As a home buyer, you should examine your inspector’s standards of practice. Check whether your inspector is a member of a professional inspection organization. Otherwise, your inspection report may not follow recognised standards. If your inspector has no certifications, another inspector is advisable.
My inspection reports describe all the major home systems, their crucial components, and their operability. Furthermore, my reports include the systems in which failure can result in dangerous or expensive-to-correct conditions. All defects are well described. In addition, my inspection report includes both defect and maintenance recommendations.
Home inspections are visual non-intrusive. Therefore, the parts of the home hidden below the floor and inside the walls cannot be inspected. Areas above ceilings may be also not be inspected if adequate safe access to the area is unavailable. My inspection report will tell you what has and has not been inspected.
Home inspections are not technically exhaustive. For example, the inspector will therefore not disassemble an air conditioner to examine the compressor.
Finally, Standards of Practice identify both the requirements and the limitations of a home inspection and the report.
Imagine What Can Happen If You Don’t Have A Home Inspection!
Do not let this happen to you! Be wise! Rather have one of my property inspections, such as a Comprehensive or Critical Home Inspection in Gauteng or part of the North West province!
Why use THE HOME DETECTIVE for your home inspection?
Firstly, you will have the best and most detailed home inspection report in Gauteng! You not only get a defect report with recommendations, but you also get an inspection report detailing future maintenance issues! Moreover, my inspection reports include advice for repairs and maintenance, which is helpful if you are a DIY enthusiast or handy around the house!
Undoubtedly, without a home inspection and report, you are at risk! This is especially true with the “Voetstoots” clause in the “Offer to Purchase“!
At The Home Detective, I understand how stressful it is to buy a new home. A home is not just what it appears to be on the surface. It can consist of more than 500 components, some very complex. This includes the roof, windows, doors, structural concrete, brickwork, framework, and components such as electrical, plumbing, cooking, heating, and air conditioning systems.
Minor cosmetic repairs are usually acceptable when considering a home for purchase. However, it would be best to ensure that everything beneath the surface is in good shape.
How can I help you
I will help you reduce stress and uncertainty when looking for a new home. I will help you choose the right property. My Comprehensive or Critical Home Inspection will help reduce the risk of buying a house with structural defects, leaks, dampness, and other defects.
Furthermore, I work only for you! My home inspection services give you unbiased, objective information about the property. Above all, I am an independent and impartial home inspector.
In addition, a comprehensive or critical home inspection and report does not cost you an arm or a leg! Don’t let the inspection cost put you off! It may cost a bit, but it could save you many thousands in repairs and maintenance!
My inspection services for your peace of mind
You don’t need to attend the inspection if you do not wish to. Your inspection report with marked-up photos of the defects and issues will understandably illustrate the property’s condition. However, attending the home inspection will give you more insight into the property. In addition, you will also be able to raise concerns and have your questions answered.
Your comprehensive home inspection report will include:
Defects of the property and suggestions for repairing them.
The property’s strong points.
Regular maintenance is a feature of any property. The report will give you a good idea of the necessary maintenance.
The inspection report will include photographs to improve understanding of the defects. I am also happy to provide telephone support if necessary!
Why choose The Home Detective?
At The Home Detective, I strive to ensure my home inspection services and reports are the best in the business. I value customer service above everything else.
I use the latest home inspection technology and equipment. Therefore, you can rest assured that you’ll receive a thorough and detailed property inspection service you won’t find elsewhere!
In addition, I inspect properties in Gauteng from the north of Pretoria to Johannesburg South and from Brits in the Northwest Province to Springs in the east.
A sample of the first page of a Comprehensive, Mould and Critical Inspection Report produced for clients. The reports include marked-up photos and narratives describing the condition of the property. Only the Walkthrough and Rental Inspections have checklists with marked-up photos.
Home inspection reports have changed to accommodate increased consumer expectations. As a result, reports advanced from being checklists to providing more extensive narratives and photos for the client’s information.
Development of Standards
Before the mid-1970s, inspection reports followed no standard guidelines. Without minimum standards to follow, the quality of inspection reports varied widely. As a result, the public viewed the home inspection industry with suspicion.
A Standard of Practice became available with the founding of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) in 1976. This provided home inspection guidelines governing inspection reports. Later, a second trade association, the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), was established. InterNACHI developed its own Standards of Practice and aCode of Ethics.
Today, InterNACHI dominates the inspection industry worldwide. In addition to its Residential Standards of Practice, it developed the only comprehensive Standards of Practice for Commercial Properties. Most types of inspection, from mould to fire doors, use InterNACHI’s Standards of Practice.
Inspection Reports
My inspection reports describe the major home systems, their crucial components, and their operability. This is especially important in those that can fail in dangerous or expensive-to-correct conditions. I describe defects effectively, and my report includes recommendations.
