A big part of my task is to talk to you as we go through the structural and relevant site elements of the house. You need to know why, in terms you can understand, I have concerns.  I’ve been doing this for roughly 40 years.  As with most professions, sometimes I use “jargon” that needs an explanation.  I’m happy to discuss anything that I see or that you’re concerned about.  My task is to ensure that you make a “buy or not buy” decision that suits your needs, no one else’s.  Thus, my contracts are with you, the buyer, not the owner, realtor or anyone else; I work for you.

A visual structural inspection takes one to two hours, depending on the concerns seen.   It is best if you’re following me, so that I can answer questions as we go.  Some homes have areas that are difficult to access, so please dress in clothes that you can stretch in.

The site inspection begins with a walk around the structure, notating the slope of the ground, the clearance between the ground and the framing elements of the structure, vegetation that might cause an issue, the driveway, as well as other issues that may be less common.

The inspection is, at the pre-purchase stage, a visual inspection, simply because neither you nor I own the house at that point.  The homeowner would be right to ask any damage caused by either of us to be repaired at our expense!

My written reports are presented in an Adobe PDF narrative format and include numerous pictures taken during my inspection.  Generally, I also include aerial photos of the site, a topographic map, if available, soils maps, and if needed, watershed maps.   Typically, it takes two to three days to finish my report.  Simply put, my reports are written from scratch, not based on a generic checklist.

Finally, should you have any questions, after your purchase, please feel free to call me.  I’m happy to discuss any issues that you may have.

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