• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Home Spectors Inspection Services

Home inspections in greensboro, raleigh, and surrounding areas.

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Why Us?
    • What to expect
    • Veterans
    • Employment
    • Blog
  • Services
    • What’s Inspected
    • Termite Inspection
    • Radon Testing
    • Mold Testing
  • Report
  • Schedule
  • Realtors
    • CPE Certification
  • Resources
    • Maintenance
    • Seller Checklist
  • Contact Us

Two Great Offers

July 12, 2021 by Jason Michael

TWO GREAT OFFERS

Greensboro home inspector, home inspection Raleigh, Durham home inspections
Schedule Now

Two Great Offers

Walk Through Consultations

The Home Spectors Walk-Through is a quick consultation with an inspector to visibly observe the condition of the property before making an offer on a home. Instead of the client taking a chance on losing their Due Diligence Fees or any Earnest Money Deposits for a home in an unknown condition. You can have clients present stronger offers based on the condition observed during a walk through.

The consultation will provide an extra set of trained eyes to identify issues with the property during a quick showing. This is not to be confused with a home inspection, nor should it replace the home inspection. The fee for the walk through is 1/4th the cost of the home inspection but is applicable to the full price of the home inspection should the client have the winning offer.

$100 Coupon

This market has been difficult for everyone. With this in mind, Home Spectors is continuing our $100 Coupon for clients that purchase a home inspection with the addition of any of our other services, such as termite inspection, radon testing, pool inspection, etc... 

Home Spectors is the highest rated home inspection company in the state with nearly 2000 reviews.

Our inspectors wear uniforms and drive wrapped vehicles to show the levels of professionalism clients expect.

Inspectors are trained to provide clients necessary information without scaring them.

Give us 10 percent of your trust and we will earn the other 90 percent.

Covid Coupon 100

April 26, 2021 by Jason Michael

COVID Home Inspection Coupon

Good afternoon,

I hope you are experiencing a great day so far. We at Home Spectors know these are trying times for our community. In effort to give back, we're attaching a $100 Coupon to all of our valued clients and agents. We have heard some buyers are waiving inspections, which increases everyone’s liability. So, we have made some changes to help make the inspection process even easier for agents and buyers.

What changes? At Home Spectors we provide the following to ensure the transaction goes as smoothly as possible.

  • Now offering walk-thru inspections. We will meet your client at the home prior to the offer and give them a verbal run down on the condition. Then the client knows how much to offer and our fee will go towards the full home inspection cost should they win the bid.
  • We allow payment at closing, so there is less for the client to do upfront.
  • Home Spectors is available to inspect evenings and weekends. Most companies are not.
  • Same day reports and the agent can complete repair request while viewing.
  • Warranty on nearly every aspect of the inspection. Including 1 year structural and 5 Year Roof Warranty!
  • Provide necessary information, without scaring clients.
  • Same day reports and option to complete repair requests while viewing report.
  • Nearly 24/7 customer support with office staff.
  • Our Agents receive fast scheduling year round.
  • We are the areas highest rated inspection company with over 1200 reviews.

Our team is also COVID-19 Certified in addition to our enhanced safety procedures. 

Please let us know how our team of trained experts can help you! We love our clients and we love our community. If you already have a great relationship with a home inspector, we respect and understand that, I only ask that we be considered a back up. Hopefully we will earn that spot soon. Give us 10 percent of your trust and we will earn the other 90 percent.

 

Greensboro home inspector, home inspection Raleigh, Durham home inspections
Greensboro radon, Raleigh radon, Durham radon
C8AB8022-9B2E-4C99-ACB9-78990135E41C

Holiday Home Safety Tips

November 12, 2018 by Jason Michael

Holiday Home Safety Tips

greensboro home inspector, raleigh home inspection, winston salem home inspectors

By Jason Michael 

The winter holidays are a time for celebration. This includes more cooking, more decorating, more entertaining, and with that, an increased risk of fire and accidents. With proper preparation and forethought, your holiday season can be safe and enjoyable. The following is a list of guidelines which can help protect your family and friends. 

