Frequently Asked Questions...

THE VALUE OF A HOME INSPECTION:

• A home inspection is a visual examination of the physical structure and major systems of a home.

• The purchase of a home is probably the largest single investment you will ever make.  You should know exactly what to expect, both indoors and out- in terms of repair and maintenance and their costs.

• A fresh coat of paint could be hiding serious structural problems.  Water marks in areas throughout the home could indicate a chronic seepage problem or may simply be the result of a single incident.

• The home inspector interprets these and other clues, and he presents his professional opinion as to the condition of the property before you buy, so you can avoid unpleasant surprises afterwards.

• Of course, a home inspection will also point out the positive aspects of a home, as well as the type of maintenance that will be necessary to keep it in good shape.

• After the inspection you will have a much clearer understanding of what it is you are about to purchase, and you will be able to make your decision confidently.

• If you have owned your home for a period of time, a home inspection can identify problems in the making and recommend preventive measures, which might avoid future repairs.

• A visual examination of the house from top to bottom.  The inspector will examine the heating and air conditioning system, the interior, plumbing and electrical systems, the roof and visible insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, the foundation and visible structure.

• Even the most experienced homeowner lacks the knowledge and expertise of a professional home inspector who has inspected hundreds, perhaps thousands of homes in his career.

• An inspector is equally familiar with all the elements of home construction and with the proper installation, maintenance and interrelationship of those elements.

• Above all, most buyers find it very difficult to remain completely objective and unemotional about the house they really want, and this may lead to a poor assessment.

• Even if you have the knowledge, will the home seller allow you to spend hours opening closets and going into the attic/crawl spaces?

• The inspection fee will vary depending upon the size of the house, particular features of the house, age, special structures, etc.

• However, the cost should not be a factor in the decision whether or not to have a home inspection.

• You might save many times the cost of the inspection if you are able to negotiate the repairs of significant problems revealed by the inspector.

• No.  A professional home inspection is simply an examination into the current condition of your prospective home and is not an appraisal or a Municipal Code inspection.

• A home inspector will not pass or fail a house, but will simply describe its condition and indicate which items will be in need of immediate or near future repair or replacement. 

CHOOSING YOUR HOME INSPECTOR:

• Presently, there is no state licensing, nor any other licensing for that matter, of Home Inspectors in the State of Florida.

• If someone is claiming to be licensed, they may be boasting an occupational license granted by the city in which they operate.  This is gained by anyone in any business for a very small fee.

• Since there is no state licensing for home inspectors, it is important to look at the company's years in business and credentials of the inspectors.

• Young Home Inspections offers:

1. Certified Members of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)
2. Registered Professional Inspectors of the Florida Association of Building Inspectors (FABI)
3. Members of the International Code Council (ICC)
4. State Certified Residential Contractors
5. One Spanish speaking inspector

• Anyone can sign up to take a course on "How to Do Home Inspections" no matter what type of work related background or experience they may have, so it is imperative to choose an inspector that can offer you years of experience prior to hiring them to inspect your home versus one who has just completed a "How To" course.

• Young Home Inspections' inspectors all have some type of construction background; electrical, framing, plumbing, etc., and the majority of our inspectors have been with our team for 4-6 years.

• Young Home Inspections does maintain the required general liability insurance.

• A sole operator and owner of a home inspection company can apply with the State of Florida to be exempt from carrying worker's compensation insurance.

• Young Home Inspections does carry worker's compensation insurance for ALL  of our inspectors.

• The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) is the leading nationwide professional organization and requires the following from each individual inspector:

1. Passing scores on 2-four hour examinations.
2. Successful completion of 250 home inspections for paying clients.
3. Conducting business within the guidelines of the ASHI Code of Ethics as well as the ASHI Standards of Practice (these can both be viewed by visiting www.ashi.org).
4. Each member must complete and maintain 20 hours of continuing education per year to maintain membership.

• If so, it is likely that they are not Certified Members of ASHI: they are simply claiming to be "as good as" ASHI members.

• Visit www.ashi.org to verify if the inspector you are considering is in fact a Member of ASHI.

• Young Home Inspections currently has 4 Certified Members of ASHI, as well as 2 Associate Members of ASHI.

• FABI is a state professional organization that is comprised of a select group of Florida home inspectors who are required to pass an exam and to maintain 20 hours of continuing education each year.

• Visit www.FABI.org to verify if the inspector you are considering is in fact a Member of FABI.

• Young Home Inspections currently has 6 Registered Professional Inspectors of FABI. 

• Young Home Inspections has been a BBB member since 1996.

• The length of time a company has been in business is a good indication that it has been successful in providing a fine and reputable service.

• Young Home Inspections  is locally owned, not a franchise, and has been protecting Tampa Bay Homebuyers since 1989.

• Since sole operators do not always have the resources to have a professional office staff handle their incoming calls, you may find some inspectors will answer the phone themselves, sometimes during the course of performing a home inspection on someone's property.  Or, you may get passed into a voice mail and have to await a reply.

• Young Home Inspections has a courteous and professional office staff available Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 6:00pm to assist you, and our regular office staff also rotates weekend phone coverage.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING AN INSPECTION:

• Young Home Inspections highly encourages your presence at the inspection so that the inspector can review the findings with you at the end of the inspection.

• If you are unable to be present for the entire inspection, we recommend that you arrive between the middle and the end of the inspection to review the report.

• Young Home Inspections will provide you with a report at the end of the inspection that will have three copies for your use.  You may wish to share copies with realtors or sellers.

• Receiving the report at the end of the inspection is important since all parties are typically together at the property.

• Buyer beware if an inspector promotes performing your inspection in 1 to 1-1/2 hours.  The home inspection process is not an area that you want to rush through!

• The length of the inspection should not be important if the end result is thoroughness!

• Young Home Inspections' typical inspection will take 2-1/2 to 3 hours; however, our office staff can provide you with an estimated timeframe based on the particulars of your property to be inspected.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER THE INSPECTION:

• Young Home Inspections' inspectors are all equipped with radios so that our office staff is always in full communication with the field.

• Once the inspector receives a message from Young Home Inspections' office, you should receive a call within 24 hours.  Our inspectors will always attempt to return phone calls in between inspections throughout the day or later in the evening after their last inspection.

• Young Home Inspections does offer an additional service where we will re-visit the property to re-evaluate earlier reported deficiencies to ensure they have been properly repaired.