Frequently Asked Questions
How much time will my home inspection take?
For a 4 bedroom 2 1/2 bath home with a crawl space or basement, plan for the full inspection to take up to 4 hours. Condo inspections may take up to 2 hours. For larger homes we work with a team of inspectors to perform the inspection and keep the time onsite reasonable for all involved. After the inspection, we will spend additional time preparing your written report
How much does an inspection cost?
Factors that affect the inspection fee include the size and age of the home. We are competitive with other inspectors in the region. At the same time, we are committed to providing you with the professional, high quality inspection you deserve.
When can I schedule an inspection?
You can book an inspection for any opening we have on the schedule. Our typical times to set up an inspection are 9 a.m. or 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday and Sundays anytime starting at 12:00 p.m. or later.
What do you inspect?
For a buyer’s inspection, we inspect the major items that most buyers want to know about. For a full list, please visit our Standards of Practice inspections list on this website. What sets us apart is our knowledge, attention to detail, informative report, and desire to serve you well.
Can you inspect the home in bad weather?
Yes, but there may be some limitations. For example, if it is raining or snowing, the roof cannot be thoroughly inspected. Snow can also make it more difficult for us to evaluate landscape features.
Do you inspect commercial buildings?
We will refer you to inspectors who specialize in small office buildings, warehouses, and other small commercial buildings.
I’m getting an FHA loan; can you do the FHA inspection?
FHA loans require FHA appraisals, which is different from a home inspection. As with any home purchase, you should get a home inspection.
Are you licensed?
Yes. We are insured and licensed to perform inspections in Virginia and Maryland. We also perform inspections in Washington D.C., though the city does not require home inspector licensing.
What areas do you serve?
We perform inspections in the greater "DMV" area that encompasses all of northern Virginia, suburban Maryland and D.C.
How will you access the home to do the inspection?
For a buyer’s inspection we coordinate with the real estate agent(s); for a seller’s “pre-listing” inspection we work directly with the homeowner.
If any of the home’s systems are old, should I hire a specialist to look at it?
Let us do an initial assessment of the A/C, heating, plumbing, electrical and other systems. If we see a significant deficiency, we will recommend evaluation by the appropriate qualified contractor. In addition, we will be specific about our concerns and include it in our written report.
Will you inspect geothermal heating systems?
No. We only confirm the basic operation of the system. Much can go wrong with the design and installation of geothermal systems. We will recommend obtaining the installation and service records for the system, as well as an inspection by an HVAC company that specializes in geothermal heat.
Will you get on the roof?
We will get on the roof if, in our judgment, we think it is safe to do so. We also use a 50 foot pole camera to evaluate hard to reach places.
Do you offer mold testing?
We collaborate with a firm that offers mold testing. It takes two to three days to get the results. A mold test will identify what types of mold were present and the spore count at the exact moment in time that the test was conducted. Be aware that the EPA does not provide guidelines for levels of mold. A small percentage of the population reacts strongly to certain types of mold, but most people have no reaction.
What if mold is present?
Mold should be removed. But more importantly, the conditions that are causing mold need to be corrected. If you can see mold, there is a moisture problem that needs to be corrected.
Can I review the inspection agreement before you do the home inspection?
Certainly. We will email the inspection agreement to you at the time we schedule the inspection, and we will request that you review and sign the agreement before the inspection.
Can I schedule the home inspection via email or phone?
The best way to schedule an inspection is by phone, as we set up times on a first-come, first-served basis. Sometimes, there is a delay in responding to email requests and we may have booked another inspection during your preferred time, which means we will need to come back to you with an alternate time.
Can I accompany you on the inspection?
Yes! You are encouraged to be there for the entire inspection, if you have the time.
Can I bring others to the inspection?
Certainly, but please let us do most of the talking and explaining.
When will I receive my home inspection report?
We will email the inspection report no later than the next day, after the inspection. It takes effort to prepare a thoughtful and informative report. We provide a lot of detail and we try to write it for you so it's easy to understand.
