FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
We do have a few price questions we do ask of our clients... But not complicated, more of an informational checklist you should have anyway... What size is the property, garage attached / detached? How about septic, and is there a well or do you have town water / sewer available? Is the potential home occupied or empty? Will you want a radon inspection? ( An odorless tasteless naturally forming gas that can emit from the earth and into the home through small fissures or through wells...Get some information and a radon zone land map of your area of interest... http://ma-radon.info/ http://www.radon.com/radon/radon_FAQ.html Will you need a pest inspection? Recommended! Termite damage are typically the most expensive repair. An energy evaluation? Condo, single family, multifamily, commercial, trailer, log home, lake front, river front, flood prone areas etc. Most of our questions do not necessarily add to any additional costs, but it will give us an idea what kind of equipment we might need and the time it will take to do the inspection and of course scheduling situations... The average home we Inspect is: 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath 1700-2500 sq ft single family home 2 level with an attached garage with a driveway, a chimney for a fireplace / stove as a secondary heat source, town water and sewer hook ups. A basement finished or unfinished. Front and back porches, an attic with a walk up or a tough access entry... Heating systems can vary, but usually gas or oil. Also normally a Realtor accompanies the buyers... Of course we encourage everyone associated with the process to attend the inspection. We will sit for a minute discuss, sign an agreement then get to work. We can work a price after just a few minutes of exchange at first contact...
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
All Massachusetts licensed home inspectors must first be licensed and tested by the state and to complete all required continuing education courses annually to keep their licenses in good order. Additionally Massachusetts home inspectors must be fully insured. Most Massachusetts Home Inspectors are members of varied Home Inspector associations at considerable cost. Many Inspectors choose to go the extra mile to be challenged and also exchange information to keep their edge in an increasingly challenging field. This was not the case not to long ago as licensing was not required. All changes the past 10 years or so definitely come with better services for our property seeking clients.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Many times our clients begin an inquiry by asking "how much do you charge"? There are a few questions we ask back... Size of the home, will you need a radon test, a pest inspection, is there town water & sewer hook up, do you have a Realtor working for you,if you have a Realtor ask for the disclosure...We ask if you are you a veteran or closely related so we can offer a discounted price. Finally what time and where... Most home inspectors are fairly competitive in price. However we advise, and we can augment your inspection report with a good solid home energy audit as well, if you wish. We can bring you up to speed with the latest energy saving links to local, state as well as federal agencies... You can take advantage of many rebates and low cost updates available now as well as the long run. There are zero interest loans offered by the state for example. Many new home energy as well as business upgrades opportunities are available you should know before you move into a potential new home... So now you know what to ask the inspector... We will make the inspection a Q&A tutorial , and an easy to understand visual walk around at your speed with a sit down discussion summery. We as a team will know more about the physical property we inspect together than the present owner in many ways. Followed with a complete unbiased inspection report with summary and recommendations...We will never be finished however, we are with you anytime after the inspection as well... Anytime...