Our Services   Home inspections can help you buy or sell your home with confidence.  As trained professionals we have seen it all, and we'll provide invaluable help in turning you into a knowledgeable consumer. Home owners can identify problems in the making and take preventive measures to avoid costly repairs. Sellers can understand conditions the buyer’s inspector may point out and put the property in better selling condition by making repairs.  Our inspection services include: Buyers Inspection In both new and older homes, the best way to ensure that you are well informed about the strengths and weaknesses of a property is to have us give you a professional home inspection. We are trained to identify problem areas both small and large that may have been overlooked by the previous owners and to identify which require immediate attention.  See our Inspection Overview for more details. The last thing you want is to move into a house unaware of potential problems.  Problems could be costly to repair...or even hazardous to your health. That’s why it’s critical to choose a “detective” service like ours to inspect the property.  In addition to a very thorough inspection of a home’s structure and systems, we test for possible environmental hazards. Allergen Screening House dust!  How bad can it be?  Well, the EPA ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health.  It is estimated that up to 50 million Americans are affected by allergies each year, with 11 million of these experiencing asthmatic symptoms.  This accounts for approximately 16.7 million doctor visits and $18 billion in medical expenses each year.  Since Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, it is not surprising that the rate of asthma and allergies are on the increase! The most common health effects revolving around allergens are allergic reactions, asthma, dermatitis, and conjunctivitis.  Every individual has different levels of sensitivities and may not be allergic to certain allergens.  The most common symptoms of an allergic reaction include sneezing, watering or itching eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose, tissue inflammation, shortness of breath (asthma) and skin irritation. Allergens consist of chemical or biological substances that produce an allergic response in some individuals.  And house dust contains some of the common asthma and allergy allergens.  In fact, polluted air and dust can contain mold spores, pollen, chemicals and perfumes.  It can also contain the three most common allergen sources for asthma and allergies - pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches and their wastes.  Sellers Inspection Whether you are selling your home on your own or using a realtor, it’s always a prudent idea to have a professional home inspection.  Knowledge is power.  All homes have strengths and weaknesses: we help you answer how serious the problems are, which must be immediately addressed and which can wait.  The more you know about your home, the more prepared you will be for negotiation. See our Inspection Overview for more details. Construction Inspection In a new home, the quality of construction is often not what it used to be some years ago.  Therefore, many buyers have independent reviews of their properties during various stages of the construction process - including slab, frame, and final inspection. This relatively inexpensive inspection protects your purchase, prevents unpleasant surprises, and ensures the quality home that you’ve dreamed about. Warranty Inspection Most builders provide a one-year warranty for new construction.  Generally during this period of time the buyer develops a "punch list" of corrections for the contractor to repair under the warranty coverage.  Some defects will not be obvious to the untrained eye. It is prudent to obtain our home inspectors list of items that will most likely be repaired by your builder at no cost to you. You will be reassured knowing that potential problems were addressed before they grew into something that could cost you a great deal down the road. Energy Audit The audit provides the home owner with peace of mind and comfort from your home – warm in the winter, cool in the summer.  The objective of the audit is to upgrade the energy efficiency of your home in order to provide a more comfortable home, lower the energy bills, and achieve a cleaner environment.  The audit helps homeowners lower their residential energy requirements by an average of 20%.  The energy report includes an inventory of the insulation, windows, heating and cooling systems, water heater and appliance. It also includes a list of recommended improvements or replacements, an analysis of estimated costs and savings for each recommendation, and energy-efficiency strategies. Environmental Hazards Our job as your professional home inspector is to alert you, to the extent possible, to unknown problems and potential environmental hazards in your current or potential house. Ours is a non-invasive visual inspection of your property, which can alert you to possible problems. See our Environmental Hazards page for more information. We inspect for a range of hazards and, if we feel it necessary, perform the following tests: Radon testing Arsenic residue testing Air quality testing Water quality testing Insect infestation inspection Mold assessment Septic system testing Carbon monoxide testing Allergen testing and screening