Why Get a Home Inspection? What are the Benefits?

Home Inspections are a must for any home buyer. Purchasing a home can be a burdensome task, at a time when you may have doubts, All Points Inspection takes the guess work out of home buying.

You may asked yourself, Why do I need a Home Inspection? What's the benefits?

A Home inspection is a visual diagnosis of the current condition of a property.  Knowing the condition of a property's major systems and it's structural components can be a powerful tool. As the Seller, this knowledge can help you identify the areas of your property that need attention prior to listing and can help you determine a fair selling price. As the Buyer, it can help you avoid costly surprises down the road and may also be used as a negotiating tool that will facilitate a reduction in the price of a property. By obtaining a professional home inspection you can be reassured that you are making a sound investment.

I'm a pretty handy person, can I perform the inspection myself?

Even the most experienced homeowner/handyman can miss potentially costly problems that a licensed and Certified Home Inspection Professional will not.  All Points Inspection, LLC.  draws on 20 years of experience in the construction and property inspection fields. Our inspectors have a vast knowledge base to draw upon during each inspection. We are a fully licensed and insured Nevada State Certified Inspection Company. We have performed hundreds of home inspections and are familiar with the elements of home construction and how components of the home are intended to function.

We provide our clients with an unbiased, professional assessment of the property's condition. You will be made aware of any potential safety issues along with any structural or systems problems that were discovered. Finally, you will be provided with an easy to read report summarizing the inspector's findings and recommendations within 24 hours of the inspection.

OK, I'm convinced! What is examined in the Inspection and how long will it take?

We encourage all of our clients to be present during the inspection process so we can answer any questions you may have and also tell you about routine maintenance that should be performed. The inspection will typically last 2-3 hours depending on the age, condition and square footage of the
property.

Our Home Inspection Services include: 

Foundation and Exterior:
* Site Analysis – This is usually the first step in the inspection. The inspector will make note of the building materials and inspect the condition of the driveways, walkways, grade steps, patios, and other items contiguous with the inspected structure. At this time the inspector will also observe the drainage, grading, and vegetation for conditions that may adversely affect the structure.

* Foundation Evaluation – In additional to identifying the type of structure and material comprising the structure the inspector will make note of the condition and serviceability of visible, exposed areas of foundation walls, grade slab, bearing walls, posts, piers, beams, joists, trusses, subfloors, chimney foundations, stairs, and other similar structural components. The inspector will look for indications of flooding, moisture, or water penetration. He will also observe subfloor crawl space ventilation (where applicable) and vapor barriers; inspect the visible and accessible wooden members; and observe the visible condition of the floor slab (when present).
* Exterior Roof Assessment – The inspector will always make note of the type of roofing and gutters and the overall condition of the visible roof material, rain gutter and downspout system along with the visible portions of the roof flashing's, soffits, fascias, vents, skylights and other roof accessories visible from the exterior. If possible, the inspector will inspect the roof surface from arms-length distance or with binoculars from the ground.

Structural: * Interior Wall Inspection – Once inside the inspector will immediately start observing the visible condition of the walls, ceilings and floors relative to structural integrity and will look for evidence of water penetration and defects. He will also describe the type, material and condition of a representative number of windows, doors and their hardware.
* Roof Structure Analysis – The inspector will inspect the attic and surrounding structures through the attic hatch. He will describe the material comprising the roof structure and the visible attic area and observe the condition of the roof structure and attic components where readily and safely accessible and will note any evidence of past or present water penetration.
* Insulation - During the roof analysis the inspector will also determine the type and presence of attic insulation. Your inspection report will include the approximate thickness of the attic insulation and it’s R-value.

* Electrical Systems – There are many components to a home’s electrical system, they include; entrance of the primary service from masthead to main panel, the main and sub-panels including feeders, and branch circuits, connected devices and finally outlets and lighting fixtures. The inspector will identify the type and location of the primary service, voltage, amperage and over-current protection devices (fuses or breakers). He will determine the existence of connected service grounding cables and observe their condition. The inspector will inspect the main and branch circuits for over-current protection and condition and determine the presence of aluminum branch circuit wiring at the main and sub-panels. The inspector will also test and/or verify operation of a representative number of accessible switches, receptacles and light fixtures and verify grounding and polarity of receptacles in proximity to plumbing fixtures or on exteriors. Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) will also be tested.

* Water Lines & Drains – The inspector will identify the material of the main line and water supply lines and the presence and location of the main water supply valve. He will also identify the type of sanitary waste piping and will observe the condition of accessible and visible water and waste lines. Whenever possible, the inspector will also operate a representative number of fixtures and faucets to ensure functional water flow and drainage.

* Central Air Conditioning Units –Whenever possible the inspector will operate the system using normal control devices to determine proper air flow and temperature output. Your inspection report will identify the type of system and energy sources. The inspector will also observe the condition of the systems controls and operative components along with the condition of a representative number of the central air cooling outlets in each area of the house. 

I just Googled Las Vegas Home Inspection Services to find a Inspector in my area. There are too many to count. How can I determine which one to use?

Whenever you choose a Home Inspection Service, the best rule of thumb is to ask questions before committing to any company. The most important question and the first question that should be asked of an Inspector is, How mush experience that he or she has in the field?  Below we have listed questions that provide a general outline to follow when engaging a inspection service.

Do you exclusively perform home inspection?

You will find that some contractors perform home inspections on the side. They lack the expertise of a certified Home Inspection Professional.

What will be included in the inspection?

Get details on what the Inspector will be looking for. Also insist on a computer generated report for documentation.

What certifications do they have? 

Are they ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NAHI (National Association of Home Inspectors).

Does the inspector have Errors and Omissions Insurance?

Provides protection in case the inspector missed something.

Buying a home is one of largest investment that a person will make in their lifetime. Make sure that you are spending you money wisely. Investing in a home inspection will provide you that peace of mind.  For more information contact us using the information below.

All Points Inspection, LLC.

 Las Vegas Home Inspections Service

Licensed and Insured
 (702) 604-5444 

ron@allpointsinspections.com