A:  Before making a major purchase such as a house, many people select a home inspector to objectively evaluate the home’s condition and avoid unpleasant surprises. A professional home inspector may spot existing defects and conditions, enabling you to get bids for repair from qualified contractors.

A:  In Oregon, anyone who performs home inspections of two or more components must be certified with the Oregon Construction Contractors Board. (Examples of components of a house are the roof, plumbing systems, electrical system, etc.) In Washington, anyone who performs a structural pest inspection for the purpose of a real estate transaction must be certified with the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Certification means the individual has passed a comprehensive test and must complete continuing education courses. In addition to certification, the inspector’s professional background is important. There is no substitute for the experience gained in the building trades.

A:  An inspection is a visual, non-invasive examination of the major systems of the house and attached garage, including structural, plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling, general interior, insulation and ventilation. The inspector will observe siding and trim, roofing, flashing, chimney exterior, decks and balconies. The inspector will operate permanently installed heating systems using normal controls, the central cooling system when weather permits, plumbing fixtures, built in appliances and a representative number of electrical outlets, doors, and windows. The inspector will also render a written report on those items covered by the inspection. A WDO (wood destroying organism a.k.a. pest and dry rot) inspection is included in the standard home inspection or available separately if requested by lenders or other institutions. An inspection does not include septic systems, wells, underground piping, swimming pools, and other items that are not considered part of the main structure. Some areas beyond the traditional home inspection require the services of specialists. We provide a list of helpful links that contain useful information about these specialized areas and other topics of concern to homeowners.

When you get an inspection, you are purchasing an educated opinion, not a guarantee. A report is not a warrantee. It does not guarantee that the house is sound or that you will never encounter any problems. Some deficiencies can only be found by tearing apart the structure, which inspectors do not do. Inspectors will not move furniture, rugs or other obstacles. Inspectors will not inspect areas which are inaccessible (wall interiors, wet crawl spaces, steep or wet roofs, etc.)

The inspection and report reflect the condition of the home as it appears at the time of the inspection. The inspector’s report will enlighten you with knowledge and perspective that is essential for anyone who is about to enter into a real estate transaction.

A:  We are often asked to whom we are responsible or loyal during our inspection. Some say we are responsible to the client who pays our fee. Others say our responsibility is to the agent who brought us together with the client. Still others say that we are responsible to the seller whose home we are in. In our opinion, our loyalty lies with none of these. We believe our loyalty is to the home; we should represent its condition as accurately as possible to anyone who ever reads our report. Our reputation for integrity and impartiality relies upon the strictest adherence to this philosophy as well as the observance of the industry’s highest codes of ethics and standards of practice.

A:  We encourage you to bring any areas of specific concern to our attention at the time of booking the inspection. You may already be aware of certain problems as a result of the Seller’s disclosure, or the realtor may have pointed out some potential problems. These items should be brought to the inspector’s attention prior to the inspection so that he or she may make further evaluations and recommendations.

A:  It is important that you come to the inspection if at all possible. A standard home inspection can take anywhere from 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 hours, depending upon the condition and size of the home.  After we complete our inspection, we will guide you through the home, reviewing our findings and addressing any questions that you may have as we progress through the home. As we say, “We are here for you”, and this is your time to bring up questions and concerns. We will spend as long as it takes to fully clarify to you all aspects of the report and complete any remaining portion of the inspection at this time. Finally, in most cases, we will forward a computer generated report, complete with digital photos of any areas of major concern, to you within 24 hours.  An on-site report may be available upon request.