FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
You’ve Got Questions. I’ve Got Answers
HOW MUCH DOES A HOME INSPECTION COST?
Home inspections vary in price according to the square footage of the home. They can also vary depending on what all services you want included. Our Home inspections typically run between $300-$400 dollars. Check out our get a quote feature to find out the cost for a specific property.
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Sewer scopes run $255. This is an all-in cost. We don't have surprise charges that show up later if we had to pull a toilet to access the sewer or if we have to replace a cap.
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Radon Testing is $100 dollars.
CAN I ATTEND THE HOME INSPECTION?
Absolutely! An Inspection typically takes two to three hours. You are more than welcome to come the entire time, and we can address findings as we go along.
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You can also join at the two-hour mark. We always start our inspections from the exterior and work our way top down. By the two-hour mark we are getting close to the basement, utility room, electrical panel and items most people have questions about. WE can go over the findings and any concerns we can address in person.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A HOME INSPECTION?
A home inspection is to help you have peace of mind and be fully informed of the property you are purchasing. This helps avoid any unexpected expenses or safety concerns, before buying the property.
It can also be a great resource as a to-do list to help prevent future issues by doing some maintenance items and help you prioritize what work should be done first. Remember no home is perfect, even new construction!
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We will help you know the major and minor concerns with the property along with some maintenance items.
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DO I HAVE TO ATTEND THE INSPECTION?
Your attendance is not required. I have supra lockbox access so I can get into the property on my own. I typically can finish mt reports within 1 hour of completing the inspection and if you have any questions or concerns, we can also hop on a phone call.
CAN THE INSPECTOR PROVIDE COST ESTIMATES FOR THE REPAIRS.
Inspectors are not contractors and do not perform any work there for we cannot give any cost estimates for repairs. We have built relationships with contractors over the years so feel free to ask if we have anyone, we can refer to you to help you get an idea for cost!
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE INSPECTOR FINDS MAJOR ISSUES
Great question! This has many different variables and is a great thing to ask your realtor before going into the inspection. The way the offer contract was made depends on how you can handle the items found.
SHOULD I GET AN INSPECTION BEFORE LISTING MY HOME?
This is a great question for your realtor! (Need a referral? Ask me I know several great ones!) It can be beneficial to get an inspection before listing the property. Then you can take care of the issues found on your own time and by the contractors you pick. You can even DIY some things! (this can help save you money and lower the stress of the situation). You will have to disclose everything that is found to anyone looking to purchase the home since you are now aware of everything that was found.
IS THE INSPECTION PASS OR FAIL?
This home inspection is just for your knowledge. It is not pass or fail. It all depends on your level of comfort/risk with the items found. (Remember every home has issues, even new construction.) The appraisal can be pass or fail and this is through the bank and is separate from this home inspection. If you have more issues on this your realtor or mortgage lender is a great resource.
CAN I ASK THE SELLER TO FIX THINGS FOUND AT THE INSPECTION?
This is another great question for your realtor. It is going to depend on how you wrote your offer letter. When you are able to ask for defects found during the inspection to be fixed, they are typically large cost items or major safety concerns.
WHATS A SEWER SCOPE
A sewer scope is a video inspection of the sewer line which is only visible by putting a camera into the sewer line. Why would you want this done? Sewer line issues can cause a lot of expensive issues, such a sewer back up into the home. This is inconvenient, gross, and expensive to repair. Depending on the issues with the sewer line it can be a few hundred dollars to $5,000-$20,000 plus. Getting the sewer inspection will give you the peace of mind that your sewer line will last for years to come.
CAN YOU HAVE AN INSPECTION ON A HOUSE YOU ALREADY OWN?
Absolutely! We call these healthy home checks. These are great to get a to-do list put together and get some maintenance items to help prevent large cost down the road. These also help to have someone check out some hidden areas of your home.
IS A HOME INSPECTION A WARRANTY ON THE HOME?
A home inspection is not a warranty on the home. You can ask your realtor if the seller is providing one or how/if purchasing one would be a good option for you.
WHAT DO I DO IF MY RADON LEVELS ARE HIGH?
Thankfully there is a solution to getting rid of radon from a home! The way to do that is Mitigation. You can hire a contractor who specializes in radon mitigation, and they will figure out how the radon is coming in and the correct ways to get rid of it.
WHAT IS RADON AND WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
Radon is an invisible and order less gas. It comes from the Uranium in the ground and can be in air and groundwater.
WHY TEST FOR RADON?
Radon is invisible and odorless so unless you test you will have no way to know how high the levels are at a property. Radon gas is the #2 cause of lung cancer and unfortunately, Iowa has the highest radon levels in the nation!
What is included in a sewer scope
Access to the sewer line is typically obtained through an interior cleanout. If there is no interior cleanout, the inspector may attempt to gain access through the toilet. The inspection does not include other drains such as laundry, kitchen, floor drains, bathroom drains, toilets, vent pipes, etc unless specified. The inspection may be constrained due to the design of the pipe and obstructions inside the pipe and at access points and is limited to the time and date of the inspection. We will note that in the report if a limitation exists. The Genuine Inspector does not offer a guarantee or warranty as part of this inspection report. If the need for repairs is noted within this report, we recommend that you have a qualified plumber evaluate the noted defects and repair them as necessary. We recommend all areas we locate in this report showing blockage and other anomalies should be evaluated further to determine the cause and repair. It should be understood that sometimes due to extent of debris/roots in the line or 90 degree turns, we may be unable to fully access the line. In these cases, we recommend a further review of lines when cleared and the lines can be better accessed at that time. Due to the complexity of the sewer lines; there are times when the full drain can not be accessed.
The video is not intended to be the official sewer report the inspector may make comments during the video and change their opinion after being able to watch the video in a controlled environment and may add comments to the written report that were not in the original video.