Questions That You Should Ask
When Shopping for a Home Inspector

Q: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?

A: Home inspectors come and go. The long time firms are here to stay. They’ll be here if you have a question or a problem down the road. Accutek has been in business since 1993. We are one of the largest independant home inspection companies in Southwestern Michigan.

Q: WHAT ARE YOUR INSPECTORS' QUALIFICATIONS?

A: The industry is essentially unregulated. Anyone can call themselves a home inspector. Our inspectors are certified home inspectors and licensed contractors. They have all graduated from intensive home inspection training programs and are required to have on-going quarterly training.

Q: CAN I FOLLOW ALONG AT THE INSPECTION?

A: If they don’t allow you to go to the inspection, don’t use them. At Accutek we encourage you to attend. This is a valuable learning experience for most home buyers. It is a perfect opportunity to ask specific questions about the condition of the home. Also, where defects are identified, the inspector can discuss these so that you understand what repairs are required, when and at roughly what cost.

Q: DO YOU FOLLOW ASHI GUIDELINES?

A: The American Society of Home Inspectors Standards of Practice has set the minimum scope of a professional home inspection. These standards are your assurance of completeness of coverage of the substantive physical components that make up your home. Accutek inspectors are governed by these guidelines and held to a strict code of ethics that prohibits potential conflicts of interest.

Q: DO YOU HAVE INSURANCE?

A: We carry appropriate Errors and Omissions, General Liability and Workmans Compensation Insurance. Ask the inspection company to provide you with a copy of their current binder. We’d be happy to.

Q: DO YOU DO REPAIRS OR RECOMMEND CONTRACTORS?

A: No. We are a consulting firm specializing in building inspections. We consider it a conflict of interest for a home inspector to recommend or refer a contractor to perform repairs. We offer an unbiased opinion on the condition of the home. We accept no referral fees from anyone.

Q: HOW MUCH DOES AN INSPECTION COST?

A: Our typical fee for an inspection is $250. However, some factors will affect the fee. If you are comparing home inspection firms, the fee charged should not be the sole deciding factor, unless of course the level of service offered is identical.

We suspect the house you are buying is not the cheapest house, but rather a house that you feel represents good value. we urge you to choose your home inspector the same way.

Q: HOW LONG DOES AN INSPECTION TAKE?

A: A typical home inspection takes between 2 and 3 hours. Some older and/or larger homes can take longer. As a courtesy to the seller, they should be informed of the time involved once the inspection is arranged.

Q: DO YOU PROVIDE A WRITTEN REPORT?

A: Yes. Our computerized report is prepared for you upon completion of the inspection. No delay. We deliver a comprehensive report, The Home Factbook, that our clients have found to be essential in assisting them in their decision to purchase. It is also a valuable reference during your ownership of the property. It includes a report overview page which summarizes the condition of the home, nine reports dealing with the major systems of the home, and over 400 pages of reference material corresponding to our recommendations. It is such a comprehensive system that dozens of Real Estate offices buy it from us to use in their training programs.

Q; CAN WE CONTACT YOU WITH QUESTIONS AFTER THE INSPECTION?

A: Yes. After the inspection you are welcome to call to discuss any current or future questions you may have about the report or the property, including advice about future repairs for items we identified or for new problems which may develop. There is no added fee for this service.

Q: WHAT DO YOU LOOK AT?

A: We inspect the visible building components which include: Property Drainage, Walks and Drives, Foundation, Footings, Exterior Walls, Siding, Trim, Windows, Doors, Cabinets, Counters, Gutters, Downspouts, Roof, Roof Shingles, Chimneys, Interior Floors, Walls, Ceilings, Installed Appliances, Roof Structures, Heating and Cooling Systems, Electrical System and Service Capacity, Pest Damage/Risk Areas, Energy Conservation/Safety Items. Our goal is to identify any major problems that would affect a typical purchasers buying decision.

We will add significantly to your knowledge of the home, but still cannot tell you everything about the house. All home inspections are entirely visual. No destructive testing is performed. The inspection and report will put you in a much better position to make your decision.

Q: DO YOU PERFORM ANY ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING?

A: Yes, but not as a part of a typical home inspection. We can perform Water Analysis, Lead Paint, UFFI, and Radon for an additional fee as it requires laboratory work. We will advise you during our normal home inspection if there are any potential visual concerns in regards to environmental hazards that you may want to have further investigated or have tested.

Q: CAN YOU PROVIDE ME WITH REFERENCES?

A: Certainly. We can fax you a few questionaires from previous clients or if you wish to come to our office we can show you hundreds of questionnaires.

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