Todd Stromdahl
Do you need a Home Inspection?
Once upon a time a home inspection was done by the General contractor. Home inspections were not much more than a walk thru after construction was completed, to make sure that everything worked as it should. That no longer happens, the contractors are busy running the business of home construction, not building one home at a time, as was once the case.
Not long ago the construction industry was filled with highly skilled craftsman that were capable of building an entire house on there own. Often the framers were also the ones to install the doors, siding, windows, finished trim moldings as well as the kitchen cabinets. Not so today, each specific operation that requires a skill is performed by a different group of people, and the skill set that once was, is just not there. Many highly skilled contractors are still around, but they have become harder to find and can charge more for their services. Most homes are built by the lowest bidder. The general contractors and developers are under a lot of pressure to make money and provide value for the home buyer. Many times this leads to poor construction detail and quality. Homes that are not properly inspected during the construction process may have defects which could show up down the road.
All new homes should be inspected, not just by the city or county inspectors, but by a home inspector that can take the time to live with a house for a few hours to find out what details may have been overlooked and might need to be corrected before you close. I like to say that every house has a secret, and most do. It's usually small details, but sometimes it's larger items like a damaged roofing truss or a fireplace flue pipe that is touching the wood structure and could cause a fire. These are items that I see over and over. It does make me feel that a detailed home inspection is not a formality, it is a necessity to protect your family as well as your investment. Please feel free to call me if you have questions about the process.
Please call (904)415-3867 to schedule your inspection.
Detailed home inspection performs the following types of inspections:
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Condominium Inspections
Townhome Inspections
Single Family Home Inspections
Multi-unit Inspections (2-4 units)
Pre-Listing Inspections
Inspections include:
Roof, vents, flashings and trim.
Gutters and downspouts.
Skylight, chimney and other roof penetrations.
Decks, stoops, porches, walkways, and railings.
Eaves, sofit and fascia.
Basement, foundation and crawlspace.
Water penetration and foundation movement.
Heating systems.
Cooling systems.
Main water shut off valves.
Water heating system.
Interior plumbing fixtures and faucets.
Drainage sump pumps with accessible floats.
Electrical service line and meter box.
Main disconnect and service amperage.
Electrical panels, breakers and fuses.
Grounding and bonding.
GFCI's and AFCI's.
Fireplace damper door and hearth.
Insulation and ventilation.
Garage doors, safety sensors and openers. And much more.
The inspection will take approximately one hour per thousand square feet of space to be inspected. Reports contain a checklist of items imspected, clear color digital photos of all areas of concern and a written list of items that need to be addressed.
The report will be Ready within 24 hours of the inspection, and can be delivered via email, fax, or a hard copy can be sent overnight to your current address.
NACHI... Anyone else is just looking around.®
