FAQ's

1. What can I expect from my home inspection?
2. What does a home inspection include?
3. How quickly can you perform my inspection?
4. When and how do I pay for your service?
5. How fast will my report with digital color photos be in my hand?
6. My home Isn't actually in Austin, but is nearby: what is your service area?
7. Can you describe the "Review with Client"?
8. How do I schedule an appointment?
9. Is my attendance at the inspection necessary?
10. What risks do I take by not getting a home inspection?
11. I have an uncle who was in construction; why don't I get his opinion?
12. What happens if my dishwasher goes out six months after I move in? Will the Inspector pay for it?
13. I'm buying a home in the country with a septic system; is it included on your inspection?
14. We're buying a home with a crawl space under it (Pier and Beam); do you inspect this type of home?
15. I heard that some homes in the Austin area have been subject to foundation movement; do I need to spend $500.00 for a structural engineer's report?
16. I know that as a licensed inspector, you can't perform repairs on my home? Can you refer me to people I can trust?
17. I'm buying a duplex/triplex/four-plex/small commercial building; do you inspect those, too?
18. Why should I have a newer home inspected?
19. How do I handle unexpected necessary repairs? Can the inspector perform these repairs since he understands the problems?

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WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM MY HOME INSPECTION?

Our inspection reports are professional, expert, and experienced opinions written following a thorough physical examination of the home and testing of its mechanical components. Our home inspections can be accurately compared with a thorough doctor's physical examination. You should expect to be able to use this information to help you make a well-informed decision.

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WHAT DOES A HOME INSPECTION INCLUDE?

Our reports cover all visible structural areas:

• Foundation
• Walls
• Doors
• Windows
• Electrical systems
• Plumbing systems
• HVAC systems
• Roof and roof structure
• Pier and Beam inspections
• Attics
• Floors
• Built-in appliances
• Pools
• Spas
• Sprinkler systems
• Central vacuum systems
• Trash compactors

We may include other specific items by request. Our termite inspections (WDI) are performed by the same inspector, who is also licensed by the Texas SPCB.

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HOW QUICKLY CAN YOU PERFORM MY INSPECTION?

Our usual booking time for appointments is between 1 and 3 days from initial contact.

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WHEN AND HOW DO I PAY FOR YOUR SERVICE?

Home inspections are usually paid for by cash, check, or credit/debit card at the close of the inspection review. For our out-of-town clients, we happily accept your credit/debit card payment, and conduct our personal inspection with you via e-mail and telephone.

Every inspection is unique. Our fee schedule is based on size (square footage), age, type of foundation (slab/pier and beam), number of units, presence of pools, spas, or sprinklers to be inspected, whether the property is vacant or occupied, commute distance, and other factors. Our average fee for a home of 2,500 - 3,000 square feet, built on a slab, with no pool/spa/sprinklers, including termite inspection, is between $345 and $395. These fees are regarded as average for an established home inspection company in the Austin area.

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HOW FAST WILL MY REPORT WITH DIGITAL COLOR PHOTOS BE IN MY HANDS?

Almost all of our reviews with our clients do not even begin until hard copies of the report are ready.

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MY HOME ISN'T ACTUALLY IN AUSTIN, BUT IS NEARBY; WHAT IS YOUR SERVICE AREA?

We serve an area roughly defined as a 50-mile radius from downtown Austin; on occasion, we will go further.

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CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE "REVIEW WITH CLIENT"?

Every home inspection report contains a great deal of information. Not all of it is equally important. We spend the time you need to understand the relative importance of the various items cited, with realistic feedback to give you the confidence to proceed with the next stage of your purchase.

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HOW DO I SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT?

All of our contact information can be found on our Contacts page. We highly recommend calling us on the first day of your option period to maximize your chances of getting the exact appointment that works best for you.

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IS MY ATTENDANCE AT THE INSPECTION NECESSARY?

The best result is obtained by your personal meeting and review with the inspector at the close of the inspection, but it is not required. You are certainly welcome to be present during the inspection process and report preparation, although most people tend to become bored watching the inspection take place. Often buyers use this time to take a more rigorous inspection of the home and perhaps make measurements of rooms and openings.

At the close of report preparation, our inspector will spend all the time with you that is necessary for you to thoroughly understand the report and your alternatives. Following the report review, should later questions arise, we are happy to answer your additional questions by phone, or if necessary, at the inspection site.

If you are unable to attend the inspection, our out-of-town clients have found our ability to effectively conduct telephone reviews very easy to understand. Many of our recent clients who are real estate investors from California have found this service to be particularly valuable.

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WHAT RISKS DO I TAKE BY NOT GETTING A HOME INSPECTION?

