+ When should I schedule the inspection?

For pre-purchase inspections, ASAP! Often the inspection deadline is not very far away, so get things on the calendar right away. For warranty inspections, we recommend scheduling the home inspection right around the 11-month mark.

+ Should I attend the inspection (pre-purchase inspections)?

If you are able to attend the inspection, you’ll get a much better feel for the condition of the home, and we can point out maintenance tips as the inspection proceeds. If you can only make it for a little while, we can coordinate a time for you to come by towards the end of the inspection and we can review our findings. If you cannot come at all, rest assured our reports are easily-understandable and you’ll get it right away.

+ How long does an inspection take?

A typical inspection takes around 2-3 hours for a 2500 square foot home, and obviously takes longer for bigger houses. Inspections at a very large home can take 5 hours or more.

+ What is covered in a typical inspection?

We inspect pretty much everything from top to bottom: roof, attic, interior, exterior, mechanical systems, garage, basement/crawlspace. We even use our thermal camera to check for plumbing leaks, missing insulation, and electrical hotspots.

+ Should I get a radon test?

Radon levels are generally high for pretty much all of Colorado, so we almost always recommend testing for radon to see what kind of levels a particular home has. The EPA also recommends radon testing every few years to make sure that the levels in your home are acceptable.

If a home does not already have a radon mitigation system in place, then we definitely recommend testing.

If a home already has a radon mitigation system in place, then we will inspect the system to verify that it's functioning properly, and you may not need to test at that moment. We still recommend testing at some point, however, to ensure that radon levels are still acceptable.

If a home has a crawl space, then we still recommend testing even though homes with crawl spaces are less likely to have higher levels, as are lots of variables at play and we have definitely seen higher levels of radon in homes with crawl spaces. Check out this 1 minute video on radon and homes with a crawlspace.

A radon test requires a 48-hour window, and some contracts don't allow for that kind of time, so talk with your agent if you're not sure.

+ Do I need a sewer scope?

Most homes built before the 1980's were constructed with clay sewer lines, which are susceptible to roots, cracking or other damage. We highly recommend a sewer scope to verify the line's integrity, as these lines can be very expensive to fix!

We also recommend doing a sewer scope for new construction to ensure that there was no damage done to the sewer line during the construction process.

+ What will my report look like? Will there be pictures?

Our reports are written in an easy-to-read, narrative style, and they include lots of photos to help sellers, buyers, agents, and/or builders locate and address issues that come up.

+ When will I get my report?

Right away! We will always have your report available the same day as the inspection, if not within several hours of the inspection. In today’s technological world, there should be no waiting days for reports!

+ How can I use my report?

Most importantly, read it! There is a lot of information on a home (or potential home) included in each report, so take advantage of it and read the whole report. But in order to help everyone understand the significance of the inspection recommendations, all our reports are divided into three groups of recommendations: maintenance, significant defects, and safety hazards. Even if some maintenance items aren’t significant enough to come up in negotiations, you could use the maintenance list as a “Honey Do” list in the months to come.

+ Who will get a copy of the report?

If you’re working with an agent, your agent will get a copy, but the listing agent will not. If you’d like to share it with someone else, you may at your discretion, but it’s your inspection report.

+ What payment methods do you accept?

We accept any normal method including cash, check, or credit card (but we don't currently barter for our services). The inspection confirmation email will have a link to the inspection invoice and payment page, and you can pay online at any time.

+ When should I pay?

You can pay at any time, including after the inspection, but just note that Spectora, our automated system, will not release the report until payment has been made.