My Other sites:
www.chucksflooring.com
www.passumpsicchurch.org
www.sheepshearcuttings.com
www.steves-flooring.com
Home Buyers Inspection Service
Services We Offer
Exclusive Buyer Representative
Many sellers "spruce up" their home in order to make it visually appealing so they can sell it more quickly. We have observed that, many times, these "repairs" are simply cosmetic in nature when deeper structural work should have been performed. Sometimes these repairs are so temporary they will not even last one year before problems become visible! We have actually seen cases where major odors, such as mold and mildew and cigarette smoke have been "masked" during an inspection by clever means (such as having all the windows open during the inspection, having wet oil-based paint on surfaces within the dwelling, and actually having a roast in the oven during the inspection). Some real estate web sites give the seller great ideas on how to "fix up" their home to sell it. Go to the web sites and see for yourself just how temporary and cosmetic in nature a lot of these "fix-ups" usually are!
Check out Google's hits on this topic:
how to fix up your home to sell it - Google Search
Our job is to look beyond these cosmetic repairs, "quick fix-ups" and "quick makeovers" and tell you the truth as to how the job should really be done to be long-lasting and to help reduce future maintenance.
Serving Vermont & New Hampshire
In service area shown on pushpin map
"Second Opinion" inspections
If you feel you have been led astray by an inspector with "rose colored glasses," please give us a call, we're here to help you.
Narrative Reporting
Dictated/Transcribed (typed) Reports
Pre-purchase Inspections (investigation) of Existing Buildings
Commercial and Residential Inspections
New construction inspections
Our careful and detailed evaluation of every construction detail gives you confidence and satisfaction in knowing whether or not your building contractor followed standard building procedures in each phase of construction. Manufacturers and suppliers of building materials typically require strict adherence to their specific installation instructions. Warranties are generally void if windows, doors, fixtures, heating and air conditioning systems, and the like are not installed by the contractor according to specifications. In addition to the voiding of warranties, improper installations usually result in future maintenance problems.
New Construction Progress Reports
New Construction Punch List
Lending Institution Inspections
Completed Work Inspections and Reports
Estates
Working with clients in planning and producing short and long-term maintenance reports (long-term goals) for estates to help reduce building damage and high repair costs relating to failure of building components and systems.
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"
Inspecting estate construction, maintenance and repair work that is performed
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
We don't know every code, all installation specifications and instructions with regard to Electric, Plumbing, Heating, Structural Stresses, Septic Systems, all appliances, Various Components, etc. - just like many trade-persons do not know every single code. If you have worked at all with professionals in various fields, you will often see them check their code book, installation instructions, graphs, charts, etc. in order to verify just what is required for proper equipment, proper materials and proper installation procedures under all specific conditions of the job they are on.
I would rather that someone check "the book" to be sure they are correct than have them tell me it is correct, only to find out some time later that they were wrong! How many times have you seen something installed where the person did not follow directions and installation specifications, only to find out later that the item(s) and components were improperly installed (or improperly constructed)? I know I have seen it happen many times (refer to the Sample Report of a Brand New Home)! I have also re-done a lot of work improperly performed by others when I had my renovation business.
As a building inspector, we are typically 'generalists' in the fact that we know much about a lot of different aspects of building construction, yet we certainly do not know every detail or every code, as codes are typically dynamic with frequent updates and changes! To keep abreast of every single code and installation requirements - specifications relative to every building component, every product, every appliance, etc. would nearly be impossible!
As a building inspector, we could be compared to a "family physician." The person is a doctor, and they know a lot about different things but they are typically not a specialist when it comes to the different body organs, physical characteristics as well as mental characteristics. Would you go to a heart specialist if you thought you might have a kidney infection? Would you have your hearing checked by an otolaryngologist if your eyesight is not as clear as it used to be? Would you see a Podiatrist if you have been severely depressed? Of course you wouldn't - but rather, you would go to the specialist who knows just how to treat the specific problem!
Likewise, an inspection could be compared to going to your family physician for a complete physical. The physician would check you out and any abnormalities would typically result in a referral to have you see a certain specialist (or specialists). It is to the client's benefit if certain problems are verified by others as it typically and often-times substantiates just what was found by us at the inspection.
You can hire one person to inspect everything, looking for possible problems, or you can call in a number of different individuals in specialized areas to have them inspect everything. There have been many occasions where I am not yet finished my visual inspection when the prospective buyer requests that we stop as they are no longer interested in purchasing this particular property!
I typically take about an hour to point out the major problems. From experience, I have found that after an hour or so, the client is usually "mentally-drained" from listening to so many details which are observed during an inspection (and which are transcribed onto the tape which I retain as a permanent record of the problems found).
I can produce a typed report at any time from the transcribed tape. Since the typed report is not included in the cost of the "Narrative Inspection" - many times clients get back to me in a day or two to tell me they would like just one page describing major problems. On certain occasions, clients request from me a detailed "punch-list" describing what they should do in order of importance, e.g., a Five-Year Plan," a Ten-Year Plan, etc.
If you have signed papers, make sure you know the requirements regarding when the inspection is to be performed and when any typed reports are to be submitted. Based on my experience with previous clients, I have found it to be best to have the inspection performed as soon as possible so you are not under pressure to not only have the inspection completed but, on top of that, you are under pressure to make a decision on whether you are still interested in the property should the inspection disclose many problems (which, in our case, they typically DO)!
NOTICE:
Effective January 1, 2011, there is a Cancellation Fee of $120 for any inspection appointment that is cancelled within 72 hours of the Scheduled Inspection time - regardless of when the inspection appointment was made.
When the inspection appointment is scheduled, the client (buyer) must furnish us their name, full mailing address and physical address (if their mailing address is a PO Box or different than the physical address). The client must also furnish us with the subject property owner's name and full physical address (no PO Boxes).
Payment to HBIS, LLC for any inspection cancellation is due immediately upon cancellation and is non-refundable. If the client proceeds with an inspection (same property or any other property no further than 60 miles from our office) within fourteen days of cancellation day and time, the $120. cancellation fee will be credited toward the inspection that is performed.
Call Richard Guest 802-748-5505
Richard W. Guest
Home Buyers Inspection Service, LLC
Saint Johnsbury, Vermont, USA
(802) 748-5505
email: r.guest@vermontinspector.com
No pictures or text can be used from this website for any purpose public or private
Copyright ©1994-2012 Home Buyers Inspection Service, LLC All rights reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners.
Created: 01/02/2006
Revised: 12/31/2011 19:24:57 -0500
Webmaster: Richard W. Guest
My Other sites:
www.chucksflooring.com
www.passumpsicchurch.org
www.sheepshearcuttings.com
www.steves-flooring.com