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Frequently Asked Questions
At Big Island Inspection Connection we do our best to answer all of your questions.
Below you will find a list of frequently asked questions.
If you have any questions that have not been answered below,
please do not hesistate to contact us.
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A typical home inspection requires approximately 3-5 hours to complete. This can vary based on the current condition and size of the home, if it's vacant or occupied, the accessibility of mechanical systems, various out buildings and so on.
The purpose of a home inspection is to examine the exterior and interior of the home, including the grounds, structure and mechanical systems. We look for defects, broken or obsolete components, damage due to weather, rot, or wear and tear. We will then provide the customer with a detailed summary of our findings. We inspect all major systems of the house. These include the roof, exterior, structure, electrical, cooling, plumbing, insulation, water catchment and interior.
See the pricing page for exact cost based on the square footage of the property.
- Complete home inspection by a certified inspector to include Aerial Photos, Thermal Imaging and Underwater Catchment Videos if applicable.
- Comprehensive written home inspection report that includes detailed photos of all areas inspected and the issues clearly pointed out for your understanding.
Definitely. We encourage you to attend once the inspection is completed so we can go over our findings and point out any issues you should be aware of prior to you receiving your official final report. Every question will be answered before we finish the inspection, and your always welcome to call or email questions at a later date for more clairfication.
We recommend that you not bring your entire family. This is a technical evaluation and you will be interacting with the inspector so the fewer distractions the better. Also many sellers restrict how many people they allow in their home.
You will receive a very detailed written report with photos and details on all the major systems of the home. Payment must be received prior to the inspection report being released. The report will be delivered the same day or within 24 hours after the inspection if there is extensive travel time required.
Big Island Inspection Connection is ready to serve you as quickly as possibly, however, we are often booked out a week or more in advance so call as soon as possible to get on the calendar. If the home is occupied we are required to give the occupants a minium of 48 hours notice prior to the inspection.
What will “fail” a home inspection, i.e. what issue(s) will cause a buyer not to go forward with the purchase of a home? It is a question that is asked frequently by buyers and also by many individuals on Google search!
It’s a good question and an important one. However, the answer is pretty simple. Ultimately, the person who decides if a home inspection “fails” is the buyer of the home.
Individuals have very different risk tolerances when it comes to issues that are identified in a home inspection. If you have never walked into a Home Depot any defect could be scary, but if you have done some remodeling in the past you see things in a compleatly different light. This is often why some people will walk away from a deal while others will move forward with the purchase.
As inspectors, our job is not to tell you whether or not a house “Passes or Fails” but rather to provide you with detailed information on the condition of the home, so that together with your real estate agent, you can weigh the facts and make an educated decision for yourself.
This is a common question that first time home buyers may have. And it’s an important one.
The process of buying a home has many different costs, documents, and transactional jargon. One thing you will notice about the fees is that most of them are wrapped into the purchase of the home. The inspection however is paid for by the buyer prior to the home purchase so your aware of the homes condition.
For example, as a buyer, you typically do not pay your Realtor directly. Their fee is paid by the seller of the home and split between the listing agent and the buyer’s agent.
Or how about your appraisal? Appraisals are typically scheduled and paid by the bank that is funding your loan. Then the cost of it is wrapped into the closing costs.
So one thing that stands out is the cost of a home inspection. This is generally one of the few items that, as a home buyer, you have to pay for that isn’t wrapped into other fees.
So why is that? There are a few important reasons for this.
A home inspection report contains valuable information about your future home. Ideally, you do not want the inspection report to be tied to anyone but yourself. This ensures that the inspector’s opinion is truly unbiased.
This is the same reason that real estate agents cannot directly refer you to a single inspection company. They must give you at least a few options. This way YOU chose your home inspector and can not blame anyone later if the one you chose did not do as well as you had hoped for.
While Pre-Listing Inspections are great for sellers and can give them an idea of what needs to be fixed within a home, it is still important to have your own inspection completed where the information is fresh and yours.
We always have the buyer’s best interest in mind when performing inspections, but that may not be the case for all inspectors in the business. Ensure that the information you are getting is truly unbiased by paying for your own inspection.
This might be an interesting concept, but it is actually important for you to be the owner of the information contained in the inspection report. This is to prevent the sharing of information that is unwanted.
While most transactions go smoothly with minimal issues, it is important for negotiations that you decide when the best time to share information with others is. You may want to withhold information you found about the home until you have further evaluations or second opinions. Perhaps your home inspector recommends further evaluation by a Roofer, Termite Company, Plumber etc
If the seller of the home pays for the inspection, it would be impossible for us to keep that information from them before you and your agent decide the best way to move forward.
Also, if the seller pays for an inspection, they can use that same report for the next person if the deal falls through. That information could be altered or a few pages left out before you see the report. Because of this, it is best to pay for your own information.
For all home inspections, an agreement is signed between our company and the person paying for the inspection. This document is important because it outlines the scope and limitations of the inspection, and also outlines your protection and a buyer.