Atlanta Home Inspection-certified member ICC,

HOMEINSPECTIONSATLANTAGA.COM   

SERVING ATLANTA 50 MILE RADIUS: ATLANTA-EAST-WEST-NORTH-SOUTH-AFFORDABLE RATES

WE ALSO PERFORM LEAD,MOLD,RADON TESTING!

A home  inspection is a non-invasive visual examination of a residential dwelling, performed for a fee, which is designed to identify observed material defects within specific components of said dwelling.  Components may include any combination of mechanical, structural, electrical, plumbing, or other essential systems or portions of the home, as identified and agreed to by the Client and Inspector, prior to the inspection process.

A home inspection will not reveal every concern that exists or ever could exist, but only those material defects observed on the day of the inspection.An Inspection report shall describe and identify in written format the inspected systems, structures, and components of the dwelling and shall identify material defects observed. Inspection reports may contain recommendations regarding conditions reported or recommendations for correction, monitoring or further evaluation by professionals, but this is not required.The Home inspection sometimes may appears very negative in tone at times.This is not a pass or fail inspection process.The underlying principles of the building codes are looked at as well as fire and electrical safety..

Our inspection complies with the International Residential Codes (IRC) Standards of Practice and the National Association of Home Certified Inspectors' (NACHI) Standards of Practice.

The Inspection is intended to identify major defects within a structure that significantly affect its habitability or that cost in excessive to repair.The structure of a home is not seen in its entirety except during the construction process.Once the home is finished,much of the structure is hidden behind the coverings.The Inspector learns to inspect  structural componects for hidden clues from field experience and continue education those aspects to what is going on under the surface Stem wall cracks can indicate that structure is moving or breaking apart,or imbalaced weight bearing.The inspector is trained to read visible signs.All problems are no alway readily acessible and displacement or indication signs might not being showing any signs at inspection time.

 But even with excellant training and structural knowledge,the inspector is not always able to determine wheather structural defects are present. Sometimes there are no external signs of what going behind the scene. Exterior and interior repairs and patching work can conceal problems within the structure of a home. The home inspector observes all those aspects of the home's structure that are readily available for inspection.

Icc code  inspectors make sure that many different elements of a structure are up to the building standards. They check plumbing, electrical wiring, mechanical features, and the overall structure.The intent for this inspection is to inspect these areas and not cosmetic damage that is visable to the buyer.

Building codes tend to be extremely specific about what materials may be used where and in what way. Little is really left to the discretion of the builder. Sure, design elements can vary, but they all must fit within certain parameters that regulate every aspect of building, from the nature of the foundation, to the size and placement of windows, to what materials may be used to create the shell. The Uniform Building Code does provide for the discretion of the inspector to allow different interpretations of the code, if he feels that the intent of the code is met.

The building codes have become such an arcane maze of requirements that the average homeowner who might do the work himself is baffled and bewildered by them. So the professionals get more work, because they do it all the time; they know what the inspector will allow.International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), a non-profit organization. Over the time and have gotten together with several other similar organizations and come up with a new set of building codes that they are promulgating. These new codes are called the I- Codes, and are intended for use around the world. New building technology installations find there place into the codes so that everybody could benefit from them. It doesn't have to be "all or nothing," where we  have  codes, everybody must comply with them.

The most significant aspects of a property, simply because of the direct and indirect damage that moisture can have on structures. More damage has probably resulted from moisture and expansive soils than from most natural disasters, and for this reason we are particularly diligent when we evaluate site conditions. In fact, we compare all sites to an ideal. In short, the ideal property will have soils that slope away from the house, and the interior floors will be at least several inches higher than the exterior grade. Also, the residence will have gutters and downspouts that discharge into area drains with catch basins that carry water away to hard surfaces. If a property does not meet this ideal, or if any portion of the interior floor is below the exterior grade, we will not endorse it, even though there may be no evidence of moisture intrusion, and recommend that you consult with a grading and drainage contractor.

