaging can detect any abnormality that you’d otherwise miss when checking up on your home.

If your San Diego home requires thermal imaging inspection make sure to book licensed professionals that will take a detailed look at all the areas of your home and report any issues.

Do home inspectors use thermal imaging?

Although not all home inspection companies use thermal images, most of them do, and for a good reason. Thermal imaging can detect anomalies within a home that may otherwise not be visible, including a pest infestation, water and gas leaks, as well as electrical issues with devices, installations and electrical systems.

Given that home inspections are important for the its longevity as well as the health of people living inside, you should really look for companies that do use thermal imaging when booking a home inspection service.

How do professionals use thermal imaging during a home inspection?

Professional house inspectors rely on their thermal imaging infrared cameras when inspecting a home. These infrared cameras are utilized by pointing them at areas of interest or potential anomaly presence.

After “scanning” the area/spot, house inspectors then look at the readings to see if any abnormality is present and if remediation is needed and report it to the owner of the home.

Moisture, leak and plumbing detection

By using thermal imaging equipment to look at your walls and ceilings, inspectors can easily detect any present moisture that might be an indication of a leak due to faulty piping. Early leak detection will not only save you money in wall repairs, but also help prevent mold growth which can be harmful to your health.

When it comes to plumbing and gas systems, thermal cameras can easily show if there are any leaks via temperature and heat anomaly presence.

Electrical issues detection

Electrical installations may become faulty over time for a number of reasons, or they may even be improperly set-up in the first place. By pointing the thermal imaging equipment at electrical and fuse boxes and other electrical installations in your home, inspectors can see if there are any overloaded circuits or other electrical issues.

Home pest and insect detection

Infrared cameras can also detect pest nests such as those of rodents or termites. As their presence can result in structural and other damage to your home, you must deal with the issue accordingly if their presence is detected.

Where in San Diego can I find a professional thermal imaging company?

If you would like to book home inspectors to do a thermal imaging of your home, and you live near the Coronado Bridge or elsewhere in the San Diego area, don’t hesitate to contact us! We are The Inspectors Company, a professional home inspection company that employs trained and highly-experienced inspectors that use thermal equipment to detect any problems that may be present in your home.

Apart from thermal imaging, we also provide mold, roofing, sewer, and other inspection services, so whatever part of your home you want checked, we’re here to do it for you.

So there’s no reason to wait, reach out to our team today and have your home checked by our professional, licensed inspectors.

5 Benefits of Thermal Imaging in a Home Inspection

Thermal imaging is not a new thing, but it’s often overlooked by most homeowners and thought of to be insignificant. This is far from the truth, however, as thermal imaging provides many benefits to homeowners in helping keep their homes in pristine condition.

In the following article, thermal imaging inspection specialists in San Diego take a closer look at the five main advantages of home thermal imaging. Read on!

What are the benefits of thermal imaging in a home inspection?

It can be very difficult to spot certain issues and malfunctions inside homes with a naked eye, and that’s where thermal imaging really comes in handy. The equipment relies on infrared technology which can easily detect abnormalities within homes, especially related to excess moisture that can lead to mold growth, electrical and wiring anomalies, pests, and more. Here are just a few of the reasons why you should consider having this type of inspection done when buying a new home:

1. Hidden mold and moisture spots detection

Having mold around the house is always unpleasant, and if it’s left unattended, it can quickly become a health hazard. However, mold and moisture tend to appear in darker areas of the house that have a more restricted airflow, such as air ducts and laundry rooms. Thermal technology can allow an inspector to look for these possible hidden mold spots around the house, which would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye. Once these spots are detected, it becomes a lot easier to deal with this problem.

2. Electrical hotspots detection

As time goes on, the electrical wiring system placed throughout the home will begin to erode. This can lead to the appearance of various electrical hot spots and other anomalies, which, if left unattended, can lead to potential dangers such as a house fire. Thermal imaging technology allows the inspector to detect these various electrical hot spots around the house. The image will show a bright yellow light at spots where damage on the wiring exists, so it becomes easy to pinpoint the exact location that needs to be repaired.

3. Detection of various structural defects

Thermal imaging can also help detect various problems in the structural integrity of the house. Walls, floors, ceilings, and roofs will all show a difference in temperature at certain spots. This indicates that there may be a problem there, such as damaged or missing structural components. For roofs, in particular, thermal imaging can show if there is moisture gathering at specific points, indicating that there is a leak somewhere on the roof.

