Inspection FAQ

A home inspection is a non-invasive, visual examination of the accessible areas of a residential property. It is designed to identify defects within specific systems and components defined by the Standards that are both observed and deemed material by the inspector. The home inspection is based on observations from the date of the inspection, and are not a prediction of future conditions. Deficiencies within a system or component which may have a significant, adverse impact on the value of the property, or an unreasonable risk to people will be reported verbally and written in the Home Inspection Report. Inspection reports may also include additional comments and recommendations, other than the major issues observed at the property at time of inspection.

We cannot repeat enough: “New Construction does NOT mean Good Construction”. And if you think the “city inspector” and code inspector would not accept a bad house to be built, with all respect, you might want to guess again.

So, you might want an objective, experienced, detailed, honest third-party, such as Owl’s Eye, to inspect your newly constructed home before your final walk-through and closing. Actually a great idea is before even drywall is installed.

A pre-drywall inspection, in the early stages, is a great opportunity to make sure the “bones” of the house are in great condition. During this stage, we can see even more details prior to the drywall installation. With our Construction experience and our keen eye, we will report everything you need to know so it can be addressed with the building company before it is hidden by drywall or becomes a bigger issue.

Then you verify everything is installed correctly and nothing was damaged or missed with the final inspection prior to closing.

In other words, you should definitely consider a Home Inspection, especially if it is a new build! Believe it or not, with all of our years of experience, we feel that we’ve seen all ends of the spectrum…yet almost every time we prove ourselves wrong, as something new appears. Especially, in a crazy market when houses are built so fast but without much attention to details.

Now, we don’t want to scare you and this might not be the case for your property. Nevertheless, we strongly suggest you to have an inspection, even in a new construction. At Owl’s Eye we have the tools and the experience needed to see what most of people can’t see. And as beautiful as the house might seem, we want you to be sure that it is safe for you and your beloved ones.

Please feel free to contact us and we can discuss in more detail, if needed.

Our lead inspector is a Certified Master Inspector (CMI). Not too many inspectors carry this title; Proof of his experience. We are Certified Members under the Inter-National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI). Thus, we follow the InterNACHI Standards of Practice (SOP) and Code of Ethics. Visit InterNACHI’s website for details: https://www.nachi.org/sop.htm , https://www.nachi.org/code_of_ethics.htm

The cost of a home inspection varies, as it depends on a few factors. These factors include age and size. Over time, houses typically develop more deficiencies, requiring more time for the Inspector on site and additional time to put together a detailed report. For this reason, the age of the house will influence the cost. Also, the time it will take to inspect the home will vary based on the size. We will calculate the cost based on square footage of the house. Additionally, unfinished basements are not counted as part of the square footage of the house, so there might be an additional cost for basements. Most inspectors will add a fee for attics, additional bathrooms or crawlspaces, however, we include these in all inspections at no additional cost to you. When you contact us, we will take all of these factors into consideration when calculating the price to inspect your unique home. Rest assured, we will provide you a quality inspection at a fair price. Call us today, to get a free quote!

The time required to complete a home inspection depends on the size and condition of the house. Every house, new or old, can hide deficiencies. As Certified Master Inspectors (CMI), we pay special attention to each detail to keep you safe. We are thorough in our inspections, and the time we spend will be worth keeping you safe in your potential new home. If possible, we like to meet in person with you for approximately 30 minutes after the inspection for a brief summary of our findings. Without considering it standard, as the factors we mentioned above are crucial, we would say that two to four hours is the average time for most properties. Remember, we inspect it once, so we do it right the first time!

Our policy is to deliver the report within 24 hours after the inspection, and so far, we have never failed to do so! Actually, in most cases we have the report ready and sent to our clients the same day! Your report will be very detailed, but easy to read. We feel that it is our duty to do an inspection the RIGHT way, even it it takes us more time on site. We are committed to spend as much time as needed to help you receive a full and accurate view of the condition of your potential new home.

At Owl’s Eye Home Inspections, we understand that a report is like a 5,000+ piece puzzle and we need time to put together all of the pieces. On average, we take approximately 300 pictures per house. You receive some of these pictures on the report. The additional pictures are simply for accountability that we carefully inspect all the areas around the deficiency, and truly tried to find the source of the issue. If you call us months later, we will still provide you with all needed information to put your mind at ease, that we were doing our job right! And no matter how crazy the market is, we know you can have an honest, detailed inspection and report, while still meeting your due diligence.

We are very proud of our report. We spend a lengthy amount of time producing the report, as it is the most crucial part of hiring us. We make it easy for YOU to read with arrows and circles, directing you straight to any deficiency we find. The report will be in sections (roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc.) and then also split in three categories of Major/Important things, FYI/Honey Do list, and Tips/Maintenance. As you can understand, compared to other home inspection companies, Owl’s Eye Home Inspections reports not only any current issues, but also information you might find helpful as a homeowner. This is all so that you can keep your property and family safe. You will be thankful you hired us! We will continue to be available to you after the delivery of the report for any questions or concerns. You can speak directly to your inspector, any time. No middle (wo)men. We mean it when we say, we will take care of you like family!

When we agree to inspect a property for you, both parties sign an agreement. The ones who sign this agreement officially become our clients. We love to speak with our clients at the property we inspect, especially toward the end of the inspection, for a brief summary of our findings. If we work with buyers, we have to remember and respect the fact that the house currently has other owners. With that in mind, at Owl’s Eye Home Inspections we cannot prevent the current owners from being at their property, if they desire. Keep in mind, though, we cannot, and we will not, distribute copies of the report or relay any information about our findings to non-authorized people. So, if we take you to the side, or a little further from the house, to share some information with you more privately, please don’t be alarmed. We do this discreetly to protect you and any information essential for the process.

With years of experience in the construction field and being Certified Master Inspectors (CMI) of InterNACHI and NAHI, you can expect nothing but the best from us. Our inspectors gained experience in two very demanding market areas, with a variety of houses built in the 1800s to newly constructed homes.

• InterNACHI’s stringent education requirements ensure that our members are highly qualified.
• InterNACHI is the only association for home inspectors that requires applicants to pass an entrance exam before they are allowed to become members.
• Members must successfully complete key courses within a given time period
• InterNACHI inspectors must successfully complete 24 hours of continuing education every single year.
• In addition to courses on a home’s major structural elements, systems and components, InterNACHI offers online training for several ancillary inspections, such as systems, thermal imaging, stucco, energy auditing, and more.
• The required courses have been accredited and approved by more than 20 states and provinces.

As a rule of thumb, it is ideal to contact us the earliest you can during your due diligence period. That will give us appropriate time to inspect, give you the report, and will also provide you time to bring any contractors (if needed) for further review and quotes.