Since 1994, A-Pro has been helping its clients make smarter, better and more informed decisions as they buy or sell a home. As one of the leading Home Inspection Springfield MO service companies, A-Pro not only offers you the best possible home inspection, service, and value, but also provides you with the peace of mind that your investment is protected through our iron-clad 120-day assurance guarantee.
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Archive for the ‘home inspection’ Category
Five Questions a Homebuyer, Seller or Realtor® Should Ask a Springfield Home Inspector before Hiring Them
Five Questions a Homebuyer, Seller or Realtor® Should Ask a Springfield Home Inspector before Hiring Them
Not all home inspectors are the same. So how can you be confident that you’re hiring the right one? Whether you’re buying, selling, or just checking on your home’s condition, here are five key questions to ask:
Are you certified and insured? CHI® (Certified Home Inspector) or PHI® (Professional Home Inspector) certifications are important, but they’re actually not required. These prestigious certifications will assure you that your inspector has undergone more than 500+ hours of education and advanced training, ensuring that your inspection is thorough and reliable. PHI certified inspectors take it a step further. They’re also required to carry Errors and Omissions Insurance coverage. So find out if your inspector has a PHI designation behind his name.
Are you ISHI® certified? Make sure your inspector is ISHI (International Society of Home Inspectors) certified. ISHI standards exceed all others in 14 vitally important ways. Here are some critical checkpoints only required for ISHI inspections: foundation, furnace heat exchanger, all accessible doors and windows, installed built-in appliances, all accessible outlets and more. Additionally, ISHI written reports include positive attributes of the home.
Do you inspect the foundation? Most don’t. In fact, if they say yes, be sure to ask them how they inspect it. They should use a foundation level device to take measurements throughout the house to determine the levelness of the foundation. These measurements are then recorded on a diagram – included on a CAD drawing – showing any uneven foundation settlement.
What if a potential problem is found during the inspection? This may be hard to believe, but if a potential problem is found during an inspection, most inspectors will tell you to call an electrician, roofer, or plumber for further evaluation. With A-Pro, you will NEVER need to call a third party, saving you time, money, and hassle with our “no further evaluation guarantee.”
What happens if you miss something during an inspection? With most inspectors, you will have to pay for repairs and replacements – even if the problem was missed during the inspection. Their evaluation is little more than an opinion. When you choose A-Pro, you receive this pledge: “If we don’t report it, we repair it™” at our own expense, for covered claims up to 120 days.
Have additional questions?
Don’t hesitate to call (417) 894-1782 today for A-Pro® certified Springfield home inspectors.
Mention this post and get a $25.00 discount with a standard Springfield home inspection.
Commercial Inspections
A commercial property is defined as the building structures and improvements located on a parcel of commercial real estate. These may include structures such as buildings with residential units operated for profit, mixed-use buildings, strip malls, motels, factories, storage facilities, restaurants and office buildings.
A commercial inspection requires the inspector to make observations, conduct research, and report findings. A-Pro will conduct Commercial Inspections for you.
The A-Pro Inspector will collect information through visual observation during a walk-through survey as well as conduct research about the property including key components and reports relative to the property. A-Pro will then generate a meaningful report about the condition of the property based on the observations made and research conducted.
Structural Inspection
A standard home inspection includes many of the elements of a structural inspection but is not as in depth as a stand-alone Structural Inspection. During a Structural Inspection the A-Pro Inspector will be looking for and reporting on only the foundation and supporting elements of a home, investigating for a variety of distress indications that may result in repair or further evaluation recommendations.
If you notice a problem such as a sagging roof, bowing walls or cracking foundation or your home has been subject to severe storm damage, flooding or fire call your A-Pro Inspector for a Structural Inspection.
FHA Home Inspection
The FHA (Federal Housing Administration) Home Inspection is our standard industry leading Home Inspection but formatted to meet the requirements of our clients that are utilizing an FHA loan. FHA loans provide an option for home ownership to borrowers who may not qualify with other lenders, and often allow lower down payments and interest rates. An FHA insured mortgage can be used to purchase a new or existing home. A home inspection is strongly recommended by the FHA as part of the loan process.