A proper home inspection takes two to four hours, depending on the size of the property and the complexity of any issues that are uncovered. In addition to a regular home inspection, you might choose to add other inspections to the inspection contingency, including: Home Tips

• Radon. An odorless substance that rises from the ground, radon has been shown to have negative effects on children's development and growth. You can eliminate radon by opening a basement window or introducing a ventilation system, but you need to know if it is there.

• Asbestos. Asbestos is a hazardous material that was frequently used as a fire retardant and as pipe insulation. But asbestos can cause lung cancer, and it is expensive and difficult to remove.

• Lead. Sellers are required to disclose to buyers if there's lead paint in their house. There are inexpensive swipe tests that you can do to verify lead in the paint or water. You also can hire a lead inspector to provide a full report.

• Toxic Substances. If the property is located near a gas station, dry cleaners, dump or other waste disposal facility, you may wish to have a specialist take soil samples to determine if your property is contaminated by toxic substances. You can also send a sample of the water to a laboratory.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR INSPECTOR:

Are you a member of any professional organizations?
Numerous organizations, associations and societies only require payment of the membership fee and possibly an initiation fee to join. Others require that the inspector attend training. Full membership of the Georgia Association of Home Inspectors and the American Society of Home Inspectors requires that Full members perform a minimum 250 inspections, take comprehensive exams and obtain continuing education each year. The Georgia Association of Home Inspectors also requires that Full members be certified in all four disciplines of the International Residential Codes which are Building, Electrical, HVAC, and Plumbing.

For more information, contact: Accurate Home Inspection of Atlanta

1. What code certifications do you have?
   The word “Certified” does not necessarily indicate CODE certified. Some inspectors obtain only the Building Inspector certification and then present themselves as code certified. They omit the plumbing, electrical and mechanical certifications. A qualified inspector should have the ICC® Residential Combination Inspector certification as a minimum.
   
   
   
2. Where did you receive your certifications?
   The International Code Council® is the model code organization that provides meaningful certifications for inspectors in Georgia.
   
   
   
3. How many continuing education hours do you receive each year?
   The minimum should be 20 hours annually.
   
   
4. How long have you been performing home inspections?
   This question is not as important as the qualifications listed above. Quantity does not equal quality. The inspector with thousands of inspections performed according to poor or no standards of practice is not necessarily the equivalent to the CODE certified inspector with several hundred inspections done properly.
   
   
5. How long should my inspection take?
   The inspector may ask you for some information about the home you are purchasing before answering this question. Generally, inspections take a minimum of two hours for a small home on a slab; others can take longer. Factors that may affect the inspection time are age of the home, size, general condition (for example, distressed properties require more time) and whether the home has a basement or crawl space.
   
   
6. Do I need to be present for the inspection?
   Many inspectors will want you to participate in the inspection if possible. Being present is educational and will give you a better understanding of the home. If you are unable to attend the entire inspection, then you should plan to be present for at least the last hour.
   
   
7. What type of reports do you provide?
   Inspection reports of new construction should always include references for all identified code violations. Beware of a very short report or one that consists of only checklists. Some reports may be extensive but contain a considerable amount of generic information not specific to your home. Many times explaining the defect or deficiency is as important as noting that it exists.
   
   
8. Can I call you if I have questions after the inspection is completed?
   The answer should be YES! Most good inspectors rely on referrals from satisfied clients for future business. Answering follow-up questions is a great way to stay in touch with clients and to ensure customer satisfaction.
   
   
9. How much will my inspection cost?
   Notice, this is the very last question to ask. If the inspector is not qualified, you will not get this far so don’t waste your time. The inspector may have enough information from the questions and answers regarding the time, but he or she may also ask about specific equipment, such as how many HVAC systems are present, etc. before answering the question. Generally, you should expect $245 to $320 for a basic three-bedroom, two-bath home less than 20 years old. However, type of construction and other factors may result in a higher price. Generally, veteran inspectors will quote higher prices as they are more experienced and often will take additional time to perform a more thorough inspection. Unfortunately, more knowledge does not necessarily result in quicker inspections. If you are getting prices that seem too good to be true, ask yourself what part of the inspection is the inspector leaving off in order to give you a lower price? http://www.findmeaninspector.com