Home Inspections in Columbia Falls, Bucksport & Ellsworth, ME

Jay Otis, your certified home inspector, will perform a thorough, visual examination of the structure and all the major household systems that are visible and accessible including:

• Structure:
  Material of construction
  Foundation
  Basement & crawl space
• Exterior:
  Exterior finishes
  Decks, balconies, porches
  Stoops, steps, railing
  Roof surface, flashing, & gutters
  Wall covering, flashing, trim & doors
  Chimney
  Driveway, walkway
  Vegetation
  Grading & Drainage
• Interior:
  Walls, ceilings & floors
  Stairways & railings
  Countertops & installed cabinets
  Doors & windows
  Fireplaces
  Solid fuel burning appliances
  Attic, ventilation & insulation
• Systems:
  Electrical
  Plumbing
  Heating & air conditioning

Much of a home's structure such as plumbing and electric are hidden in walls, ceiling, and underground. A home inspection is a snapshot of conditions at the time of the inspection and is limited to what can be seen visually. Some problems can only be identified over time once you are living in the home. For example, a pipe might not leak when it is run for only a few minutes during the inspection but might leak during a lengthy shower.

The home inspection, however, can eliminate much of the guesswork and will give you a pretty good idea of any major issues and a preventive maintenance plan as well as knowledge of the structures and systems within your home.

Jay's inspections are very thorough. A typical inspection takes approximately five to six hours and varies according to the size and condition of the home.

Absolutely! The home inspection can be a valuable learning experience and all questions are welcome. If you are present during the entire home inspection, plan on a longer inspection time. If you prefer, you could come for the last part of the inspection and Jay will go through the findings with you and show you things about your home and answer your questions.

With many different subcontractors working on a home at different times, things can be overlooked or forgotten. Plumbing stacks with test caps still installed rendering them useless, attics not completely insulated, non-functioning outlets, or vents exhausting into the attic are some examples. The inspection is also an opportunity to learn more about how your home works.

If you are selling or buying a manufactured home, then most likely a foundation certification will be required. For all FHA and VA loans, an engineer's foundation certification is required that states that the home is placed on a permanent foundation that complies with the "HUD Permanent Foundation Guide for Manufactured Homes", dated 1996 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). We have partnered with the engineers at MFD home certifications to provide a turn-key foundation certification service to you. You may place your order online by going to

 

A home inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind, but often has the opposite effect. You are being asked to absorb a lot of information in a short time and this can be overwhelming.

Most of your inspection will consist of minor imperfections, maintenance that has been deferred, and useful information about the components of the home. The issues that really matter for safety and major repairs will be highlighted. Most sellers are surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection. Sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the report. No home is perfect even newly constructed homes.

Keep things in perspective and enjoy your new home knowing you have a repair and maintenance plan in place.