As the FHA is a Federal program, the reporting requirements on Home Inspections supersede those of any state mandated reporting requirements. Insure your loan process is not slowed down due to the Home Inspection expectations and that your investment is protected by calling A-Pro to conduct your FHA Home Inspection.
Radon Inspection
It may surprise you that Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and that nearly all homes have some level of Radon in them. Radon is an odorless and colorless gas that emits as radioactive uranium breaks down in soil, water or rocks. Radon enters a home many ways such as through cracks in slabs, wall joints and water supply. An elevated amount of Radon in a home is a health hazard. The standard Home Inspection does not include Radon testing.
The EPA has recommended that every home be tested for Radon and that if the test comes back at an exceeded level to fix the home. The good news is that repairing a home to normal Radon levels is not usually a high cost proposition.
If you need A-Pro’s help in testing for Radon and/or reading the results please call on us.
Mold Inspection
Most if not all of us have heard the horror stories associated with mold in a home and it is absolutely true that an elevated condition of mold in a home is a health danger. Certain mold spores can lead to respiratory disease, allergic reactions, and other health issues. All mold and the conditions for mold growth (Moisture) can compromise the structure of the home. For Mold to grow it needs three things: (1) Food Source (2) Moisture (3) Warmth
An A-Pro Mold Inspection can help prevent serious problems and significant expenses.
Foundation Inspection
All Home Inspections include a visual inspection of the foundation as a minimum requirement. At A-Pro we understand that a home’s foundation condition ranks very high with our clients relative to concerns about a property and we go over and beyond to inspect the foundation.
The A-Pro Inspection includes a foundation level survey ($150.00 value) as part of every standard home inspection. Call us if you need a foundation inspected.
Wood Destroying Insect (WDI) report aka Termite Inspection
Wood Destroying Insect (WDI) report aka Termite Inspection
There are many types of Wood Destroying Insects but termites are the most common and cause the most damage. A WDI Inspection is often referred to as a Termite Inspection when really all wood destroying insects are inspected for.
Whether you’re buying, selling, or refinancing your home, there is a high probability that you will need a (WDI) Wood Destroying Insect report. WDI reports provide evidence of possible infestation by wood destroying insects or damage caused thereof that is visible and accessible at the time of inspection. In addition to identifying possible infestations and previous treatment a WDI report will alert a lender or buyer potential problems within the home.
Termites are slow eaters so if a termite infestation is discovered it is usually not a panic situation. Treatment is effective and can be handled in a few months without causing additional problems.
In nearly all states a State Agency provides oversight of WDI Inspection and Treatment and in all cases this inspection is outside the scope of a traditional Home Inspection. Your A-Pro Inspector can consult with you on your options and in many cases provide the WDI Inspection for you.
Carbon Monoxide Testing and Inspection
Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, toxic gas and all fuel (gas, oil, kerosene, wood or coal) burning appliances have the potential to produce CO to some degree due to incomplete combustion. Appliances (including fire places) that are not installed, maintained, and used properly run the risk of causing CO accumulation to dangerous levels. Extreme CO exposure can cause death, considering that the gas is colorless and odorless proper detection is vitally important.
You’re A-Pro Inspector can test for Carbon Monoxide in the home as well as the appliances and fixtures that may be causing a dangerous level. You’re A-Pro Inspector will also advise you on the proper detectors and the recommended locations of the detectors as well as proper maintenance needed for offending appliances.
Lead Paint Inspection
The use of Lead Paint in homes was eliminated in 1978. If your home was built prior to 1978 getting an Inspection specifically to detect lead paint could be advisable but is critical before you do any type of home improvement projects that require even mild demolition. Many of our A-Pro locations are certified in lead paint inspection.
The health implications associated with lead paint are serious, the toxins from lead paint are most dangerous when the paint is disturbed in some manner and the dust particles infused with lead come in contact with people. Children and women who are pregnant or may become pregnant are the most susceptible to the negative effects associated with high lead exposure.