Frequently Asked Questions
1: Why do I need a home inspection?
Answer: A home is a major investment for most people. It is expensive to buy and can be very expensive to repair. It also needs to be safe. To protect your investment and safety, many organizations recommend that you have a thorough inspection before buying any property and periodically thereafter. Our inspections, lasting from 2 to 4 hours, are very thorough, independent evaluations of the property’s condition. The cost of an inspection is a small fraction of the cost of the property or of a major repair.
2: How do I choose a home inspector?
Answer: When choosing your home inspector, consider these points:
3: You are not the least expensive inspection service in the area. Why should I use you instead of someone else?
Answer: Our goal is not to be the least expensive inspection service in the area. Our goal is to remain the best inspection service in the area. Property inspection is our entire business. This is not a sideline to fill our free time when we are not doing something else. We are very proud of the fact that much of our business comes from word of mouth referrals from past customers sellers who have watched us inspect their homes for a buyer, lenders, attorneys and realtors.
4: My home is new and/or under warranty. Should I still get a home inspection?
Answer: All homes should receive an inspection from an independent, thorough, knowledgeable inspector to identify maintenance and safety concerns and questions. Even a brand-new house is not necessarily without defects. We recommend that you have HighMark Inspection Services provide a complete inspection as part of your final walk through before your final payment is released to your builder. If you have already completed your final walk though and released all payments to your builder, we recommend that you have a complete inspection as soon as possible, preferably before the expiration of any warranty.
5: My new home had a code inspection. Is there a difference between a code inspection and a home inspection?
Answer: Yes. There is a difference. A code inspection is to ensure compliance with governmental and nongovernmental codes or regulations. Building codes and regulations vary by time and geographic location. A code inspection is typically a three phase inspection. The 1st inspection will look at the footings and sometimes the foundation walls, the 2nd inspection reviews basic mechanicals and framing, the 3rd inspection is a walk through after all the finished products, carpeting, drywall, etc. are in place. Each inspection visit lasts on average from 10-20 minutes. HighMark Inspection Services does not perform code inspections. HighMark Inspection Services inspection report should not be construed as a compliance inspection of any governmental or non-governmental codes or regulations. A typical home inspection will last 2-4 hours testing door and window operations, weather-stripping, polarity in outlets, water volume, heating and air conditioning operations and more. It is a much more detailed inspection.
6: My new home had draw inspections. Is there a difference between a draw inspection and a home inspection?
Answer: Yes. There is a difference. Draw inspections occur periodically during construction of the home. These inspections are to ensure that a stage of construction is complete so that funds can be released to the builder. These inspections do not address the quality of the work and usually take less than half an hour each.
7: How much does a home inspection cost?
Answer: Our inspection fees are based on property size, age, and location. Our licensing, insurance, continuing education, computers, follow up service and membership in professional organizations increase the price but more greatly increase the quality and value of the inspection you receive. Buying or building a home is a major expense for most people. The home is a major investment for most people. We are not the cheapest inspection company in the area. The inspection cost is a small fraction of the cost of the home or of the cost of major repairs. Protect yourself and your investment with the best inspection.
8: Does HighMark Inspection Services check for evidence of termites?
Answer: We inspect for any visually apparent structural damage caused by insects, organisms, decay, or any other cause. We do not make the determination if insect infestation is active. We do not issue termite letters for lender purposes. We recommend a wood destroying organism inspection by a licensed and insured WDO professional along with a home inspection. Some lenders require a termite letter.
9: Does a Professional Home Inspection check for mold?
Answer: HighMark Inspection Services does not perform mold testing. We inspect for visual signs of mildew, or as we define: “Mold like substances” but do not make the determination of mold extent or exposure level. Proper mold testing is a specialized service requiring special education, training and equipment (surface sampling, interior wall sampling, microscopes, etc.). Mold inspections and evaluations are best performed by professionally trained and licensed companies specializing in that area.
10: How long has HighMark Inspection Services been in business?
Answer: We have been in the inspection business since 2015 but; have been in the Residential/Commercial construction industry for over 25 years.
11: Why don’t you have more than one inspector?
Answer: At the present time we have only 1 inspector. Working weekends and holidays allows us to be available for our clients and aid in flexibility.
12: I would like to attend the inspection. Is this OK?
Answer: A definite YES. We encourage all customers to attend our inspections. We consider our inspections to be educational sessions for our customers. We recommend that you attend the entire inspection, if possible. If you cannot attend the entire 2-4 hour inspection, we recommend that you come at the end to receive a summary from your inspector. We pride ourselves on our knowledge and customer service.
13: Do mobile homes need inspections, too?