How much time will my home inspection take?
For a 4 bedroom 2 1/2 bath home with a crawl space or basement, plan for the full inspection to take up to 4 hours. Condo inspections may take up to 2 hours. For larger homes we work with a team of inspectors to perform the inspection and keep the time onsite reasonable for all involved. After the inspection, we will spend additional time preparing your written report
How much does an inspection cost?
Factors that affect the inspection fee include the size and age of the home. We are competitive with other inspectors in the region. At the same time, we are committed to providing you with the professional, high quality inspection you deserve.
When can I schedule an inspection?
You can book an inspection for any opening we have on the schedule. Our typical times to set up an inspection are 9 a.m. or 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday and Sundays anytime starting at 12:00 p.m. or later.
What do you inspect?
For a buyer’s inspection, we inspect the major items that most buyers want to know about. For a full list, please visit our Standards of Practice inspections list on this website. What sets us apart is our knowledge, attention to detail, informative report, and desire to serve you well.
Can you inspect the home in bad weather?
Yes, but there may be some limitations. For example, if it is raining or snowing, the roof cannot be thoroughly inspected. Snow can also make it more difficult for us to evaluate landscape features.
Do you inspect commercial buildings?
We will refer you to inspectors who specialize in small office buildings, warehouses, and other small commercial buildings.
I’m getting an FHA loan; can you do the FHA inspection?
FHA loans require FHA appraisals, which is different from a home inspection. As with any home purchase, you should get a home inspection.
Are you licensed?
Yes. We are insured and licensed to perform inspections in Virginia and Maryland. We also perform inspections in Washington D.C., though the city does not require home inspector licensing.
What areas do you serve?
We perform inspections in the greater "DMV" area that encompasses all of northern Virginia, suburban Maryland and D.C.
How will you access the home to do the inspection?
For a buyer’s inspection we coordinate with the real estate agent(s); for a seller’s “pre-listing” inspection we work directly with the homeowner.
If any of the home’s systems are old, should I hire a specialist to look at it?
Let us do an initial assessment of the A/C, heating, plumbing, electrical and other systems. If we see a significant deficiency, we will recommend evaluation by the appropriate qualified contractor. In addition, we will be specific about our concerns and include it in our written report.
Will you inspect geothermal heating systems?
No. We only confirm the basic operation of the system. Much can go wrong with the design and installation of geothermal systems. We will recommend obtaining the installation and service records for the system, as well as an inspection by an HVAC company that specializes in geothermal heat.
Will you get on the roof?
We will get on the roof if, in our judgment, we think it is safe to do so. We also use a 50 foot pole camera to evaluate hard to reach places.
Do you offer mold testing?
We collaborate with a firm that offers mold testing. It takes two to three days to get the results. A mold test will identify what types of mold were present and the spore count at the exact moment in time that the test was conducted. Be aware that the EPA does not provide guidelines for levels of mold. A small percentage of the population reacts strongly to certain types of mold, but most people have no reaction.
What if mold is present?
Mold should be removed. But more importantly, the conditions that are causing mold need to be corrected. If you can see mold, there is a moisture problem that needs to be corrected.
Can I review the inspection agreement before you do the home inspection?
Certainly. We will email the inspection agreement to you at the time we schedule the inspection, and we will request that you review and sign the agreement before the inspection.
Can I schedule the home inspection via email or phone?
The best way to schedule an inspection is by phone, as we set up times on a first-come, first-served basis. Sometimes, there is a delay in responding to email requests and we may have booked another inspection during your preferred time, which means we will need to come back to you with an alternate time.
Can I accompany you on the inspection?
Yes! You are encouraged to be there for the entire inspection, if you have the time.
Can I bring others to the inspection?
Certainly, but please let us do most of the talking and explaining.
When will I receive my home inspection report?
We will email the inspection report no later than the next day, after the inspection. It takes effort to prepare a thoughtful and informative report. We provide a lot of detail and we try to write it for you so it's easy to understand.
