Can I come too?

Can I come too?

That is a question I hear all too frequently. It never fails that a customer asks if they can accompany me on the inspection. My immediate response, "yes". Any inspector that tells you "no", I would strongly recommend interviewing a few other inspectors until you find the right one.

Think of it this way, purchasing a home is a HUGE investment. Wouldn't you want to see and learn everything about that investment before you sink your hard earned money into it? I know I would. If your a first time home buyer you need to be present at the inspection, even if you have to take vacation from work - be there when the inspector is combing through your investment. Sure you'll have a report to look at after the inspection, but nothing beats being onsite with the inspector. This way if you have any questions or concerns about the house, you can ask immediately.

Many people think an inspection passes or fails. That's so far from the truth it's not even funny. A professional inspection is designed to educate you about your new or existing home. Home inspectors complete continuing education classes each year, this keeps them abreast on new building technology and safety issues within the home. I'll use a simple water heater as an example: to many it's the big tank in the basement that supplies hot water to the entire house. To an inspector 9 out of 10 times it's a major safety issue that homeowners are not aware of. If it's a gas unit, is it vented properly? Is there a drip-leg installed on the gas line? Is it installed in a garage? If so, is it 18" off the floor? These along with many, many other safety guidelines are key in water heater safety.

So just think, that's only the water heater. What about all the other systems in a house? How much do you know about them? If you answered "not much", you need to make sure you attend your next home inspection. It could save you financially, and could also save your life. If your inspector isn't very talkative during the inspection, make him talk by asking questions.

With Colby Home Services my past clients can vouch that I encourage their questions during the inspections and long after the inspection. It's very common to answer a question 12 months after they have moved in, it's part of my customer satisfaction. "All my customers are returning customers"

Brian Doles - Atlanta, GA

Colby Home Services