My inspection reports also disclaim portions of the home hidden from view. These include areas below ground, floors, and behind wall and ceiling coverings. Home inspections are visual inspections
I also note conditions that require a specialist inspection.
Home inspections are not technically exhaustive, so I will not dismantle a furnace to examine the heat exchanger.
The Standards of Practice describe the requirements and limitations of a home inspection.
Checklist and Narrative Reports
Originally, home inspection reports consisted of a simple checklist, or a one- or two-page narrative report.
Checklist inspection reports contain almost no writing. The report is a series of boxes with short or abbreviated descriptions. They might consist of only two or three words, such as “peeling paint”. The entire checklist might only be four or five pages long.
Because of the lack of detailed information, checklist inspection reports are open to interpretation. As a result, buyers, sellers, agents, contractors, attorneys, and judges may each interpret the information differently, depending on their experience or motives.
Narratives are phrases that describe conditions found during an inspection. Narrative reports use reporting language that completely describes each condition. In addition, I don’t abbreviate descriptions.
Some inspectors still use checklist inspection reports. Many countries are banning checklist reports because the limited information they offer has resulted in legal problems.
I produce narrative reports because they are safer and superior as they provide more precise information.
Development of Reporting Software
Handwritten reports are no longer the norm. As computers became simpler to operate and more affordable, inspection software began to appear on the market.
With inspection reporting software, I can choose from a large number of organised narratives. I edit or add the narratives to accommodate local conditions and the property.
I can produce a very detailed report in a relatively short time using narrative inspection software.
Standard disclaimers automatically appear in each report.
Narrative Content
Narratives may consist of three parts:
A description of a condition of concern.
Sentences or paragraphs describing the seriousness of the condition and its potential ramifications.
A recommendation.
I recommend that specific actions or further evaluation be necessary. However, recommendations address problems in a way that you will know how to proceed.
Report Content
Inspection reports often begin with an informational section that gives general information about the home. This includes the client’s name, contact details, weather conditions, and whether the property is occupied and furnished.
Other information listed is disclaimers
My inspection reports include a summary report, listing major problems. As a result, you won’t miss important issues. You must be aware of safety issues or conditions that are expensive to correct. Narratives are colour-coded with this in mind.
Furthermore, the reports include photographs in the main body of the report, below the narrative that describes them.
A table of contents is also provided.
I break down the property systems into sections and areas in the report. These can be ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, HEATING, EXTERIOR, INTERIOR, etc., or by the home rooms: KITCHEN, BEDROOMS, etc.
Sample Comprehensive Home Buyer/Snag List/Maintenance Inspection Report
The link below features an example of a Comprehensive Home Buyer’s Inspection Report with the buyer’s permission. Every defect in the home was noted with narratives and photographs. Furthermore, acceptable finishes and elements of the home are also included in the report.
The link below features an example of a CriticalHome Buyer’s Inspection Report. Every defect or issue in the critical systems and components of the home (roof, structure, windows, doors, electrical, plumbing, and damp) was described with narratives and photographs.
Sample Check List Report (Walkthrough Inspections)
This link will take you to the checklist for a Walkthrough Inspection, published as a PDF report. However, a Walkthrough Inspection does not include a detailed Comprehensive Inspection Report, although the inspection is the same as that done for a Comprehensive Inspection. Clients are encouraged to attend the inspection and to make their notes! The checklist does not include a Table of Contents. Photos of issues are listed below the checklist.
A Damp and Mould Inspection is focused on finding damp and mould areas in the house or building and the causes of the damp and mould so that the damp and mould issues can be prevented.
A Limited Scope Inspection is limited to a specific issue or issues that the client is focused on, where a Comprehensive or Critical Inspection is not required. Furthermore, examples of Limited Scope Inspections include roof inspections, structural inspections, plumbing inspections, etc. In this case, my client required a report on the work done to date on his building project!
A Commercial Inspection is like a Comprehensive Home Inspection. Still, it may include additional items like fire suppression (sprinkler systems, fire sprinkler pumps, fire hydrants, fire extinguishers, etc.), and assessability and safety (wheelchair access, personnel safety, etc.). In this report, the client did not require additional research (the review of documents and the performance of interviews).
Imagine what can happen if you don’t have a house inspection as protection when you buy a new home. Defects you didn’t notice, and latent defects like a roof leak, can cause your dream home to become a nightmare!
A Buyer’s House Inspection or Pre-purchase Comprehensive Property Inspection
Be wise and have a home inspection!
A buyer’s house inspection is your protection against the ‘voetstoots‘ clause. A Buyer’s Inspection report is a written account, with photos, of the condition of the property. As a result, it will tell you about any significant building defects or problems. These can be defects such as rising damp, movement in the walls (cracking), safety hazards, or a faulty roof, etc. You would have this done as part of your condition of the sale so you can identify any problems with the property, which, if left unchecked, could prove costly to repair.
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