Lighting 

  • Whenever possible use flame-resistant, flame-retardant, and non- combustible lighting and materials.  
  • Keep candles away from combustible materials. 
  • Inspect previously used light strings. Replace damaged items before plugging in lights. 
  • Keep children and pets away from light strings and electrical decorations. 
  • Be sure lights used on the exterior are certified for outdoor use. 
  • Plug all outdoor lighting into a GFCI receptacle.  
  • Turn all lights off when going to bed or leaving the house to reduce the risk of fire. 

Decorations 

  • In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp and breakable.  
  • When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the fire-resistant label. 
  • When purchasing a real tree, look at freshness to reduce the risk of fire. 
  • When setting up a tree at home, place it away from all heat sources. 
  • Make sure the tree base is stable to avoid tip over. 
  • Keep tree stands full of water to avoid them drying out. 

Children and Pets 

  • Poinsettias are known to be poisonous to humans and animals, so keep them well out of reach. 
  • Keep decorations at least 6 inches above a child's reach. 
  • Watch children and pets around fireplaces and space heaters and never leave them unattended. 

Holiday Entertaining 

  • Unattended cooking is the leading cause of house fires. When cooking for visitors be sure not to leave the oven unattended. 
  • Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.  
  • Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for proper function. 

Security 

  • Use your home alarm system. 
  • If you plan to travel for the holidays, don’t discuss your plans with strangers or post on social media. 
  • Have a friend or neighbor keep an eye on your home. 

 

 

All of us at Home Spectors wish you a joyous and safe Holiday Season!

Should seller(s) be present for a home inspection?

October 1, 2018 by Jason Michael

Should seller(s) be present for a home inspection?

Seller at home inspection, Greensboro home inspector, Raleigh home inspections

There are very few situations that can interfere with a home inspector’s routine like a scowling seller. In fact, I have had sellers follow me around during the home inspection, asking me frequently what I was writing up. And even arguing by stating there is nothing wrong with that item that I’m inspecting. Most people are proud of their homes and you can’t blame the seller for being upset that you are writing up every little defect. A seller being present during the home inspection isn’t always a negative thing, it’s situational, dependent on who else is also present.

When the buyer does not attend the inspection, it’s generally not a problem if the seller is present for the inspection. In many instances, it’s convenient to have someone to talk to or even ask questions about the area or home. Most inspectors like talking to people. I, for one, ask a ton of questions and like to build a good rapport with seller. Often times the seller will then use our company to inspect their next home. I even had one such instance where the client showed up and said “Home Spectors! I hated you guys when I sold my home, but I knew I had to use you when we bought”. 

In situations where the buyers will be attending the inspection, which is the majority of the time, most home inspectors would appreciate the sellers leaving. A home inspection can already be a nerve-racking time for the seller. Then enter the buyer, a stranger, walking around the home and pointing out defects. Sellers can become angry or defensive, and often times can’t help themselves from interjecting while the inspector is speaking with the buyers. Sometimes the sellers will begin to challenge the home inspector in front of the buyers which can make for a very uncomfortable situation.  

In most cases, the inspector will stand behind their recommendations and opinions, but it’s a huge waste of the client’s time if the inspector spends half the time talking to the seller. The sellers should not be present during the home inspection for all the same reasons the sellers aren’t present for showings. Buyers will often have questions about defects during the inspection which can only be answered out of earshot of the seller, as the buyer owns the information from the home inspection.  

The most common reason that I’ve heard agents advise their sellers to be present during the home inspection is so they can answer any questions the inspector may have. The simplest solution that I have for this is for the seller to leave their phone number and/or a note with any  information that would be beneficial for the inspector or buyers to know.

