What to Expect of Your Home Inspection
Ultimately, the purpose of your inspection is to educate you regarding the condition and expected typical maintenance of the property. NIS will adhere to legal and ethical rules, standards of practice, and reporting requirements. It is our role to combine your purpose and goals with our expertise.
The inspection is what is known legally as a “non technically exhaustive” inspection. Simply put, this is a visual inspection. If something looks unusual, the inspector will refer you to an expert in the area in question. Of course, if something can’t be seen on a particular day then it can neither be inspected, nor referred to an expert.
Most Inspections Contain Three Parts:
Two or more walks around the exterior of the building, including as much of the upper levels as possible
A detailed visual inspection of the habitable spaces in the building
A detailed visual inspection of the structural, mechanical, and electrical systems of the building
Should You Be There?
You are certainly welcome to be present throughout the inspection. That being said, much of the inspection process is rather mundane “checking the boxes”. It is the findings that are most important.
We encourage you to arrive 1-1 1/2 hours after we start the inspection. This allows us to get the “boring” things done and then educate you regarding building.
Water and Septic Inspections
Appropriate water supply and used water disposal are critical to the health of your family. NIS has 30 years of experience in designing and inspecting these systems. Let us give you the peace of mind that these systems are working as designed. You are encouraged to attend both Water System and POWTS (Septic) inspections. Often it is not as exciting as the home, these are critical systems that many homeowners have little experience with and knowledge about. Let us instruct you on the care of these systems.