Green Lake WI Home Inspector

FAQ

What is a Home Inspection?

A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a house, from the roof to the foundation.

Why do I need a home inspection?

Even the most experienced homeowner lacks the knowledge and expertise of a professional home inspector. Our chief inspector and founder, Bob Drew, has spent his complete adult life working in residential construction - he brings his forty-one years of experience as a general contractor to your home. Our state tested and certified inspectors are familiar with the elements of home construction, their proper installation, and maintenance. The Inspector knows how the home's systems and components are intended to function together, as well as why they fail. Above all, most buyers find it difficult to remain completely objective and unemotional about the house they really want, and this may affect their judgment. For accurate information, it is best to obtain an impartial third-party opinion by an expert in the field of home inspection.

Do new homes need to be inspected?

Any home being purchased or sold should be inspected, regardless of its age. Even new homes may have structural and mechanical problems that can be revealed by a home inspection. Most areas have local or state building officials that inspect new construction for building violations. However building officials rarely have enough time to thoroughly inspect everything. Besides, there can be problems or defects that aren't necessarily violations of building standards.

Builders want to build a good house. Unfortunately some sub-contractors are chosen because of their focus on speed, and not necessarily quality. Sub-contractors are hired to complete different aspects of the construction (electrical, plumbing, roofing, foundation, etc). With many activities going on at once, its nearly impossible for a contractor or supervisor to oversee everyone and their work.

If your new home is under a builder's warranty, we can inspect your home before the warranty expires. An "End of Builder's Warranty Inspection" is usually performed one or two months before expiration.

What doses the inspection cost?

This is often the first question asked when inquiring about home inspection services. When you began searching for a new home, did you say to yourself "I want the cheapest house I can find"? Of course not. You wanted to find the house that's the best value for your money! Shopping for the cheapest inspection will end up costing you more in the long run.

A cheap home inspection speaks for itself. If you don't believe that, you're not alone. Many home buyers have found out the hard way that "you get what you pay for" when hiring a cheap inspector. When a consumer hires the cheapest home inspector, they invite trouble and risk receiving an incomplete and inaccurate report. An in-depth home inspection by a professionally trained and certified home inspector is not cheap, but then again neither is your house. You can be assured that the fee you pay will be repaid many times over in savings to you.

Remember, cheap inspections aren't quality and quality inspections aren't cheap. These same "low cost inspectors" usually spend about 1 or 2 hours performing the inspection when a professional inspection takes 3 hours or more. You are about to invest thousands of dollars for a house you've only seen a few times. Do you really want to take a chance hiring the cheapest inspector for the sake of saving a few dollars? We urge you to ask friends and family members about their home inspection experiences and see if they’ve had good results using a cheap home inspector.

What is included?

CornerStone inspections exceed industry standards in reporting the condition of your home including:

How long will it take?

The average inspection takes about three hours depending on the size, age, and condition of the property.

When do I receive my report?

You will receive your report within 24 hours via Web download or fax.

Should I be There?

We strongly urge the prospective buyer to be present for the walk through at the end of the inspection. By being present, you will have a far greater understanding of your new home and the report.

Why should I not I do my own inspection?

Even the most experienced homeowner lacks the knowledge and expertise of a professional home inspector. Our head inspector, Robert Drew, has spent his complete adult life working in residential construction, he brings his forty-one years of experience as a general contractor to your home. Our state tested and certified inspectors are familiar with the elements of home construction, their proper installation, and maintenance. The Inspector knows how the home's systems and components are intended to function together, as well as why they fail. Above all, most buyers find it difficult to remain completely objective and unemotional about the house they really want, and this may affect their judgment. For accurate information, it is best to obtain an impartial third-party opinion by an expert in the field of home inspection.

Will you fix any problems you find during the inspection?

No, we make no repairs to properties we inspect. This assures that there will never be any conflict of interest. Our purpose is to provide an unbiased, objective third party report on the condition of the home.

What if the Inspection uncovers problems?

Our report will tell you the condition of the house, including needed repairs and expenses. No house is going to be perfect. It is up to you to decide how any problems the inspection uncovers might affect your decision to purchase. If major problems are discovered, you may want to try negotiating with the seller to have them repaired before closing the deal. Or perhaps the seller will lower the price, or offer more favorable contract terms. In the end, the decision rests with you, but knowing about potential problems, before you buy, gives you the power to negotiate and make the best decisions.

What If I have a Question?

Give us a call! It’s that simple. We are here to serve your needs and answer all your questions. There is no charge for this continued support. A simple call can save you time and trouble.