Resources & FAQ

Home inspections can be intimidating, but they don’t have to be.

To become more familiar with the process and what to expect, check out the following:

It’s best to learn as much as you can about the home prior to purchase. An inspection provides a more clear understanding of the property condition. Identification of potential issues allows you to assess them before contigency, closing, or move-in. 

A home inspection is a non-invasive, visual evaluation of the components of a home. It is not an invasive or destructive probe to determine the cause or effect of observed defects.

Invest Home Inspection will inspect your home as if it were an investment of our own.

Our inspections include 50 to 100 color digital images, so you can see what we see and understand the condition of your home clearly. We also have the latest technologies, including thermal imaging equipment, to make sure we see everything we need to see.

During the home inspection, we will inspect the following components of your home:

  • Foundation, grading, and drainage
  • Guttering
  • Roof covering materials and structures
  • Attics
  • Walls, ceilings, and floors
  • Doors, windows, and stairways
  • Chimneys and fireplaces
  • Porches, balconies, patios, and decks
  • Carports, garages, and garage door openers
  • Driveways and walkways
  • Electrical systems, panels, outlets, and fixtures
  • Heating, cooling, and ventilation systems
  • Plumbing systems and plumbing fixtures
  • Gas lines and meters
  • Major built-in appliances
  • Outdoor sprinkler systems
  • Outdoor kitchens

In most circumstances, we will deliver your inspection report to you the day of the inspection. And we pride ourselves on the high quality of our reports. You’ll get a detailed, thorough explanation of your home’s condition accompanied by high-resolution digital images to support your understanding. Averaging about 50 pages in length, our report will outline:

  • The elements of your home that we’ve inspected
  • What we’ve found – current condition and defects
  • Recommendations on how you can make repairs
  • Extensive color images
  • Information on how you can maintain your home moving forward
  • And we recommend adding the helpful repair cost estimate to save time and reduce uncertainty.

Items that we do not inspect are as follows:

  • Testing of lead based paint
  • Mold Testing
  • Termites and pests (see “Do you perform termite inspections?” below)
  • Biological and environmental hazards inspecting
  • Low voltage systems (phone, security, cat5, etc.)
  • Pool and Spas
  • Well systems (Functional flow test performed)
  • Septic systems (Functional flow test performed)
  • Solar Panels (Visual inspection)
  • Outbuildings and Barns (Add “Detached Structures, each, to purchase)
  • Fences
  • Refrigerators
  • Window coverings (Blinds)
  • Water softening or filtration systems

From Standards of Practice

2.1. Limitations:

  1. An inspection is not technically exhaustive.
  2. An inspection will not identify concealed or latent defects. 
  3. An inspection will not deal with aesthetic concerns, or what could be deemed matters of taste, cosmetic defects, etc. 
  4. An inspection will not determine the suitability of the property for any use. 
  5. An inspection does not determine the market value of the property or its marketability.
  6. An inspection does not determine the insurability of the property. 
  7. An inspection does not determine the advisability or inadvisability of the purchase of the inspected property. 
  8. An inspection does not determine the life expectancy of the property or any components or systems therein. 
  9. An inspection does not include items not permanently installed. 
  10. This Standards of Practice applies to properties with four or fewer residential units and their attached garages and carports.

2.2. Exclusions:

I. The inspector is not required to determine:

  1. property boundary lines or encroachments.
  2. the condition of any component or system that is not readily accessible. 
  3. the service life expectancy of any component or system. 
  4. the size, capacity, BTU, performance or efficiency of any component or system. 
  5. the cause or reason of any condition. 
  6. the cause for the need of correction, repair or replacement of any system or component. 
  7. future conditions. 
  8. compliance with codes or regulations. 
  9. the presence of evidence of rodents, birds, bats, animals, insects, or other pests. 
  10. the presence of mold, mildew or fungus.
  11. the presence of airborne hazards, including radon. 
  12. the air quality. 
  13. the existence of environmental hazards, including lead paint, asbestos or toxic drywall.
  14. the existence of electromagnetic fields. 
  15. any hazardous waste conditions. 
  16. any manufacturers’ recalls or conformance with manufacturer installation, or any information included for consumer protection purposes.
  17. acoustical properties.
  18. correction, replacement or repair cost estimates. 
  19. estimates of the cost to operate any given system.