Bear in mind that your agent's opinion of your home's value, along with your appraisal, only reflect its value relative to other homes that appear to be similar, are in the same general area, have the same type of construction, etc.

Usually the largest issues that will not be noticed by the untrained eye, latent defects, are related to the foundation (repairs can range from $5,000 to $50,000), roofing (repairs can range from $3,000 to $15,000) and air conditioning/heating (repairs can range from $2,500 to $10,000). In addition to these large issues there may be numerous lesser issues.

Failing built-in appliances, poor grade (exterior soil slope) conditions, unstable general soil conditions, hidden plumbing leaks, poor quality electrical work, subtle indications of original poor construction, etc. can easily also result in sizeable hidden expense.

With the information gained from a thorough, professionally performed home inspection, your ability to avoid untold negative surprises, significantly lower your purchase price and accurately budget for future expense all come pleasantly into focus.

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I HAVE AN UNCLE WHO WAS IN CONSTRUCTION; WHY DON'T I GET HIS OPINION?

Building standards change every year; valuable third-party structural evaluation involves as much art as science. Experience at skilled evaluation of 400 to 600 homes per year is far more important than experience at building 3 to 4 houses per year.

Case in point: If you needed gall bladder surgery, would you prefer to go to a surgeon or to your family doctor?

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WHAT HAPPENS IF MY DISHWASHER GOES OUT SIX MONTHS AFTER I MOVE IN? WILL THE INSPECTOR PAY FOR IT?

Your home inspection should be viewed as an expert, independent third-party opinion of the home and its various systems. In this way, it is similar to having a physical examination by a doctor. Continuing guarantees against failure by mechanical systems is covered by your Home Warranty policy, the first year of which is normally paid for by your seller.

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I'M BUYING A HOME IN THE COUNTRY WITH A SEPTIC SYSTEM; IS IT INCLUDED ON YOUR INSPECTION?

Your TREC-licensed home inspector may choose to offer septic inspections. However, his inspection of the septic system is usually what is called a "walk-over" inspection. This costs almost as much as an inspection by a qualified, reputable septic system contractor, who opens the tank, examines the leech field design and layout, and, preferably pumps the system.

Again, if you needed surgery, would you go to a surgeon or your family doctor?

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WE'RE BUYING A HOME WITH A CRAWL SPACE UNDER IT (Pier and Beam); DO YOU INSPECT THIS TYPE OF HOME?

Assurance Inspections inspects homes built with pier and beam construction at a nominal surcharge; very few home inspectors in the Austin area are willing to inspect homes of this type.

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I HEARD THAT SOME HOMES IN THE AUSTIN AREA HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO FOUNDATION MOVEMENT; DO I NEED TO SPEND $500.00 FOR A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER'S REPORT?

At Assurance Inspections, our experience of 20,000+ past inspections has given us excellent diagnostic skills in foundation evaluations. If indicators appear to be marginal, we can recommend several reputable and established local foundation contractors who will provide a detailed and qualified opinion, usually quickly and at no charge.

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I KNOW THAT AS A LICENSED INSPECTOR, YOU CAN'T PERFORM REPAIRS ON MY HOME? CAN YOU REFER ME TO PEOPLE I CAN TRUST?

Assurance Inspections has great contacts with established, reputable companies representing all trades that we are happy to share with you.

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I'M BUYING A DUPLEX/TRIPLEX/FOUR-PLEX/SMALL COMMERCIAL BUILDING; DO YOU INSPECT THOSE, TOO?

We have many years experience with those properties, and we perform several inspections of that sort every month.

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WHY SHOULD I HAVE A NEWER HOME INSPECTED?

The assumption that a newer structure cannot have significant problems can indeed be a very expensive assumption.

Subtly-disguised poor workmanship or hidden substandard materials are, regrettably, still a problem within the building industry. The experienced eye of a professional home inspector with past residential construction experience can save you untold expense and heartache. ...read more

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HOW DO I HANDLE UNEXPECTED NECESSARY REPAIRS? CAN THE INSPECTOR PERFORM THESE REPAIRS SINCE HE UNDERSTANDS THE PROBLEMS?

Learning the previously unknown issues with your proposed new home may enable you to intelligently negotiate a lowered sale price and/or seller-financed repairs.

Due to our years of experience, we can offer accurate opinions regarding scheduling repairs: Which ones should be addressed immediately? Which ones can be deferred and for how long?

TREC Law forbids licensed home inspectors to perform repairs on homes they have inspected due to the inherent conflicts of interest. However, we can and regularly do offer referrals to established, reputable tradesmen we know to perform quality work at reasonable prices in a timely manner.

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