General Inspection FAQ's

A home inspection is a visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a home. If you are thinking of buying a house, co-op or condominium, you should have it properly inspected before the final purchase by an experienced and impartial professional home inspector.

The purchase of a home is probably the largest single investment you will ever make.  You should know exactly what to expect - both indoors and out - in terms of repair and maintenance and their costs.  A fresh coat of paint could be hiding serious structural problems.  Water marks in the basement may indicate a chronic seepage problem or may be simply the result of a single incident.  The home inspector interprets these and other clues, then, presents his professional opinion as to the condition of the property before you buy, so you can avoid unpleasant surprises afterward.

Of course, a home inspection will also point out the positive aspects of a home, as well as the type of maintenance that will be necessary to keep it in good shape.  After the inspection, you will have a much clearer understanding of what it is you are about to purchase, and you will be able to make your decision confidently.

If you have owned your home for a period of time, a home inspection can identify problems in the making and recommend preventive measures which might avoid future repairs.

Even the most experienced homeowner lacks the knowledge and expertise of a professional home inspector who is fully educated and who has inspected hundreds, perhaps even thousands of homes in his career.  An inspector is equally familiar with all the elements of home construction and with the proper installation, maintenance and interrelationships of those elements.  Above all, most buyers find it very difficult to remain completely objective and unemotional about the house they really want, and this may lead to a poor assessment.

The inspection fee for a typical one-family house varies geographically, as does the cost of housing.  Similarly, within a geographic area, the inspection fee may vary depending upon the size of the house, particular features of the house, age, special structures, etc.  However, cost should not be a factor in the decision whether or not to have a home inspection. You might save many times the cost of the inspection if you are able to renegotiate the purchase price based on significant problems revealed by the inspector. Consult your lawyer for guidance.

In the inspection field there is a wide range of difference in years of experience, education, credentials, quality of report, and time spent with you; before, during and after the inspection. Remember to compare these when you are comparing price.

No. A professional home inspection is simply an examination of the current condition of your prospective home. It is not an appraisal or a Municipal Code inspection. A home inspector, therefore, will not pass or fail a house, but will simply describe its condition and indicate which items will be (or currently are) in need of immediate (or near future) repair or replacement.

It is a good idea for you to be present. By following the home inspector around the house, by observing and asking questions, you will learn about your new home and get some tips on maintenance in general -- information that will be of great help to you after you've moved in.

If the inspector finds fault in a home it doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't buy it, only that you will know in advance what type of repairs to anticipate. A seller may be willing to renegotiate the purchase price because of significant problems discovered in an inspection. If your budget is very tight, or if you don't wish to become involved in future repair work, you may decide that this is not the house for you. The choice is yours.

Our consultation is dedicated solely to the buyer; our client. We do not discuss the report with anyone else without your permission. We do not sell or share the report with anyone else.

Our inspection presentation is always focused on you, the buyer. The presence of the owner, seller, or real estate agent can be helpful in some cases (especially Buyers Brokers who usually take a more active role in the home inspection process), but will not detract from your inspection or distract our inspector.

We strongly discourage videotaping because:

• When the buyer is videotaping, they are distracted and do not pay adequate attention to the inspector.
• Sellers are generally very uncomfortable having their personal belongings videotaped.  You would have to obtain written permission from the seller(s) / owner(s) for you to videotape their home during the inspection.
• Our report is well detailed - with photos - and extremely thorough.

You will gain a better understanding of the quality of materials used and the workmanship in the building's systems. Just a few examples are:

• Is the exterior detailing complete in siding and trim work?
• Does the exterior appear water tight; sealed with caulking?
• Are roof components properly flashed?
• Are all attic areas thoroughly insulated and ventilated?
• Are the heating system(s) distributing heat evenly throughout the house?

If the home is complete, we could perform the inspection in one visit. 

However, if the home is still under construction with many systems incomplete, you may want our inspector to review the property more than once before your closing. Generally, in a home that is incomplete, we inspect in two phases.

Phase One:  At the first visit, we would review all details of the structure, looking for things like quality of materials, proper installation of roofing and siding materials, priming of painted surfaces, proper grading, proper installation of flashing materials, thorough installation of insulation and ventilation, etc., etc., etc. 

Phase Two: After completion, and before closing we schedule another appointment to inspect systems and components that were not installed or functioning previously. Heating, plumbing, and electrical systems, as well as any items of concern from the first inspection are checked to make sure they have been fixed or finished properly.

Additionally, a home inspector can make helpful suggestions that may improve the property, without impacting overall costs. And, very occasionally, we do see builders that may not be utilizing current technology in their construction practices.   

At Maida Services, Inc. we are fully trained and experienced to evaluate the conditions of the entire spectrum of construction practices - from pre-railroad post and beam to New England farmhouses, through the various methods used in the last 100 years.

Many antiques employ technologies of several eras of structural, electrical and mechanical systems (as the various prior owners invested in upgrading systems and additions to the home). Only a truly competent inspector can confidently and correctly evaluate such issues as:

• the many types of framing techniques and their characteristics (both good and bad)
• heating systems from coal converted hydraulics to the "octopus" (an old hot air duct work design)
• electrical systems in various stages of upgrade

When you hire a Maida Services inspector we will inspect and report on both the interior AND the exterior of the property.

Even though the condo association may (or may not) be responsible for the exterior of the building, you still need to be concerned with it's condition.  Your condo fees are directly related to the condition of the building.  If the condo association has not been doing a good job taking care of the building, there may be major repairs which will eventually have to be addressed.  At that time, your condo fees could go up considerably.

We always encourage buyers to contact the condo association and ask as many questions as possible, such as:

• How much money does the association have in reserve?
• Are any major (or minor) repairs scheduled?
• Does the association expect an increase in condo fees?
• Are there any defects that are currently known in the complex?
• Has there been any radon testing performed and what were the results?
• That is the ratio of owner occupied / rental units?
• Have any potential buyers experienced problems obtaining a mortgage on any of the units because of defects or undisclosed problem

We would help you analyze the information you receive, and also perform a very thorough inspection of the building where your unit is located. We would need access to all common areas. If the heating system and/or electrical panel are in an area that is kept locked, either you, or your Realtor would have to arrange for access, IN ADVANCE, so that we can inspect those components.

Since 1983, our inspector has inspected hundreds of mobile homes and is very knowledgeable and qualified.

Our inspector checks the whole exterior of the structure.  We generally, remove the skirt, get underneath the mobile home and inspect the systems and components in the crawl space, if it is accessible.  All interior and exterior components are thoroughly inspected.

Some towns are more thorough than others when they inspect new construction.   Basically, though, a code inspector (or town inspector) would only inspect the property to be sure that local building codes are followed.

The inspector at Maida Services, Inc. would perform a complete inspection, looking at quality of materials, and many, many other small details, such as:

• proper installation of roofing and siding materials,
• priming of painted surfaces,
• caulking to prevent water penetration,
• proper grading to prevent water problems,
• flashing materials around stairs and decks (which helps to prevent water penetration) ...just to mention a few.