Answer: Yes. Mobile homes need inspections, too. A mobile home requires review of plumbing, mechanicals, etc. The inspector will crawl under the mobile home and look for leakage, loose wires etc. Even though a mobile home may not cost as much as a stick built home, it is still a major investment and source of pride for its owner. It can need expensive repairs or have safety issues. HighMark Inspection Services provides inspections of mobile homes
14: Do you check wells and septic systems?
Answer: No. We do not inspect wells or septic systems. We will check for water volume and visually look at the septic field for concerns such as standing water or unusual odor. We advise our customers to ask the homeowner for installation and maintenance receipts ensuring the systems have been installed properly and maintained. We recommend inspection of water & septic systems by a licensed and insured
professional.
15: Will you inspect only certain items of the property like foundations or roofs?
Answer: Yes. Our inspection fees for specific items are based on an hourly fee with a one hour minimum charge.
16: I work until 3:30-4:00pm but I would like to attend the entire inspection. Can you accommodate my schedule?
Answer: We will try to accommodate your schedule whenever practical. If you cannot attend the entire inspection, the inspector can summarize his findings with you at the end of the inspection. He will ensure that you comprehend and understand all property
17: Can you make repairs for me?
Answer: No. We are independent of any financial interest in the purchase, sale, closing, repair or maintenance of any subject properties. We can provide referrals to professionals who can help you with repairs. We do not receive any compensation for referrals. We provide referrals only to professionals who have a reputation for providing high quality work and customer service. We consider providing good referral sources to be part of our customer service.
Answer: A home is a major investment for most people. It is expensive to buy and can be very expensive to repair. It also needs to be safe. To protect your investment and safety, many organizations recommend that you have a thorough inspection before buying any property and periodically thereafter. Our inspections, lasting from 2 to 4 hours, are very thorough, independent evaluations of the property’s condition. The cost of an inspection is a small fraction of the cost of the property or of a major repair.
2: How do I choose a home inspector?
Answer: When choosing your home inspector, consider these points:
- Licensing: Your inspector should hold a current, valid license in the subject property’s state(s). Licensing indicates that your
inspector continues to meet the state’s minimum requirements for licensing. - Insurances: Errors and Omissions–to provide coverage in case the inspector misses something that he should have found such as a rotting floor that was accessible to the inspector.
- General Liability–to provide coverage for other, general issues such as damage caused by the inspector to the subject property.
- Independent: Your inspector should have no financial interest in the purchase, sale, closing, repair or maintenance of the subject property.
- Formal Training and Education: Your inspector should be a graduate of an accredited home inspector training center and/or have trained under an experienced home inspector.
- Thoroughness: Your inspector should be very thorough and look at everything. He should climb into areas if he fits. He should crawl through crawlspaces if he fits. You want him to look at everything that is accessible to him. Typical Inspections take 2-4 hours depending on the size and age of the house and how many questions you ask. We are not paid by the hour. We are paid to do the job right.
- Willing Educator: Your inspector should be willing to have you attend the entire inspection and he should answer all your questions. HighMark Inspection Services encourages all customers to attend the entire inspection and we welcome your questions. Our job is to educate you about your new home’s condition, proper maintenance and operating systems.
- Investment and Peace of Mind: Remember that this house is a large investment for you. It is a complicated structure. Your family will live in it. You need to weigh the cost of the inspection against the value of the service. You want a very thorough, independent, accurate inspection. Remember that repair and maintenance issues missed on a less thorough inspection can cost a whole lot more than the cost of our entire inspection. A difference of $50 or $100 on an inspection fee is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of missed defects.
- Reputation: Ask around about your inspector. Ask your friends, your neighbors, your coworkers, your lender, your insurance agent, your attorney. Make sure you like what you hear. You can see our customers’ review links on our website but ask around about us, too. We try to ask every person who schedules an inspection with us why they chose us. A very frequent reply that we get is “You’re the most expensive but I heard that you were the best and that’s what I want”.
- Follow-up Service: HighMark Inspection Services does not abandon you after the inspection. We can provide you with email or hard copy documents to assist you in repair and improvement projects. Even if you do not plan to do the work yourself, it is advantageous to increase your knowledge of the project so you can have more fruitful discussions with your contractor.
3: You are not the least expensive inspection service in the area. Why should I use you instead of someone else?
Answer: Our goal is not to be the least expensive inspection service in the area. Our goal is to remain the best inspection service in the area. Property inspection is our entire business. This is not a sideline to fill our free time when we are not doing something else. We are very proud of the fact that much of our business comes from word of mouth referrals from past customers sellers who have watched us inspect their homes for a buyer, lenders, attorneys and realtors.
4: My home is new and/or under warranty. Should I still get a home inspection?
Answer: All homes should receive an inspection from an independent, thorough, knowledgeable inspector to identify maintenance and safety concerns and questions. Even a brand-new house is not necessarily without defects. We recommend that you have HighMark Inspection Services provide a complete inspection as part of your final walk through before your final payment is released to your builder. If you have already completed your final walk though and released all payments to your builder, we recommend that you have a complete inspection as soon as possible, preferably before the expiration of any warranty.