4. Energy efficiency

As a homeowner, you should always strive to keep your homes energy-efficient at all times. Otherwise, you might find yourself paying more in utility bills. Thermal imaging can help detect if any heat loss occurs around the house. Usually parts of doorways and windows are the biggest sources of heat loss, and the thermal image will allow you to pinpoint exactly which of these parts release more energy than necessary. Having a more efficient home ultimately means we pay less in additional expenses, and, if you ever decide to sell your house one day, you could negotiate for a better price as energy-efficient homes are generally valued more.

5. Pest detection

No one likes the idea of sharing their home with nasty little bugs and cockroaches that like to crawl their way into the inside of the home. Just like with moisture and mold, an infrared image can detect the temperatures of these various small pests and critters.

Where can I book reputable thermal imaging services in San Diego?

If you’re looking to schedule a thermal imaging inspection for your home, and you live near Balboa Park or elsewhere in San Diego, we’re here for you. Here at The Inspectors Company, we offer high-quality home inspection services to all residents in the region.

4 Benefits of Verbal Home Inspection

Whether you are buying or selling a home, knowing whether the property has any issues that influence its market value is a key step in ensuring this type of transaction doesn’t cause you unpleasant surprises. There are multiple options for inspecting a home, all of which differ in approach, scope, and the specifics of what they’re examining.

To give you a clear idea of what you expect from different types of home inspections, we have prepared a brief explanation of what verbal home inspection services are and how they can help you make a home purchase in San Diego, CA that you won’t regret down the road. Read on.

What is the purpose of a home walk through?

A verbal home inspection is a type of home inspection that can benefit both the buyer and the seller. It is a limited-scope type of home examination that does not include a written report. Nevertheless, it can still be immensely useful.

Here’s how you can benefit from it:

1. You get quick results

A verbal home inspection includes a walk-through visual assessment of the property’s major components, with the goal of identifying any problems and estimating repair costs. The client is present together with the inspector and is able to listen to feedback during the process.

This makes a verbal inspection the quickest possible way for the client to learn about any problems the property may have.

2. You get an on-the-spot verbal debrief

Being present during the walk-through allows the client to ask the inspector questions as they view the property. Knowing which questions to ask at the time of the inspection enables the client to get valuable insight into the property’s structural condition, helps assess the cost of future repairs, and helps them get a clearer idea of its true market value.

If you’re a buyer, you can use this professional guidance to make a more informed financial decision. If you are the seller and you don’t need a written report, this is a great way to have the most important parts of the property visually assessed and help you set your expectations in terms of planning repairs or negotiating with buyers.

3. It gives directions as to what to examine in more depth

A verbal home inspection doesn’t include examining the entire property in great detail, but rather focuses on the big picture. After the completion of a verbal walkthrough, and depending on what flaws and defects it has uncovered, you may choose to inspect some of the property’s elements more closely.

With this in mind, you can view the verbal inspection as an introductory part of a more comprehensive examination process.

4. It costs less

For those who are not interested in getting an extensive written report on the property, or for buyers who are considering multiple options, a verbal home inspection can be practical in more ways than one. Not only is it a time saver and a great way to familiarize themselves with the property, but it is also the most affordable option.

How can I hire the most reliable verbal home inspection services in San Diego, CA?

If you are interested in placing your property in Clairemont on the market, or looking to buy one anywhere else in the vicinity of San Diego, getting a professional home inspection from a reputable firm like The Inspectors Company is never a bad idea.

We offer verbal home inspections, as well as a broad range of other home inspection services such as mold inspections, buyer-home inspections, pre-listing and commercial inspections, roofing, sewer line, septic tank examinations, thermal imaging inspections and more.

All of our inspectors are InterNACHI-certified professionals with vast experience. They’re more than ready to answer all of your questions and concerns. Schedule your appointment today!

Verbal Home Inspection: All You Need to Know

A verbal walk-through is a basic form of home inspection. It is designed to help the client get a quick summary of potential repair expenses, while viewing the property together with the inspector. Its purpose is to help both buyers and sellers get a brisk and accurate estimate of a property’s condition at the time of the inspection.

If you are considering hiring a verbal home inspection service in San Diego, we have prepared a quick run-down of what this type of inspection entails. Keep reading to learn more.

What does a basic home inspection include?

This type of inspection doesn’t require your inspector to examine every detail of the property. However, the verbal guidance your inspector provides is usually enough to inform you of any key issues the property may have and help you predict future investments.

Things your inspector will examine during a basic walk through inspection are:

Roofing elements such as shingles/tiles, membrane, flat roofs, and flashing.
The property’s structural elements and foundations.
The functioning of water and drainage piping.
How electrical service and main electrical panels work.
The condition of the furnace or boiler.
The state of central air conditioning.
How well the central heat pump works.

