Home Inspections
Everything you need to know about home inspections
What Is a Home Inspection?
A home inspection is a non-invasive examination of a home, normally done during the process of a sale. During a home inspection, a certified home inspector inspects the property for defects that can reveal structural problems, maintenance issues, or safety hazards.
What is a Home Inspector?
A home inspector (in South Carolina, laws vary by state) is an individual who is licensed by the South Carolina Residential Builder’s Commission to perform home inspections. Obtaining this license requires the licensee to perform 50 home inspections under a licensed supervising inspector. They then must complete a 120-hour course, and pass a home inspection examination. As there is no requirement in South Carolina for inspectors to participate in any continuing education, this is where most home inspector’s education ends.
This is not the case at Carolina Premier Inspections. We believe in going above and beyond for our clients, and this includes the training and education of our inspectors. Our lead inspector, Bob Wiggins, regularly travels out of state for continuing education courses, ensuring that our inspectors are always up to date on industry standards and practices.
Furthermore, Bob Wiggins is board-certified as a Certified Master Inspector. This certification requires the completion of 1,000 fee-paid inspections and rigorous adherence to the industry’s toughest code of ethics.
Carolina Premier Inspections has also received the following certifications from Internachi, the International Association of Home Inspectors. These certifications require completing associated courses and participating in yearly continuing education courses.
What Does a Home Inspection Cost?
The cost of a home inspection depends on many factors, including the square footage of the home, the year that the home was built, if the foundation is a slab or a crawlspace, and if there are any detached garages or structures being inspected. For an average home, you should expect to spend between $350 to $400 for an inspection.
To receive a price estimate for a home inspection with Carolina Premier Inspections you can visit our convenient online price calculator here. You can also call/text us at (843) 226 -3640, or email us at info@CarolinaPHI.com to get a price quote directly.
Do I Really Need a Home Inspection?
Yes! A home inspection is an extremely important part of the home-buying process and you should always have one performed before purchasing a home.
Both major and minor defects in a home are easily missed without the correct training and tools. If you purchase a home without having a certified inspector search for these defects, you could wind up responsible for thousands (or more!) in repair and replacement costs.
A home inspection also provides you with valuable information that can help you forecast future costs. In every home, components are aging and will eventually need to be repaired or replaced. After your home inspection, your inspection report will list these major components for you and provide you with their approximate age and expected lifespan. This information can help you plan for future costs so you are ready when they arise.
Furthermore, a home inspection gives you powerful leverage during negotiations! Using the information on your home inspection report you can request repairs, or even negotiate a price reduction or credit. You can never have too much information when it comes to a major purchase!
To repeat, yes, yes , yes, you need a home inspection! Don’t move forward without having a certified inspector look at the home!
What Parts of the Home Are Inspected?
During a home inspection, just about every accessible part of a home, both interior, exterior, and beneath (when applicable), is inspected. A non-exhaustive list of what is inspected is below.
Home Exterior Inspection
Roof Covering
Roof Drainage
Windows
Lot Slope and Drainage
Exterior Cladding
Exterior is Searched for Signs of Water or Pest Infiltration
Foundation
Exterior Mechanical(s)
Exterior Flatwork
Exterior Outlets/Wiring
Home Interior Inspection
All Mechanicals
Infrared Camera Evaluation
Doors, Windows, Ceiling fans, Light Switches, Outlets, etc. Functionality
Microbial Growth
Moisture Intrusion
Plumbing Inspection
Faucets, Shower Heads, and Toilets Functionality
Leaks in Accessible Plumbing Systems
Pressure Testing of Plumbing
Drain/Waste Lines
Branch Piping
Electrical Inspection
Main Electric Panels and Sub Panel Functionality
All Receptacles Voltage Test
Interior Wiring
Smoke and C02 Detectors
HVAC Inspection
Equipment
Duct
Temperature
Appliance Inspection
Refrigerators, built-in dishwashers, Built-In microwaves, and Similar Items Functionality
Attic Inspection
Wildlife evaluation
Roof structure evaluation
Insulation evaluation
Wood-Destroying Organism Inspection
Subterranean termite evaluation
Wood-destroying fungi evaluation
Drywood termite evaluation
Powder Post Beetle evaluation
Carpenter bee evaluation
WDO-related damage evaluation
Moisture evaluation
Walk Me Through a Typical Carolina Premier Inspections Home Inspection
A home inspection with Carolina Premier Inspections is an extremely simple and convenient process.
During an inspection, our licensed inspectors will inspect the exterior, interior, attic, crawlspace, and any attached garages of the structure. This process takes approximately 1 and 1/2 to 3 hours, depending on the square footage and age of the home being inspected. Detached garages and exterior structures like guest suites can also be inspected for a nominal fee.
Your inspection report will be sent to you by email on the evening of the day the inspection is completed. This report will detail all of the findings of the inspection in an easy-to-read format that also categorizes them by severity. The severity ranges from minor concerns, to recommendations, to major safety concerns. To see a sample report from a Carolina Premier Inspections home inspection, click here.
With the home inspection report, you will also receive documentation detailing our six-point warranty package that comes included with all Carolina Premier Inspections home inspections. This package includes structural, mechanical, roof leak, sewer, mold, and termite protection policies.
Ready to Schedule?
Click the button below to visit our convenient online scheduler. You can also call/text us at (843) 226 -3640, or email us at info@CarolinaPHI.com to schedule directly.