Home Inspection

Home Inspection and Radon Testing 

I strongly recommend a complete home inspection for both new and resale homes. 

The inspection is a buyer’s expense but is well worth the money! While my office will provide access for the inspector, it is a good idea for the buyer to attend the inspection and hear the verbal report. You can point out your concerns to the inspector while he is on the premises. Normally, you will receive a written report either on-site or by email that evening. While I cannot guarantee your satisfaction with any of the professionals on my affiliates list, I have had other buyers who have been please with the service they provided. Please
click here for a listing of home inspectors and engineers. 

In addition to the home inspection, I encourage all buyers to conduct a short-term radon test during the inspection period. The EPA says that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and Middle Tennessee is considered a radon “hot spot”. I have seen estimates that as many as 25% of our homes could measure excessive levels of this gas. If high radon levels are found, mitigation is easy, though not inexpensive. Generally, the seller will pay for the installation of the radon mitigation system, at a cost of around $900-$1400. Don’t wait until you are the seller of the property to confront the radon issue! Visit the EPA’s website for more information about radon. 

In some cases, buyers may require well, pool, septic, soils, lead paint, EIFS (synthetic stucco), mold and mildew, or structural engineering reports before finalizing the purchase of a home. Usually, the home inspector will recommend the need for further reports due to findings in the inspection (structural defects, moisture problems, etc.). My office will assist you in scheduling these specialized inspections if necessary. 

Once we have completed the desired inspections, I will prepare an Inspection Contingency Release, conditional upon the Seller’s agreement to make the repairs (if any) that you have requested. In most re-sale home contracts, if you and the Seller cannot agree upon the necessary repairs, then you may cancel the contract. With a new home, the seller will usually not allow cancellation of the contract, but the builder must correct reasonable defects that are covered under current building codes and the one-year builder’s warranty.