Once your inspector has finished examining the property, they will provide you with a verbal explanation of the home’s overall state and answer any questions you may have.

What’s not included in the verbal inspection process?

While a verbal home inspection is a great option for clients who are looking to get a quick estimate of the property’s state, it’s worth noting that this type of inspection doesn’t examine certain systems and components.

Your inspector will not look at:

Roof elements such as chimneys, skylights, and eavestroughs
The presence of termites or UFFI (Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation)
Retaining walls, garages, fences, siding, paint
Windows, exterior doors, porches, decks
Driveways, walkways, paths, patio, grading
Bathroom, tiles, shower, plumbing and fixtures
Electrical, HVAC
Duct system, humidifier, radiators, exhaust flue
Smoke detectors
Basement conditions
Interior doors
Appliances and equipment

Unlike a full home inspection, a verbal inspection doesn’t include a written report, nor does it include taking photos of the property. Some inspectors may require you to sign a walk-through agreement to confirm that you are aware of these facts.

How do I prepare for a verbal home inspection?

Here’s what you can do to get the maximum benefits of a walk-through inspection:

Prepare a list of questions

Since you will be present during a verbal inspection, it’s a good idea to prepare a list of key questions you want to ask during the inspection. This will give you additional insight into the property’s value and help you get the most out of your inspection.

Make sure the property is accessible

Apart from showing up prepared, there’s not much else buyers need to do. However, if you’re the seller, it’s in your best interest to have the inspection process go as smoothly as possible.

To facilitate the inspector’s work and avoid leaving the impression that you have something to hide, provide the inspector with easy access to key points of the home. This includes decluttering the property and the perimeter around it.

Where can I get the best verbal home inspection service in San Diego?

If you are interested in hiring the most reliable verbal home inspection service to view your property in Miramar, or anywhere else in the area of San Diego, The Inspectors Company is the go-to company for you.

Our practiced InterNACHI-certified inspectors operate with both knowledge and experience to readily answer all your questions and help you reach a decision that’s in your best interest. Give us a call today!

Everything You Need to Know About Home Appraisals and Inspections

Home inspections are thorough examinations of residential properties. The job of a house inspection company in San Diego is to provide their client with an extensive home inspection report that lists any issues the property may have. They are typically hired directly by the seller or buyer.

Home appraisals serve a different purpose. Real estate appraisers are usually hired by the lender for the purpose of determining the true market value of a property. Since the lender can’t lend out more money than how much a home is worth, home appraisals are instrumental in the home purchasing and selling process.

Although hiring a home inspector is optional, property sellers and buyers are highly advised to do so. This is because the findings provided by home appraisers and inspectors complement each other and as such play a pivotal role in the whole process. Read on to learn why.

Does home inspection affect appraisal?

It depends. The reason why you want to have a property inspected long before any appraiser sees it is because you need to determine whether you even want to purchase the property (if you’re a buyer) or whether it needs some repairs before it can be sold (if you’re a seller).

Let’s say you’re thinking of buying a home near Balboa Park. While it might look great to you, the reality is that this particular home may have some underlying issues such as faulty plumbing or HVAC systems that may cost a lot (or even be impossible) to fix.

You want to find out about these issues as early as possible, and the only way to do so is by having a home inspection technician examine the place. This way, you can avoid filing for loans and paying for appraisals before you’re absolutely sure that the house in question is worth buying.

Does an appraiser look at the inspection report?

Home appraisers are trained to perform their appraisals and produce their final appraisal reports without the help of 3rd parties such as home inspectors. That being said, if you’ve had the property inspected prior to the appraisal, be sure to mention it to your appraiser.

While an appraiser will never ask for a home inspection report, they may be interested in taking a look at it if you have one. This is especially the case if your home inspector has found problems with the property that are severe enough to impact its market value.

How much does a home appraisal cost?

Unfortunately, a one-size-fits-all answer to this question doesn’t exist. Numerous factors can affect the price of a home appraisal.

These factors include:

The size of the home. Bigger homes take more time to examine and therefore cost more.
The level of detail involved in the appraisal. The more complex an appraisal is, the more expensive it’s going to be.
Location. Homes located in large cities or places with high labor costs are generally priced higher.
Lack of comparable properties in the area makes an appraiser’s job much more difficult. As a result, the price is adjusted accordingly.
Home has unique characteristics that make it extremely difficult to find similar properties that were sold recently in the same general area.
Extensive damages and repairs can further complicate the appraisal process.

