Home Inspection FAQ

A standard inspection is a visual, non-invasive examination of the readily accessible parts of the house: structure and foundation, roof covering and drainage, exterior cladding and grading, plumbing supply and waste, electrical service and distribution, heating and cooling equipment, interior surfaces, doors and windows, insulation and ventilation, built-in appliances and life safety items such as smoke alarms. We operate what can be safely operated and report what we can see. It is a snapshot of condition on the day, not a warranty and not a code compliance check. See the home inspection page for the full list.

The honest answer is that it depends on square footage, age, and how much is accessible. A compact newer house takes far less time than a large older one with a full crawl space and multiple systems. Rather than quote an average that may be wrong for your property, call the number for your market and we will give you a realistic window for the specific address. Plan to be there for the last portion regardless, because the walkthrough at the end is the most useful part for you.

Yes, and it is the single best thing you can do with the money you are spending. A report tells you what was found; standing in the crawl space with your inspector tells you what it means and how worried to be. You will learn where the water shutoff is, how the systems work, and which items are routine maintenance versus genuine problems. If you cannot attend the whole thing, come for the last portion so you get the walkthrough. Questions asked on site get answered on site.

Price is driven by square footage, the age of the house, the market it is in, and any additional services such as radon, mold, sewer scope or a pool. We will not publish a single figure here because it would be wrong for most properties. Call the number for your market with the address and square footage and you will get an exact quote, not a range. Bundling services costs less than booking them separately; see inspection packages.

Your inspector confirms turnaround when you book, because it depends on the size of the property and the services included. Every report includes photographs of each finding, a plain description of what it is and why it matters, and a summary that separates significant items from maintenance. You can hand it straight to your agent or a contractor. See sample reports to see exactly what you receive before you book.

Four packages bundle common add-on testing with the home inspection at a lower combined price than booking each separately. Which one is right depends on the house: a property on a well and septic has different risks from a downtown condo. If you are not sure, call and describe the property and we will tell you which services actually apply rather than selling you all of them. See inspection packages.

Yes, and there are three moments worth inspecting. Pre-drywall, once framing, wiring, plumbing and ductwork are in but before insulation closes the walls, which is the only time anyone can see the structure. Before closing, when systems are live and can be tested. And before the first year is up, while the builder warranty still applies. County inspections confirm minimum code at milestones; they are not a quality review on your behalf. See new construction inspection, pre-drywall and 10th month warranty inspection.

Yes, both, with certified inspectors and independent laboratory analysis. Radon is measured with continuous monitoring against the EPA action level of 4.0 pCi/L, and it matters here because parts of the Carolinas sit on geology that produces it. Mold testing combines a visual inspection and moisture assessment with samples analyzed by an outside laboratory, so the result does not depend on our opinion. See radon testing and mold testing.

No. A pool is a second mechanical system with its own pumps, plumbing, surfaces, bonding and safety barrier requirements, and it sits outside the standard home inspection scope. It is booked as a separate service, so mention the pool when you schedule and we will build it into the appointment rather than discovering it on the day. See pool inspection.

A roof can be unsafe to walk because of pitch, height, wet or icy conditions, or a covering that would be damaged by foot traffic. Rather than writing “not inspected” and leaving you with a gap, several of our inspectors are FAA Part 107 certified and can fly the roof, which produces close photographs of the covering, flashing, penetrations and gutters. Tell us if you already know the roof is steep or tall. See drone inspections.

Charlotte, Raleigh and Durham, Greensboro and the Triad, Fort Mill, Rock Hill and Columbia, along with the surrounding towns in those areas. Each market has its own phone number so you reach someone who knows the local housing stock and the county permit offices. If your property is near the edge of one of those areas, call and ask rather than assuming we cannot get there. See service areas.

Yes. Every home inspection carries a 90 day warranty, which you order within 14 days of the inspection. It is worth being clear about what a warranty on an inspection is: it covers the inspection, and it does not turn us into your home insurer or make us responsible for the condition of the house. What it does mean is that we stand behind the work rather than walking away once the report is sent. See warranty.

A standard inspection is visual and non-invasive, so anything concealed behind finished surfaces, buried, or requiring dismantling is outside it. We do not open walls, lift flooring, dig up yards or take equipment apart. Specialized items are separate services rather than omissions: radon, mold, sewer scope, termite, pools, well water and thermal imaging. We also do not price repairs or predict how long something will last. If a finding needs a specialist, the report says so and says which kind.

No. It is not legally required and no lender forces one. It is also the only point in the transaction where somebody with no stake in the sale closing looks at the property on your behalf. Buyers waive inspections in competitive markets and some get away with it, but the risk sits entirely with you and it does not show up until after closing, when every repair becomes yours.

They answer different questions for different people. An appraisal estimates market value for the lender, so the lender knows the property covers the loan. An inspection assesses the condition of the house for you, so you know what you are taking on. An appraiser can walk through a house with a failing crawl space and still return a satisfactory value. One is not a substitute for the other.

Something is found on every house, including new ones, so findings are normal rather than a signal to walk away. The report separates significant items from routine maintenance so you can tell the difference. From there it is a conversation with your agent: request repairs, ask for a credit, renegotiate, or accept it knowingly. Because the report is written and photographed, it carries weight in that conversation in a way a verbal concern does not.

Immediately. Due diligence periods are short and they run whether or not anything is booked, and you need time after the report to get contractor opinions and negotiate. Waiting until the middle of the period is how people end up making a decision on a house without the information they paid for. Call as soon as the contract is signed, even if you are still settling other details. Book at schedule an inspection.

Yes. A condo inspection concentrates on the unit you are buying and reports on the common elements we can see, because those drive your dues and any special assessments. A townhome usually sits closer to a standard house inspection because you typically own the structure and roof above your own unit. Access to roofs and mechanical rooms often has to be arranged with the association in advance, so tell us when you book. See condo inspection.

Yes, wherever it is safe and accessible to do so. This matters because the crawl space and the attic are where the most expensive problems reveal themselves first, and they are the two areas most easily skipped. If we cannot get in, the report says so and says why, whether that is standing water, a sealed access, insufficient clearance or an animal in residence. You should never receive a report that quietly leaves them out. See crawl space and structural inspection.

Yes, and buyers do it routinely. A written report with dated photographs is evidence, which is a different thing from raising a concern verbally at a walkthrough. What you should not do is hand over the whole document and ask for everything in it to be fixed, because that includes normal maintenance and tends to make a seller defensive. Work with your agent to focus on the significant items.

Yes. Home inspectors in North Carolina are licensed by the state, and our inspectors carry the certifications listed on their profiles, including mold, radon, infrared thermography and sewer scope. You can see each inspector, their licenses and their certifications on the team page. If you want to know who is coming to your inspection, ask when you book.

If you are the buyer, very little: turn up. If you are the seller or occupant, the useful things are practical. Make sure utilities are on, because systems that cannot be energised cannot be tested and will be reported as not inspected. Clear access to the electrical panel, water heater, furnace, attic hatch and crawl space entrance. Unlock gates and outbuildings, and secure pets. Every blocked access becomes a gap in your report.