<h2>What exactly is a general home inspection and what does it cover?</h2>
<p style="text-align: left;">Items inspected include:</p>

<ul>
	<li style="text-align: left;">Foundation</li>
	<li style="text-align: left;">Structure</li>
	<li style="text-align: left;">Basement or crawl space</li>
	<li style="text-align: left;">Interior and exterior walls</li>
	<li style="text-align: left;">Siding</li>
	<li style="text-align: left;">Electrical system</li>
	<li style="text-align: left;">Water heater</li>
	<li style="text-align: left;">Heating and air conditioning systems</li>
	<li style="text-align: left;">Fireplace and exterior chimney</li>
	<li style="text-align: left;">Plumbing system and fixtures</li>
	<li style="text-align: left;">Porches and decks</li>
	<li style="text-align: left;">Attic</li>
	<li style="text-align: left;">Roof</li>
	<li style="text-align: left;">Gutters</li>
	<li style="text-align: left;">Slope and Grade on Property</li>
</ul>
The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNachi) gives this definition:
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">A general home inspection is a non-invasive, visual examination of the accessible areas of a residential property (as delineated below), performed for a fee, which is designed to identify defects within specific systems and components defined by these Standards that are both observed and deemed material by the inspector.  The scope of work may be modified by the Client and Inspector prior to the inspection process.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">I.    The general home inspection is based on the observations made on the date of the inspection, and not a prediction of future conditions.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">II.    The general home inspection will not reveal every issue that exists or ever could exist, but only those material defects observed on the date of the inspection.</p>
This is only a very small part of the International Standards of Practice for Performing a General Home Inspection.  If you would like a complete list of these standards please click on this link (<a href="https://www.nachi.org/sop.htm" target="_blank">https://www.nachi.org/sop.htm</a>).  There are a lot of important words in the definition above that need to be emphasized.
<ul>
	<li><strong>Non-invasive:</strong>  we are not allowed to tear apart a property during an inspection, we must leave the property as we find it.</li>
	<li><strong>Visual examination: </strong> a home inspection is not technically exhaustive, we don't have special equipment and testers for every part of a property.  The inspection is primarily based upon visual observations made by the home inspector during the inspection.  It is not possible to technically inspect every appliance, system, etc. of a property during a general home inspection due to a number of factors like time restraints, concealment, cost, etc.</li>
	<li><strong>Accessible areas:</strong>  many times it many not be possible to inspect an area or system because it is concealed in a wall, ceiling, floor, etc.  Accessibility also refers to systems being ready to inspect using normal operating procedures (utilities must be turned on prior to the inspection, valves open, pilot lights lit, breakers on, etc.)</li>
</ul>
Keep the last sentence of the definition above in mind, a home inspection can not and will not reveal every issue a property has or ever could have, it isn't meant to, it can't.  A home inspection will give you more information than you had before the inspection and that will allow you to make a better decision.  It is extremely important that the home inspector, real estate agent, and buyer or seller of a property are all on the same page when it comes to what a home inspection is and what it will provide.   Make sure you ask questions if you are unsure about what a general home inspection is, what it covers, and what it doesn't cover.

<hr />

&nbsp;
<h2>How long does a home inspection take?</h2>
The answer to this question varies depending on many factors, mainly total square footage of the property and the age of the property being inspected. Common sense tells us the bigger a property is, the longer it is going to take to inspect. And, older properties tend to have more issues, so they also take longer to inspect. Many times the listing for a property only states total finished square footage. This number does not include unfinished basements or unfinished utility rooms and storage areas. I prefer to look at the listing for a property (if available) to get an accurate total square footage number so I can plan accordingly. Normally clients show up only for the walk through portion of the inspection. At this time we take care of a small amount of paperwork, then we go through the entire property together, talking about issues, recommendations, concerns, etc. If a client wants to be present for the entire home inspection they are welcome to do so, but most people prefer coming to the property after I have completed the general inspection. On average I am at an inspection for 4 to 6 hours, the walk through portion with the client(s) is 1 to 2 hours.

<hr />

&nbsp;
<h2>Pricing for services</h2>
I do not list pricing on the website for the services I offer.  The inspections I offer all vary greatly in price from one inspection to the next.  I base my inspection pricing on 3 main criteria:
<ul>
	<li>Total square footage of property/home</li>
	<li>Age of property/home</li>
	<li>Where the property/home is located</li>
</ul>
The bigger the home the longer it takes to inspect, so pricing changes according to the size of the home.  Older houses tend to have more issues, so pricing changes according to the age of the home.  And, I cover the entire state of Minnesota, but the further away a house is from me the more time i have invested into the inspection, so pricing changes according to the location of the home.  Because of this I prefer to look at the listing of the property so I can give an accurate quote on the price of the inspection.

You can contact me directly or use the form below to send me a service request online.  Any messages left on my voice mail are answered within 4 hours.  You are also welcome to text me at any time.

<hr />

&nbsp;
<h2>Contact for Inspection</h2>
[gravityform id="1" title="false" description="true"]