WHO WE ARE

Assurance Inspection Services has deep roots in Austin and central Texas. Although the home inspection business has only been recognized as such since the mid- to late 1980s, we began professionally inspecting houses in March of 1978. Since then we have performed over 20,000 structural inspections for homeowners, prospective buyers, investors, and building contractors.

Your Inspector is Sam B. Guynes, who has over 30 years of well-rounded experience in all phases of residential and small commercial construction, performing professional Structural Inspections in both California and Texas.  Don’t take our word for it, take a look at the Testimonials Section of this site and see what our customers have to say.  The tag-line “A Positive, SOLUTION-ORIENTED approach to Home and Termite Inspections” says it all.   

We perform our home and termite inspections within a 50-mile radius of downtown Austin. Our typical client is purchasing a high-end property, has owned three to six homes in the past, and has a solid understanding of what home ownership and maintenance entails. At the same time, we are delighted to help clients who are just starting out make the important decisions necessary to invest in their very first home. Helping new purchasers evolve from nervous to confident, informed prospective buyers is one of the joys of our profession.  

Our commitment is to perform a limited number of inspections weekly in order to provide our clients the highest level of service. This also ensures that we will have the maximum amount of time with our clients to help them fully understand the various issues and remedies available.

Selecting an Inspector

Choosing and purchasing our homes is one of the most important decisions we make during our lifetimes. Austin home buyers are particularly fortunate; the licensing process in Texas, as well as the inspection standards required, rate among the highest in the nation. The Austin area has a large number of home inspection companies from which to choose; if you are new to this area, you really need to feel comfortable with the company you choose!

The first step, and one you will probably already have taken, is to have a qualified, professional, and service-oriented realtor who represents you. Your realtor will usually have a preferred list of home inspectors with whom they have had excellent experiences and from whom they have received excellent service.

Poll the people you know who have recently moved to our area for their experience. They may be people with whom you work, or perhaps in your company's HR department.

Consult with local information centers, such as the Better Business Bureau and/or other reputable rating services.

Interview the inspector and learn key information, such as:

1. What is his background? How long has he been involved in his industry? Has he been directly involved in building and remodeling homes, or is his experience confined to performing inspections?
2. Is the inspector licensed to perform your termite inspection, or will you need to hire a separate inspector for that service?
3. Will he provide you with a computer-generated, professional quality report with high resolution digital color photos at the inspection site itself, or will you have to wait for an emailed copy?
4. Most modern inspectors can easily send you an e-mailed copy or show you a hard copy of a recent inspection (with the prior approval of the past client); ask for one or more of these to help you determine his degree of thoroughness and the understandability of his reports.
5. Perhaps most importantly, ask for a list of the inspector's past clients who will be willing to talk with you about their experiences.

Inspection preparation for home sellers.

You may be asking, "Why should I have a home inspection when the buyer is sure to order one of his own?"

If you choose not to have a pre-sale inspection, you risk being blind-sided by the results of the buyer's inspection. By having your own inspection you will be fully prepared for the results of the buyer's inspection and can correct any issues in advance. This improves your chances of a relatively trouble-free transaction.

Offer to be available to the inspector (in person or by telephone) to help answer possible questions such as "mystery" electrical switches, for which the purpose may not be readily apparent ("sticky notes" are easy to use and helpful). Also, disclose any past structural, roof, water penetration repairs, electrical improvements, foundation work, and other updates so they can be fully examined and addressed. Having a thorough and professional pre-sale inspection available can often give the buyer the extra confidence!

Pre-inspection Check list

1. Make sure that your home is neat, clean and orderly. Digital pictures are often taken during the inspection process, and background clutter may be un-flattering.
2. Have all necessary keys easily accessible.
3. Clear the areas leading to attics, crawl spaces, water heaters, HVAC equipment, electrical panels, etc.
4. Provide a copy of a seller's disclosure or a satisfactory equivalent; after all, your home cannot speak for itself.
5. Dogs and inside cats should be removed for the period of the inspection.
6. Copies of past home inspections and termite inspections can be an important aid in verifying that past problems have been corrected.
7. Ask the inspector what items are frequently accepted "as-is" by most buyers; ask for estimated values of recommended repairs.