Buyers Should Attend The Home Inspection

August 11, 2018 by Jason Michael

Buyer(s) Should Attend The Home Inspection

greensboro home inspection, home inspector greensboro, raleigh home inspection

When clients schedule inspections with our company, a common question asked is, “Should we attend the home inspection? The answer is a resounding “Yes”! When buyers attend the inspection, it allows the home inspector to focus on their specific concerns, as well as introduce the client to the components of the home.

We encourage clients to arrive the last hour or so of the home inspection. This allows our inspectors the time to get started and complete some of the smaller tasks associated with a home inspection. It also eliminates some “down time” for the client.

Once the client arrives, we talk about any concerns they may have concerning the home. This gives the inspector a sense of what’s important to them. Some clients are concerned with safety issues for children, some are concerned with the HVAC system. We’ve had a situation when the buyers were planning to remodel the home and were not concerned with moisture damage in a bathroom. A good home inspector learns to read his client to better understand their needs.

When the client attends the inspection, this also allows the inspector time to give tips on maintenance or provide information on repairs or upgrades. The inspector can show the client the basics of operating the home. For example, the main water shut off or electrical panels. There are instances when the inspector can ease a buyer’s mind when what they perceive to be a major concern actually isn’t. In our experience, clients have less understanding of what is done during a home inspection if they are not present. If a client sees how in depth the home inspection process is, it helps to build trust in the home inspector. If the client cannot be present or they live out of the area, we encourage a follow up phone call. The inspector can walk the client through the report, address their concerns, and again, build trust for the home inspection process.

In conclusion, the client should always attend the home inspection when feasible. Attending the inspection will ensure the client has a better understanding of the home inspection process and how the home operates. Also, it gives the inspector an idea of how to tailor the inspection to that individual client. From an agent perspective, deals have been saved simply because the client properly understood the issue and/or the trust earned by the home inspector.

When Something Breaks During A Home Inspection

May 21, 2018 by Jason Michael

When Something Breaks During A Home Inspection

greensboro home inspection, winston salem home inspectors, home inspection burlington

We all know that there are times during the home inspection process that items break. Who is at fault? And how is it corrected?  An example of this was a time when I was performing a pre-listing inspection for a seller. The seller was present during the inspection and water was being ran at the downstairs fixtures. My assistant asked, "Do you hear water coming from the garage?" We immediately proceeded to the garage to check the source of the noise. To our surprise, water was pouring out of the water heater into the garage. The seller soon walked into the garage and asked "What did you do?", as we stood there with stunned looks on our face. Luckily, the water heater was leaking from the inside out, so the seller realized it was nothing caused by these two strangers in her home. However, this is not always the case. Often inspectors are alone inside a home and/or the evidence of what happened is not so visible.  

In most scenarios, when items become damaged during a home inspection it's simply due to routine operation. Examples of this would be the handle of a hose faucet breaking when the inspector turns it on or the garage door bending when opened. These types of occurrences are considered routine operation as this is something that is done by the homeowner on a routine basis. It is the inspector's job to test the components fully and it is actually best for the client if it breaks during the inspection. Consider this: If it would break for your clients on the day they move into the house then it is not the inspector's responsibility to repair or correct. If it breaks prior to the buyer moving in, then the seller would be responsible for fixing the issue as the defect occurred during normal use.  

We are all human and inspectors sometimes make mistakes or have accidents. Recently, one of our inspectors broke the glass on the fireplace door when it slipped out of his hand. Other examples of the home inspector being at fault, would be if they let water from a fixture overflow onto the floor, causing damage, or putting their foot through the ceiling while inspecting an attic. Most reputable home inspection companies will take care of these types of accidents or misjudgments immediately and are obligated to make the seller or clients whole. 

Agents can also assist in ensuring items do not become damaged during the home inspection. Often during a home inspection, the agent, buyer(s), friend(s) and/ or family will be present. The home inspector cannot keep his eyes on all parties while trying to perform the home inspection. Once during an inspection an agent, the client, and several children were present. An angry seller called wanting to know why the inspector broke his wall mounted mirror. The inspector could only assume one of the children pulled the mirror out while playing inside the home. Unfortunately, this can become an issue of "he said, she said" which is not fair to any of the parties involved. 

