Areas Served
Chicago
Orland Park
Tinley Park
Orland Hills
Oak Forest
Palos Heights
Palos Park
Palos Hills
Mokena
New Lenox
Lockport
Lemont
Frankfort
Homer Glen
Lombard
Bolingbrook
Romeoville
Crest Hills
Oak Lawn
Evergreen Park
Oak Forest
Worth
Alsip
Marionette Pk
Plainfield
Crestwood
Hickory Hills
Chicago Ridge
Homewood
Matteson
Bridgeview
Flossmoor
Willowbrook
Willow Springs
Olympia Fields
Downers Grove
Naperville
Lisle
Shorewood
Steger
Woodridge
Westchester
Western Springs
Glen Ellyn
Oswego
Manhattan
Minooka
Richton Park
Glenwood
to name a few
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Frequently Asked Home Inspection Questions? |
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Q: |
What is a home inspection? |
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A: |
A
home inspection is an objective examination of the structure and systems
of a home, from roof to foundation. When problems or symptoms of problems
are found the inspector may recommend further evaluation or remedies making
the home inspection cost well worth it. |
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Q: |
How do I choose a Home
Inspector? |
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A: |
Call
up and ask about their credentials and experience. If for some reason
you don't feel comfortable asking this of the inspector when speaking
with them on the phone then how will you feel asking questions at the
inspection. You must feel that the inspector is qualified, experienced
and attentive of your needs. |
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Q: |
What qualifications and credentials
should a home inspector offer? |
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A: |
When
choosing a home inspector, begin with a list of associations members in
your state. Then check to see who among these is most experienced and
has the most outstanding reputation for thoroughness as an inspector. |
|
Q: |
How long will the inspection
take? |
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A: |
Most
inspections take about two to three hours. These times may vary depending
on the size, age, and condition of the home. My inspections have no time
limit. I take whatever time is necessary to give you a thorough, honest
inspection report. |
|
Q: |
May I attend the inspection? |
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A: |
Yes.
I encourage you to attend the inspection so you will get the most benefit.Be
suspicious of any inspector who doesn't want you around during the inspection. |
|
Q: |
How soon should I schedule
my appointment? |
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A: |
I
require at least 24 hours notice. It is always best to schedule your appointment
in advance and not wait until your contingency period is ready to expire.
This way you will have more time to review your report and make important
decisions. |
|
Q: |
Who is responsible for preparing
the property for the inspection? |
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A: |
It's
the Seller's responsibility to prepare the property for
the inspection. |
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1. Have
all utilities turned on (water, electric and gas).
2. Have all gas appliances ready to run with pilot lights turned on.
3. Clear access to areas like attics, crawl spaces, electric panels and
furnaces.
4. Unlock storage closets, fence gates, electric panels and crawl and attic
hatches.
5. Remove pets from property, or secure them so they are not free to roam.
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|
Q: |
Do you provide onsite
reports? |
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A: |
No.
The time it takes to compile my findings into your report, including any
digital photo editing often takes 2 hours or more. I fully understand
that you need the report in a timely manner. Your report will be delivered
within 48 hrs (max) or sooner of the inspection. |
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Q: |
Is the inspection report
a guarantee or warranty that nothing will go wrong? |
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A: |
No.
Your inspection report is not a guarantee that things
won't break down or otherwise become problematic during escrow or any
other time after the inspection took place. In fact your inspection report
is not insurance of any kind whatsoever because I am not licensed in the
State of Illinois as an insurance provider. Only an insurance company
licensed under the laws of the State of Illinois can provide you with
insurance. Providing insurance without the appropriate license could result
in severe civil or criminal penalties.
Your report is simply a documentation of the conditions of the property
"at the time of the inspection". It is a snapshot in time,
and any implication that the report is or might be insurance on your property
and its systems and components is expressly denied by me. Therefore, I
shall not pay for repairs or replacement of items or components just because
they broke down or are causing problems after the inspection. |
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Q: |
What if the inspection
revels problems? |
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A: |
I
may find things that weren't expected. That's what you want, right?
No house is perfect, not even new construction. The report is not a seller's
"Must-Fix list"; it's just an impartial reporting
of the condition giving you clear direction for what should be done about
each problem. Every situation is different - it's up to you and your real
estate agent to decide how to proceed after the inspection. |
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Q: |
Will you perform or
manage any repair work? |
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A: |
No.
That would be a direct conflict of interest. |
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Q: |
Do new homes need to
be inspected? |
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A: |
Yes!
Just because they are newly built or newly remodeled doesn't mean they
are free of mistakes. Most areas have local or state building officials
that inspect new construction for building code violations, however they
rarely have enough time to inspect everything. Besides, there can be problems
or defects that aren't necessarily code violations.
Some builders select contractors to complete various aspects of the construction.
With all the activities going on at once, it's nearly impossible for a
contractor or supervisor to oversee everyone and their work.
If your new home is under a builder's warranty, I can inspect your home
before the warranty expires. I usually perform warranty inspections approximately
one month before the expiration date. |
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Q: |
Why can't I have someone
in my family who is handy or a contractor, inspect my new home? |
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A: |
This
is the biggest mistake many potential new homeowners make when purchasing
a home. Although the person you are considering may be very skilled, they
are not trained or experienced at professional home inspections.
Professional home inspection is a unique skill like no other. Professional inspectors
get what we call an inspector's instinct for problems. That instinct takes
extensive training and lots of experience doing inspections to develop.
Many contractors, and other trade professionals hire a professional home
inspector to inspect their homes when they make a purchase. |
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Q: |
What if I have questions
after the inspection? |
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A: |
You
may call me and discuss the aspects of your home whenever you like. Our
service is a long-term investment. |
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Ethics: |
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As
your Illinois State Licensed and Certified Home Inspector, it
would be unethical for me to recommend contractors, estimate repair
costs, recommend whether or not you should purchase the home,
comment on its market value, or benefit in any way from the repair
or sale of the home. |
Kollias Property Inspections, Inc
(708)
359-8770
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