Where can I hire a first-rate house inspection company in San Diego?

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of thoroughly examining a residential property you’re thinking of selling or purchasing. Here at Inspectors Company, we would like to help you make a sound decision by providing you with a full report on any problems this property may have.

Reach out to us today and take full advantage of our InterNACHI-certified inspectors and our state-of-the-art home inspection equipment and software.

2020 Home Inspection Tips for Sellers

For most Americans, selling a piece of real estate is a huge decision that will almost certainly have a large effect on their future financial situation. So it goes without saying that extra care must be taken to ensure the property in question can be sold at the highest possible price.

This is where a trained San Marcos home inspector comes in. By conducting an extensive visual examination of the property, a home inspector can help sellers identify any small and large problems that may affect if and at what price the property can be sold.

In previous articles, we explained how inspections are conducted and whether inspectors are liable for the ensuing damages if they miss something. Now we’ll take a closer look at how inspectors can help sellers prepare their property for the market, which is the key benefit of a pre-sale home inspection. Keep reading to learn more.

How do you pass a home inspection?

There’s no such thing as a “passed” home inspection, because a home inspection isn’t a test that can be failed or passed. The goal of an inspection is to examine the given property for any problems that must be fixed before the property can legally be sold, or that may negatively impact its market value.

The goal of a home inspection is to supply expert-level information about a given home to the party that has hired the home inspector. It’s up to the client (in this case, the seller) to decide whether they intend to fix any problems the inspector finds, or try to sell the property as is.

Which repairs are mandatory before a home can be sold?

Unfortunately, a universal answer to this question doesn’t exist. This is because every state has its own set of regulations governing real estate transactions. Your best option is to study the local regulations and figure out whether your property can legally be sold without repairs or not.

Which repairs should I prioritize?

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to which repairs are the most important for a given property. That being said, most buyers care only about the larger (and more expensive) problems, and rarely sweat the small issues that can be repaired at a later date.

Problems buyers care about the most include:

Mechanical and structural stuff such as the condition of the roof, heating system, air conditioning, electrical panel, piping, etc., are at the forefront of most buyers’ minds. If any of these areas are on their last leg, you may either want to consider fixing them before putting the home up for sale, or lowering the asking price accordingly.
Exterior is crucial because it’s the first thing prospective buyers see. At the very least, you should consider mowing the lawn, cleaning the driveway, repainting the outer walls, and fixing any stucco cracks or wood rot that may be present.
Flooring that is old or damaged should be redone before the house is put up for sale. Luckily for you, there are many cheap options that look great and are just as durable as higher quality parquet or tile flooring.

Where can I hire a first-rate San Marcos home inspector?

Having serious problems that cost a lot of money to repair can cause even a highly desirable property near the Las Posas Pool to get underwhelming offers from buyers. Fixing these issues after the home is already on the market is impractical, which is why sellers should always hire a reputable home inspector to examine the property beforehand.

As the premier provider of home inspection services in San Marcos, Inspectors Company boasts years of experience, cutting-edge equipment, and a team of dedicated inspectors who never fail to produce a valuable home inspection report. Contact us today.

What Should Be Repaired After a Home Inspection?

There’s no such thing as a flawless home. Even newly built houses have certain issues or elements that could’ve been constructed using better materials or workmanship. And don’t even get us started about old houses; they’re always going to need some repairs, there’s just no way around it.

Trusted San Marcos home inspectors can provide you with an in-depth home inspection report that lists any issues they found during their inspection. These issues can range from simple stuff such as old faucets and cracked windows, to major problems such as advanced mold infestations and faulty heating systems.

So which of these problems should the seller repair, which can be ignored when buying the home, and which ones need to be fixed before the property can be lawfully sold? What are legitimate buyer requests and which repair requests should buyers avoid making in the first place? Read on to learn more.

What are major issues in a home inspection?

When inspecting a piece of real estate, buyers are advised not to sweat the small problems that can be easily (and affordably) fixed in the future. What a buyer should really be focusing on are serious issues that can be extremely expensive (or even impossible) to repair.

These issues include:

Damaged foundation. Every home “settles” over time, which means that its own weight causes it to sink into the ground a little. Hairline cracks in the basement are a normal sign of setting, and should be ignored. However, bowed walls, uneven blocks, and large cracks, are all signs of a badly damaged foundation.
Water damage should never be ignored. Even a small water stain on the ceiling can be a sign of a much bigger issue. Because water flows down, a stain in the basement or the living room can indicate roof leaks or internal flooding in the walls.
Faulty wiring. Older homes are famous for their wiring problems. Even if the wiring works fine, it’s often a good idea to replace them anyway for safety reasons.
Pest infestations. Not only are mice and cockroaches repulsive, they can also introduce harmful microbes and parasites into a home. Termites and carpenter ants are even worse, as they can literally destroy the wood that keeps a place standing.
Mold infestation can appear anywhere where there is a lot of moisture (kitchens, laundry rooms, bathrooms, basements, etc.), and cause serious respiratory problems and bacterial infections.