5: My new home had a code inspection. Is there a difference between a code inspection and a home inspection?
Answer: Yes. There is a difference. A code inspection is to ensure compliance with governmental and nongovernmental codes or regulations. Building codes and regulations vary by time and geographic location. A code inspection is typically a three phase inspection. The 1st inspection will look at the footings and sometimes the foundation walls, the 2nd inspection reviews basic mechanicals and framing, the 3rd inspection is a walk through after all the finished products, carpeting, drywall, etc. are in place. Each inspection visit lasts on average from 10-20 minutes. HighMark Inspection Services does not perform code inspections. HighMark Inspection Services inspection report should not be construed as a compliance inspection of any governmental or non-governmental codes or regulations. A typical home inspection will last 2-4 hours testing door and window operations, weather-stripping, polarity in outlets, water volume, heating and air conditioning operations and more. It is a much more detailed inspection.
6: My new home had draw inspections. Is there a difference between a draw inspection and a home inspection?
Answer: Yes. There is a difference. Draw inspections occur periodically during construction of the home. These inspections are to ensure that a stage of construction is complete so that funds can be released to the builder. These inspections do not address the quality of the work and usually take less than half an hour each.
7: How much does a home inspection cost?
Answer: Our inspection fees are based on property size, age, and location. Our licensing, insurance, continuing education, computers, follow up service and membership in professional organizations increase the price but more greatly increase the quality and value of the inspection you receive. Buying or building a home is a major expense for most people. The home is a major investment for most people. We are not the cheapest inspection company in the area. The inspection cost is a small fraction of the cost of the home or of the cost of major repairs. Protect yourself and your investment with the best inspection.
8: Does HighMark Inspection Services check for evidence of termites?
Answer: We inspect for any visually apparent structural damage caused by insects, organisms, decay, or any other cause. We do not make the determination if insect infestation is active. We do not issue termite letters for lender purposes. We recommend a wood destroying organism inspection by a licensed and insured WDO professional along with a home inspection. Some lenders require a termite letter.
9: Does a Professional Home Inspection check for mold?
Answer: HighMark Inspection Services does not perform mold testing. We inspect for visual signs of mildew, or as we define: “Mold like substances” but do not make the determination of mold extent or exposure level. Proper mold testing is a specialized service requiring special education, training and equipment (surface sampling, interior wall sampling, microscopes, etc.). Mold inspections and evaluations are best performed by professionally trained and licensed companies specializing in that area.
10: How long has HighMark Inspection Services been in business?
Answer: We have been in the inspection business since 2015 but; have been in the Residential/Commercial construction industry for over 25 years.
11: Why don’t you have more than one inspector?
Answer: At the present time we have only 1 inspector. Working weekends and holidays allows us to be available for our clients and aid in flexibility.
12: I would like to attend the inspection. Is this OK?
Answer: A definite YES. We encourage all customers to attend our inspections. We consider our inspections to be educational sessions for our customers. We recommend that you attend the entire inspection, if possible. If you cannot attend the entire 2-4 hour inspection, we recommend that you come at the end to receive a summary from your inspector. We pride ourselves on our knowledge and customer service.
13: Do mobile homes need inspections, too?
Answer: Yes. Mobile homes need inspections, too. A mobile home requires review of plumbing, mechanicals, etc. The inspector will crawl under the mobile home and look for leakage, loose wires etc. Even though a mobile home may not cost as much as a stick built home, it is still a major investment and source of pride for its owner. It can need expensive repairs or have safety issues. HighMark Inspection Services provides inspections of mobile homes
14: Do you check wells and septic systems?
Answer: No. We do not inspect wells or septic systems. We will check for water volume and visually look at the septic field for concerns such as standing water or unusual odor. We advise our customers to ask the homeowner for installation and maintenance receipts ensuring the systems have been installed properly and maintained. We recommend inspection of water & septic systems by a licensed and insured
professional.
15: Will you inspect only certain items of the property like foundations or roofs?
Answer: Yes. Our inspection fees for specific items are based on an hourly fee with a one hour minimum charge.
16: I work until 3:30-4:00pm but I would like to attend the entire inspection. Can you accommodate my schedule?
Answer: We will try to accommodate your schedule whenever practical. If you cannot attend the entire inspection, the inspector can summarize his findings with you at the end of the inspection. He will ensure that you comprehend and understand all property
17: Can you make repairs for me?
Answer: No. We are independent of any financial interest in the purchase, sale, closing, repair or maintenance of any subject properties. We can provide referrals to professionals who can help you with repairs. We do not receive any compensation for referrals. We provide referrals only to professionals who have a reputation for providing high quality work and customer service. We consider providing good referral sources to be part of our customer service.