Try to remember, it is the inspector's job, in some ways, to break things during a home inspection if it's routine operation. It's much better for the buyer to have these items be repaired prior to closing, then move in and they break the first time that they try to use them.  

 

Got Mold?

May 2, 2018 by Jason Michael

Got Mold?

 

Over the last few years, mold testing and remediation has become more prevalent in the sale of a home. Because of this, it is important for real estate agents to have a basic knowledge about mold to better assist your clients.  

The key to the prevention of mold is moisture control. If high levels of moisture are present within a home or crawlspace, the first and most important step is to stop the moisture intrusion. To prevent mold growth, it is important to dry wet or water damaged areas within 24-48 hours. 

Molds are part of the natural environment. Molds are essential in the breaking down of organic matter, such as leaves and fallen trees. Mold reproduces by tiny spores which are invisible to the naked eye. The spores float through the air, both outdoors and indoors. Mold begins growing inside a home when the spores land on wet areas. There are numerous types of molds, but none of them will grow without moisture.  

Mold has the potential to cause health problems. Molds produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold spores can cause allergic reactions to susceptible individuals. Allergic reactions include, but are not limited to, asthma, sneezing, runny nose, and red eyes. The reactions can be immediate or delayed and affect those allergic and non-allergic. You can help protect clients from the potential health effects of mold through testing.  

Testing methods for mold include surface samples and indoor air quality test. The list below shows when it’s a good idea to utilize these testing methods during the due diligence process.  

Greensboro mold, winston salem mold, Burlington mold, mold in house at Greensboro  

When to have a Surface Sample taken: 

 

  • When visible mold (or suspected mold is present. 
  • Where a cleanup or removal of visible mold has taken place. 
  • When a third party will be involved in making repairs to ensure those repairs are done properly.  

 

When to have Indoor Air Quality Test: 

 

  • When a recent or past water event is suspected. 
  • A "musty" smell is noticed.  
  • When buyer or occupants are predisposed to respiratory issues.  
  • Recent mold remediation has taken place to verify the effectiveness.  

 

If testing reveals mold, who should do the cleanup? This depends on a number of factors. One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the area is less than 10 square feet, the seller or a qualified contractor should be able to the handle the job. If the area is larger, it is best to consult with a reputable mold remediation company. When hiring a company for remediation be sure to check references and ask the contractor to follow the recommendations of the EPA, the American Conference of Governmental Hygenists, or other guidelines from professional or government organizations.

Radon: The Basics For Agents

March 14, 2018 by Jason Michael

Radon:The Basics For Agents

We have come to realize that most buyers haven't heard about radon or the danger it poses, primarily because the effects of radon don't manifest until years later. Agents and home inspectors should, at the very least, have a basic knowledge about radon to properly inform home buyers.  

Radon is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless radioactive gas. It naturally occurs from the decay of uranium. There are trace amounts of uranium in the soil all over the world. Some areas have higher concentrations of uranium than others, therefore increasing the chances of emitting radon gas. 

greensboro radon, winston salem radon, Burlington radon

Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. These gas particles aren't harmful until they are breathed in, as the tissue inside the lungs absorbs the particles. Radon is responsible for approximately 21,000 deaths a year in the United States. This is more than six times the number of deaths attributed to house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning combined.  

How does it enter homes? Radon enters homes from the soil through openings and pores. Common entry points are foundation cracks, slab cracks, expansion joints, sump pump basins, openings around plumbing pipes, crawlspaces, and the pores of concrete itself. Homes tend to have what is known as stack effect. A stack effect is the natural rise of air in the home which can cause suction. The suction can draw radon in from the soil which causes higher levels within the home. 