What fixes are mandatory after a home inspection?

Depending on the state the property is located in, sellers may or may not be under a legal obligation to repair certain problems before selling the property. Furthermore, even if a seller isn’t required to fix anything, they may still be legally obliged to provide a list of disclosures to prospective buyers.

Whether you’re a buyer or a seller, you should study your local real estate transaction laws before offering your property for sale or proceeding with a purchasing deal. If you don’t have the time to do so, or you can’t interpret the legalese in these documents, don’t hesitate to ask your home inspector for help.

Where can I find top-of-the-line San Marcos home inspectors?

Just because there’s a property near the Woodland Park Pool that looks great on the outside doesn’t mean that it can be sold at a high price or that buying it in its current state is a good idea. Inspectors Company is here to help you solve this problem.

We specialize in providing property buyers or sellers in San Marcos with first-rate home inspections that will ensure you never make a bad selling or purchasing deal. Our inspectors are fully licensed and equipped with cutting-edge home inspection equipment that enables them to examine a property with unmatched thoroughness. Call us today.

What Can Home Inspectors Do For Me?

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.

How Do Home Inspectors Perform Their Inspections?

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.

How To Negotiate Repairs After a Home Inspection?

The goal of a home inspection is to determine whether the property you’re thinking of buying or selling has problems that may impact your final decision. If your San Marcos home inspector doesn’t find any serious issues, you can breathe a sigh of relief and proceed with the sale.

Sometimes, however, a home inspection uncovers serious problems that require costly repairs and may even endanger the lives of the residents. If the buyer is still interested in purchasing the property, they’ll have to negotiate repairs with the seller, or demand a lower asking price so as to cover the repair costs.

In the following article, we’ll give you an overview of what you can expect in case your home inspection discovers damages that can’t be overlooked. Keep reading to learn more.

How long does the seller have to agree to repairs?

Your home inspector will give you a verbal estimate of how much the repairs would cost and (in case of severe problems) whether full restoration is even possible. All these problems will be described in the official home inspection report that your inspector will send you after the inspection.

At this point, the buyer should compile a list of repairs they feel the seller should make before the property can be sold. Buyers are advised to focus on the big defects and not sweat the small problems that can easily be fixed down the road.

Standard purchase contracts give the seller 48 hours to respond to a repair request. This is by no means set in stone, seeing as real estate agents are free to allocate more or less time based on their judgement and prior agreement with their clients.

What happens if the seller does not complete repairs?

Sometimes, the seller agrees to do the requested repairs, but then ends up doing repair work that’s not complete, not up to code, or different from what was agreed on. Do not proceed with the deal until this issue is resolved. The last thing you want is to try to get a seller to finish the repairs after they’ve already taken your money.

You can avoid this problem by:

Visiting the property multiple times and performing a re-inspection before closing to make sure everything is in order,
Having a well-written contract and repair agreement,
Creating a clause in the contract that compels the seller to pay for the re-inspection if the repairs aren’t performed correctly or on time,
Getting the receipts for the completed repairs before doing a re-inspection (the seller is required to provide receipt copies according to the NEFAR contract),
Requiring the seller to send you photos or videos of the completed repairs before scheduling a re-inspection,
Refusing to close the deal before the repairs are done.

What if the seller can’t afford to make repairs?

Some sellers won’t agree to repairs not because they disagree with them, but rather because they lack the necessary funds to do so. This is often the reason why they’re selling the property in the first place.

If this is the case, the buyer and the seller should choose a vendor that can provide the repairs, and then subtract the cost of those repairs from the final asking price. This allows the deal to proceed in a way that doesn’t require the seller to take a loan to cover repair expenses.

Where can I hire a first-in-class San Marcos home inspector?

Let’s say there’s a property in Lake San Marcos that you’re thinking of buying or selling. Unless you work in construction, the only way to ensure the place doesn’t have any serious problems and meets all relevant safety standards is to enlist the services of a top-notch home inspector.

That’s where Inspectors Company comes in. Every inspector on our team is fully licensed, highly experienced, and has access to state-of-the-art home inspection software. Call us today.