About: Napa Valley Home Inspections | 707-260-5524
Buying a home? The process can be stressful. A home inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind, but often has the opposite effect initially. You will be asked to absorb a lot of information in a short time. This often includes a written report, a Realtors checklist, photographs, environmental reports and what the inspector himself says during the inspection. All this combined with the seller's disclosure and what you notice yourself makes the experience even more overwhelming. What should you do? Find an experienced inspector who will take the time to walk you through the details onsite so the report full of pictures & comments makes sense. Customer reviews speak volumes.
Relax. Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections. These are nice to know about. However, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories:
- Major defects. An example of this would be a structural failure, current or past, due to seismic events.
- Things that lead to major defects. A roof-flashing leak or a wet crawl space for example.
- Things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy or insure the home, like a poor roof or furnace.
- Safety hazards, such as wiring issues like overloaded circuits or double tapping at the electric panel.
Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property prior to moving into the home. Too many homes are bought by unsuspecting buyers who find out they cannot afford the true cost of home ownership due to necessary improvements or high energy bills.
Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection. Keep things in perspective. It is difficult to ask that a seller address deferred maintenance they can't afford to do, conditions already listed on the seller's disclosure or cosmetic items. Serious issues need to be addressed, or at least understood by all.
If you agree that happy homes require a smart start then you can put the AHIT nationwide reputation for service and reliability to work for you here in the San Francisco Bay area. By using Napa Valley Home Inspections, you benefit from experienced inspectors that deliver reports that meet or exceed the California state and national standards. We encourage your presence during the end of the inspection whenever possible. By your being present our certified inspector can familiarize you with the home's various issues.
Our inspectors are bound to a strict code of ethics*, this ensures quality service while providing important protections for consumers in California. For example, our inspectors:
- Work Exclusively for the customer, confidentiality is assured
- Follow Nationally Accepted Standards of Practice * that protect the public
- Will not Perform Repairs on Any Home Inspected for 12 months, therefore remaining objective at all times
Our inspectors are trained to be familiar with the wide variety of situations that apply to North American construction in general and sunny, seismic California specifically.
We believe that consumers have the right to expect the highest standards of integrity, thoroughness, and effectiveness from their home inspector. We back up our promise of a complete home inspection by including Errors and Omissions insurance and Professional Liability Insurance. All of our inspection reports must be thorough, authentic and stand up to critical review. We continue to build our reputation one inspection at a time to ensure that you get the quality service you deserve.
The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), a Colorado non-profit, tax-exempt corporation owns the Federal Certification Mark for "Certified Professional Inspector (CPI)." The USPTO registration number is 3716985. This is a certification mark used by inspectors who qualify for the designation. Those who have earned the designation often use the abbreviations CPI and C.P.I., and InterNACHI also claims common-law trademark rights on CPI and C.P.I. within the inspection industry.
*http://www.leginfo.ca.gov
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