II. The inspector is not required to operate:

  1. any system that is shut down.
  2. any system that does not function properly. 
  3. or evaluate low-voltage electrical systems, such as, but not limited to:
    1. phone lines;
    2. cable lines;
    3. satellite dishes;
    4. antennae;
    5. lights; or
    6. remote controls.
  4. any system that does not turn on with the use of normal operating controls. 
  5. any shut-off valves or manual stop valves. 
  6. any electrical disconnect or over-current protection devices. 
  7. any alarm systems. 
  8. moisture meters, gas detectors or similar equipment.

III. The inspector is not required to:

  1. move any personal items or other obstructions, such as, but not limited to:  throw rugs, carpeting, wall coverings, furniture, ceiling tiles, window coverings, equipment, plants, ice, debris, snow, water, dirt, pets, or anything else that might restrict the visual inspection.
  2. dismantle, open or uncover any system or component.
  3. enter or access any area that may, in the inspector’s opinion, be unsafe. 
  4. enter crawlspaces or other areas that may be unsafe or not readily accessible. 
  5. inspect underground items, such as, but not limited to: lawn-irrigation systems, or underground storage tanks (or indications of their presence), whether abandoned or actively used. 
  6. do anything that may, in the inspector’s opinion, be unsafe or dangerous to the inspector or others, or damage property, such as, but not limited to:  walking on roof surfaces, climbing ladders, entering attic spaces, or negotiating with pets. 
  7. inspect decorative items. 
  8. inspect common elements or areas in multi-unit housing. 
  9. inspect intercoms, speaker systems or security systems.
  10. offer guarantees or warranties. 
  11. offer or perform any engineering services. 
  12. offer or perform any trade or professional service other than a home inspection. 
  13. research the history of the property, or report on its potential for alteration, modification, extendibility or suitability for a specific or proposed use for occupancy. 
  14. determine the age of construction or installation of any system, structure or component of a building, or differentiate between original construction and subsequent additions, improvements, renovations or replacements. 
  15. determine the insurability of a property.
  16. perform or offer Phase 1 or environmental audits.
  17. inspect any system or component that is not included in these Standards.

No. We strive to provide you with the best information for making your home buying decision. Municipal code inspections can fail. We are not code inspectors, however we may refer to code on some deficiencies.

Yes. We strive to be as thorough as possible however we cannot inspect what we cannot see. Such as areas; behind walls, under floors, in ceilings, inaccessible, etc.

“I don’t have x-ray vision.”

Payment is due after scheduling to secure your inspection date. Once you schedule your inspection, we will send a confirmation email to you.

There you will find your “inspection dashboard,” hosting your invoice and payment, inspection agreement, and later your inspection report.

We work with a 3rd party pest control companies who are readily available as needed. Prices typically range $75-$150.

We recommend scheduling your inspection immediately after signing your purchase contract. This will allow you the most time possible to address any concerns observed in the inspection report.

In most cases you will receive the report same-day, yet may take until the following evening. (Older houses, busy season)

You are not required to attend the inspection. If you would like to attend, it is encouraged to arrive towards the end of inspection so we can review findings.

If you do not attend, yet have questions after reviewing the inspection report, send us your questions so we can prepare a scheduled call.

When the report is finished, you will be notified by text and email. Both you and your agent will have access to the report.

It is encouraged that you download the PDF version of your report for easy access and your future reference.

No house is perfect and most home inspection findings will be deferred maintenance. At times we do find safety hazards and major defects. Every situation is unique and it is up to you and your real estate agent to decide how to proceed after the inspection.

We do offer a repair cost estimate to assist with ballpark numbers.

Absolutely. We are a 3rd party inspection firm, without association to the builder/seller.

Our sole focus and specialty is providing inspection services. Nothing else. Builder-Inspections are often performed by project managers who’s inspection may be affected by a dynamic workload.

Our inspection can also help with your final “punchlist” items. For that, please also add the “Cosmetic Report” to your Home Inspection purchase.

We will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Please email your questions so that your inspector can prepare for the call as needed.

This will prepare you for the buyers inspection and allow you to make improvements in advance. Less surpises.

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