To protect buyers radon testing is recommended on all homes during the due diligence process. DON'T FEAR, the amount of radon in a home is fixable. The EPA has established that 4 pC/iL is the action level to have radon mitigation performed. A radon mitigation system is a permanently installed ventilation system which reduces the levels of radon in a home to within acceptable levels.  

Home buyers and their agents should utilize the testing services of a professional company. Very often it will be a home inspection company which will use the appropriate radon testing device(s) for the situation.  

Deal Killers

February 19, 2018 by Jason Michael

Greensboro home inspector, home inspection Winston Salem, Burlington home inspectors

Home inspectors are often on the receiving end of the term "deal killer".  When examining the reason behind this, one can find valid points to dispute the nickname. An article by Trulia.com cites lack of buyer commitment, low appraisals, and poorly written contingencies as the top three reasons that real estate transactions fall apart. This is not to argue that a home inspection, which reveals major defects, cannot “kill a deal”. Let's just take under consideration that the most common failure in a real estate transaction is not the inspection.  

Real estate agents and good home inspectors can minimize the shock that buyers often feel after a home inspection is completed. The best way, in my opinion, is to set proper expectations and education. Today's home buyers are often unprepared for the home inspection process. They do not understand how a home functions and they did not grow up helping their parents make repairs around their home. As stated in last month's article, this generation of buyers also have higher expectations. They often believe that the home should be in perfect condition and if not, the seller should make every repair needed to meet that standard. 

Something very important for buyers to understand is that no home is perfect. Whether the home was built in 1920 or 2017, there is a great likelihood that defects will be noted. Most often, the defects in a 2017 home would be small and simple to repair, whereas, the 1920 home could have more costly defects. An inspection report will list all defects found at the time of inspection and it's up to the agent and the home inspector to help the buyer navigate through the report.  

I remember when home inspection reports were roughly 12 pages and that included pictures. Home inspection reports today are often 40-60 pages and may include videos, thermal images, aerial photos, and even sewer scopes. Buyers also have online access to information, such as building or improvement permits, tax information and even insurance claims. This information overload can affect a home buyer's decision-making skills.  

The home buyer may have difficulty discerning between minor and major issues on the inspection report. The home inspector and real estate agent should review the report with them and answer any questions they may have. Buyers need to understand that not all the defects on the inspection report have the same urgency for repair and it is highly unlikely that the seller will fix all the minor defects. It is important when looking through the home inspection report and preparing the repair request list to differentiate the minor repairs from the major ones.  

It's also important for home buyers to understand the maintenance that comes with home ownership. No home is maintenance free, and of course, the older the home is, the more maintenance the buyer will inherit. This ensures that the buyer has all the necessary information to make an educated decision on the home right for them, as some buyers may not be in a financial position to maintain an older home. 

In conclusion, a better educated buyer will be able to make a decision that is right for them on asking for repairs and moving forward with the purchase of a home. Real estate agents that understand the home inspection process will also understand that it is the condition of the home and the inability to get repairs completed and not the actual home inspector that kills deals.  

Home Inspector Makes Shocking Discovery

August 9, 2017 by Jason Michael

Home inspector makes shocking discovery

One of our inspectors "Greg", made a shocking discovery after opening an electrical panel at a home he was inspecting in Greensboro. A neutral wire inside the panel was arcing and the protective sheathing on the wire was already scorched. This is a perfect example of how a home inspection can save a home or even a life. A wire arcing inside of a panel has the potential to cause a fire. 

Greg immediately cut the breaker off and alerted the home owner to the issue. The home owner stated "The electrical has been working fine." and didn't understand the sense of urgency. The repair for this issue is likely simple and solved by tightening the lug. 

The problem is people ignore their surroundings. We live in homes by nature and do not evaluate them. A home inspection is a non invasive examination of a home which normally shows minor defects, but sometimes it reveals deadly defects such as this. 

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to Next Page »

Copyright © 2023 Home Spectors Inspection Services. All rights reserved.

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Services
  • Report
  • Schedule
  • Realtors
  • Resources
  • Contact Us