Frequently Asked Questions
(Q) Why Should I Choose Home Quest Inspection?
(A) Home Quest Inspection is a leader in the inspection industry and is a Certified Member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). We use only top of the line equipment for home inspections because we know how important these results are to our clients’ well-being. Our pricing is very competitive within the industry, and we have a very flexible schedule to perform inspections. We are fully insured with General Liability and E & O Insurance. We voluntarily go above and beyond the Connecticut Standards of Practice. We provide one of the best reports in the business. All reports are computerized with digital pictures. We will always support our clients to the best of our ability, before, during, and after the inspection, so the inspection process will be easy for our clients.
(Q) Does A Brand New House Need An Inspection?
(A) Absolutely! Most builders try to provide a high-quality house, but they have to balance that with staying competitive. For builders, it often comes down to ‘survival of the cheapest’. Much work is done by sub-contractors. A construction boom in recent years has caused a shortage of skilled labor. Coordinating schedules between different trades is a juggling act. New products are constantly being introduced into the market adding even more confusion.
Municipal inspectors try to do a good job but they’re vastly overworked, often looking at dozens of houses each day. A thorough home inspection takes hours, not minutes. Municipal inspectors simply don’t have the manpower to find all the construction defects.
(Q) How Much Does A Home Inspection Cost?
(A) The price of the inspection is determined by the size and age of the house and any other buildings. The price of any other additional testing that you want to be performed at the time of the inspection will be added to the price of the inspection. Call Us for a quote. (If you’re a home buyer, it will be helpful to have a copy of the listings available when you call.)
(Q) Why Do Some Of Your Competitors Cost Less?
(A) All home inspectors are not equal. You only have one chance to get a good home inspection. You don’t want cheap — you want the best home inspection possible! Saving a few bucks by using a bargain-priced home inspector could cost you thousands of dollars in repair costs in the long run.
(Q) What’s Included In The Inspection?
(A) A home inspection is a visual evaluation of the major systems in the house including structure, roof, exterior, heating/cooling, plumbing, electrical and the interior. As long as it’s safe and accessible we’ll walk on roofs, enter attics and crawl spaces, remove access panels and operate the equipment. We’ll look at every room in the house, exceeding the Connecticut Standards of Practice.
(Q) May I Attend The Inspection?
(A) Yes, you should attend the inspection to get the most benefit. Be suspicious of any inspector who doesn’t want you along during the inspection.
(Q) When Should I Call To Schedule The Inspection?
(A) As soon as possible after you have a signed purchase contract. We’re often scheduled a week or more in advance, so make sure that your purchase contract has plenty of time for you to get repair estimates for major problems that may show up during the inspection.
For newly constructed homes, schedule the inspection a few days before your walk-through with the builder so that you’ll have our written report in your hands during the walk-through. You should schedule warranty inspections at least a month before your warranty expires.
(Q) How Do I Prepare For The Inspection?
(A) Preparing for the inspection is easy. Be ready to follow us around the home and ask questions about your home. You may want to bring a notepad and pen to take notes. All deficiencies are listed on our reports but there are some maintenance items (i.e. like when to change a furnace filter) that will not be on the inspection report.
(Q) When Will The Report Be Ready?
(A) All inspection reports are completed on the day of the inspection. All of our inspection reports are computerized with digital photos. All inspection reports will be e-mailed the same day. We want you to have a full understanding of the home when you leave the inspection
(Q) What If The Inspection Reveals Problems?
(A) We may find things that weren’t expected. That’s what you want, right? No house is perfect, not even new construction. The report is not a seller’s “Must-Fix” list; it’s just an impartial reporting of condition giving you clear direction for what should be done about each problem. Every situation is different — it’s up to you and your real estate agent to decide how to proceed after the inspection.
(Q) Are There Limitations To The Inspection?
(A) Yes, we can’t see through walls or predict the future! If we could do either of those, we’d be in another line of work earning a lot more money. Keep in mind that a home inspection lasts only a few hours, and it’s not technically exhaustive. A home inspection is not an appraisal or a check for compliance with building codes and it’s not an evaluation for any biological or environmental hazards.
(Q) Do You Offer A Guarantee?
(A) No. Something can look just fine today and still break tomorrow. We do our best to give you the most thorough inspection possible. If you want a home warranty they are available through other sources. Review the warranty carefully to determine what the warranty covers.
(Q) Are You Certified?
(A) I am a Certified Member of The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), the oldest, largest and most respected professional society in the industry.
(Q) What If I Have Questions Later?
(A) Your understanding of the home is my highest priority. You can ask questions for as long as you own your home.
(Q) Will Home Quest Inspect Septic Systems?
(A) Home Quest does not perform septic system inspections. Septic system repairs can be expensive,therefore we recommend that our clients have an independent septic system inspection. An independent septic contractor locate and inspect the septic tank, and check the flow throughout the system. Our office can schedule a septic inspection for when you schedule your home inspection.
(Q) Does Home Quest Inspect Well Systems?
(A) Home Quest will visually inspect the well system equipment and observe the performance of the equipment. However, we do not dismantle the well equipment to determine the condition of the well pump, or perform well water recovery tests. Well water system repairs can be expensive. We recommend that you consider having an independent well system contractor perform a well system inspection. A well system contractor can determine the condition of the well pump, its components, and measure the well water recovery rate for the well. Our office can schedule a well system inspection for when you schedule your home inspection. (There are some limitations to this testing. Many wells installed prior to 1972 have buried well heads (the top of the well). These buried wells have seals that cannot be opened only for inspection, therefore on these wells we cannot due the well water recovery rate)
Forms of payment the Home Quest Home Inspection accepts include:
Cash, Check, Visa, and Master Card