Are all home inspectors certified?
No, all home inspectors are not certified. The state of Colorado does not require training or certification to inspect homes. Why should you use only a certified home inspection service? Consider Safety!
Is the safety of your new home important to you and your loved ones? Is the safety of your financial investment in this new home important to you and your family's future financial goals? Would you want the safety of your family and your financial investment jeopardized by using a home inspection service that wasn't professionally certified?
Consider this, your house and the land that it sits on contains a large variety of factors which make up the structure of the property. A certified home inspector is trained to spot problems and conditions which could lead to costly repairs or compromise the safety of the occupants. Most people can look at a property and possibly spot needed cosmetic repairs. But what about:
- Faulty electrical and plumbing?
- Proper landscaping and grading?
- Foundation and structural flaws?
- Proper operation of included appliances, heating and air conditioning systems?
- How about invisible things like the presence of radon gas or damage done by pests?
- Is there any mold or mildew?
- And what about building code compliance?
A certified home inspection company, like MCM Home Inspections, will inspect & review all of these areas and many more for your protection and safety. We are trained to identify these and other potential costly problem areas. We will also carefully prepare a detailed report of any deficiencies and recommend their correction by an appropriately skilled and licensed contractor of your choice.
Are all home inspections expensive?
Not really; the small investment that you spend make for a
thorough home inspection from a certified home inspector can save you many
thousands of dollars by uncovering unseen immediate or future repairs.
How long does an inspection take?
It depends on the size of the home and the property associated with it but a typical inspection takes around 3 hours. A checklist is followed to the letter to insure complete coverage of all aspects of the home and property.
What is Efflorescence?
Efflorescence is a white powdery substance that forms on concrete due to water penetrating through and leaching out chemicals in the concrete. This shows that foundation and basement walls were not waterproofed during construction
This is often missed during a casual inspection as it may appear behind
wallpaper, paneling, or even basement storage boxes.
What is Differential Settlement?
Differential settlement, causing the famous "Tower of Pisa", refers to the uneven sinking of a structure’s foundation caused by excessive moisture and poor drainage.
This condition can lead to expensive reconstruction and even condemnation by many towns & cities due to safety concerns.
What is
Spalling?
Spalling his is the chipping, crumbling, scarring or splitting of concrete due to the corrosion of the reinforcement steel that runs through poured concrete walls, walks, or floors.
Aeration zone:
This is the soil that lies above the water table. The composition of this soil and the amount of moisture present affects the stability of a structure.
Dry Rot:
This is a wood fungus that thrives in damp locations and turns wood fibers into powder.
Reverse Polarity:
This is when the hot and neutral wires connected to a wall outlet are hooked to opposite terminals; meaning the hot wire is connected to the neutral side and vise versa.
Radon:
This is a colorless, odorless gas caused by decaying uranium, and is prevalent throughout the USA. It is also radioactive and should be tested for if you have a dirt floor in your basement or crawlspace.
These are just a few examples of conditions that can exist in a home and can cause problems in the future. As trained home inspectors,
MCM can check for these and many other conditions that would need to be addressed to make a home and property safe and livable.
