Home Inspections and Appraisals
When you’re buying a home, an appraisal is required by the bank to make sure the home is worth the amount of money you are borrowing. The appraisal is based on certain factors such as location, square footage, and age of the property. An inspection may be done on the house before it goes for sale, but an inspection done by a qualified inspector like Big Moose Home Inspections will give you a more detailed understanding of what needs to be fixed and can also help with negotiating a lower price on the property.
A home inspector will look at all aspects of the property inside and out including:
- Roofing
- Walls
- Ceilings
- Insulation
- Plumbing
- Electrical systems
- Heating and cooling systems
- Windows and doors
- Sidewalks, driveways, and patios.
- They will also inspect for any signs of water damage or pests.
The report from your inspector can be used as ammunition when negotiating with sellers because it shows that you’re serious about buying their house and that you have already had it inspected for any potential problems. It can also help in getting your mortgage approved since your lender wants to ensure that they are lending money on a sound investment.
Types of Inspections
Big Moose Home Inspections offers 2 different types of inspections: The first one is called “The Walk–Through” which includes an exterior examination of all accessible areas including roofing materials & eaves vents/gutters & downspouts), site drainage (including swales), foundation & framing (checking for bowing or warping), grading around building(s) entrances & exits (to check slope away from buildings helps prevent water infiltration), windows/doors & porch construction). This inspection takes about 1 hour 15 minutes – 1 hour 30 minutes per building examined. The second type is Full Inspection which includes everything in The Walk–Through + interior evaluation including checking ceilings/walls/floors for water stains or damage) carpets/flooring(including under furniture)countertops cabinets appliances etc). This inspection takes about 3 hours – 4 hours per building inspected.
Inspection time does not include time spent climbing ladders or crawling in tight spaces! If there are items found during the inspection which require further explanation or clarification (such as possible code violations), we take photos so we can email them to our clients along with our reports!
Give us a call here at Big Moose Home Inspections for your next home inspection. You and your family’s safety is our top priority. Dial 800-531-0233 to schedule your home inspection today!
