Frequently Asked Questions
Why Should I Choose Trow Inspection Service?
Short Answer:
Because we take the time to do the job right.
Long Answer:
Time: Our inspections usually take 3-4 hours (...or more). Many inspectors will only spend 1-2 hours in your home. I'm going to catch things other inspectors will miss.
Thoroughness: We hear some version of this comment all the time- "this inspector is very thorough!"
Detail: Many inspectors use a check-list report system where they simply mark some boxes, scribble some handwritten notes and they're done. It's great for them because it's easy, but not very good for you because you don't get any detail. We provide a comprehensive report with detailed descriptions of what we find wrong and what you need to do about it. Large digital photos in every report help clarify our findings. The level of detail and clarity in the report is matched by few inspectors.
How Much Does A Home Inspection Cost?
Fees start at $300.00 for houses, with higher fees for larger homes and older homes. Location and other factors also affect the cost. If you call and answer a few questions about the house we will be glad to give you a price. If you are shopping for the lowest cost home inspection then we are not the folks for you. Our pricing is very competitive given the quality we offer. Remember this is an unregulated field and anybody who can print business cards can do inspections. You only have one chance to get a good inspection. You really do get what you pay for.
Does A Brand New House Need An Inspection?
Absolutely! Most builders try to provide a high quality house, but they have to balance that with staying competitive. For builders, it often comes down to 'survival of the cheapest'. Much work is done by sub-contractors. A construction boom in recent years has caused a shortage of skilled labor. Coordinating schedules between different trades is a juggling act. New products are constantly being introduced into the market adding even more confusion.
Municipal inspectors try to do a good job but they're vastly overworked, often looking at dozens of houses each day. A thorough home inspection takes hours, not minutes. Municipal inspectors simply don't have the manpower to find all the construction defects.
What's Included In The Inspection?
A home inspection is a visual evaluation of the major systems in the house including structure, roof, exterior, heating/cooling, plumbing, electrical and the interior. We look at every room in the house exceeding the Standards of Practice of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI®).
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How Long Does The Inspection Last?
About 3-4 hours or more; larger homes and older homes take longer. We look at only 1 to 2 houses per day. Extra time and attention is always provided for first time home buyers so you understand the components of the house, how to operate it and where the main system shut offs are located.
May I Attend The Inspection?
Yes, you should attend the inspection to get the most benefit. If you do not have the time to attend the entire inspection, then a comprehensive review of our findings at the end of the inspection is beneficial. Especially useful or for our out of town home buyers, or if you can not attend the inspection, our reports feature lots of well marked, large digital photos.
When Should I Call To Schedule The Inspection?
As soon as possible after you have a signed purchase contract. We are often scheduled a week or more in advance, so make sure that your purchase contract has plenty of time for you to get repair estimates for major problems that may show up during the inspection. For newly constructed homes, schedule the inspection a few days before your walk-through with the builder so that you'll have our report in your hands during the walk-through. You should schedule warranty inspections at least a month before your warranty expires.
How Do I Prepare For The Inspection?
It's the seller's responsibility to get the house ready for the inspection. The seller should:
- Have all utilities turned on (water, electric and gas).
- Have all gas appliances ready to run with pilot lights turned on.
- Clear access to areas like attics, crawl spaces, electric panels and furnaces.
- Unlock areas such as storage closets, fence gates, electric panels and crawl space hatches.
- Remove pets from the property, or secure them so they are not free to roam.
To help you get the most benefit from the inspection you should leave the kids at home — you won't be able to pay attention to them and the inspection at the same time. For the same reason, if you have family members or friends who would like to see the house you should arrange that for another time.
Do You Offer On-Site Reports?
Yes, if needed but here is what you might not know about on-site reports! Although we have the technology to create on-site reports ready at the end of the inspection, we choose not to. Our full narrative-no check list- reports take almost as much time to produce as the actual inspection! A quality report often involves time consuming research of manufacturer specifications, municipal code interpretations and product recalls or class action lawsuit status research. A quality report should be easy to read and not have any information which does not pertain to the property being inspected-full narrative format. A quality report should have large digital photos with detailed explanations of the issues. These details take way too much time to do competently on-site. Your report will be delivered via email within 24 hours of the inspection completion. If time is of the essence an on-site report can be produced.
Do You Offer a Guarantee?
Trow Inspection Service is committed to quality, thorough service. If you are not satisfied and believe the inspection did not exceed your expectations, we offer the following: We will refund the inspection fee and pay an amount not to exceed our original inspection fee to a ASHI certified inspector in good standing of client's choice.
Limitations and Qualifications for guarantee:
- Client must be present during the entire inspection.
- This guarantee stands for a period of 3 days after our inspection.
- A signed and witnessed release and indemnity agreement must be received to initiate this process.
- The inspection fee paid to Trow Inspection Service will be refunded to the party who originated payment to us.
- This guarantee is for the home inspection fee only. All other services such as Radon/mold testing are not covered by this guarantee.
What If The Inspection Reveals Problems?
We may find things that weren't expected. That's what you want, right? No house is perfect, not even new construction. The report is not a seller's "Must-Fix" list; it's just an impartial reporting of condition giving you clear direction for what should be done about each problem. Every situation is different — it's up to you and your real estate agent to decide how to proceed after the inspection.
Are There Limitations To The Inspection?
A home inspection is not an appraisal or a check for total compliance with building codes and it's not an evaluation for any biological or environmental hazards. See the inspection agreement and the ASHI Standards of Practice for more information on the limitations of an inspection.
Are You Licensed?
There is no licensing for home inspectors in Georgia — anyone can claim to be a home inspector. We have a business license in Cobb county which satisfies the requirements anywhere in Georgia most builders have requesting only "licensed" home inspectors on their property.
Are You Certified?
A certification is only as good as the organization that issues it. Recently, some "organizations" have entered the lucrative business of handing out a certification to anyone who will send them a check, regardless of actual qualifications. If someone tells you that they're certified, be sure to check up on the organization that's doing the certification. We are full members of ASHI, the oldest, largest and most respected professional society in the industry. We attend monthly local ASHI chapter meetings which feature continuing education programs, keeping us current with the latest inspection issues. We are code certified thru SBCCI/ICC, a credential required by many home builders to inspect new construction.
What If I Have Questions Later?
Your understanding of the home is our highest priority. You can ask questions for as long as you own your home. There's no charge as long as we can answer by phone or e-mail without coming back out to the house.
Trow Inspection Service
(678) 520-5842
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