Many homebuyers may lack the specific knowledge, skill, experience, and most importantly the emotional detachment that is required to conduct a thorough home inspection.  At the time of most inspections, the majority of homebuyers have previously spent an average of only 20 minutes or less at the property. By hiring a home inspector, clients can gain valuable understanding of, and insight into, the physical condition at the time of the inspection of the house and especially whether or not there are any items not functioning as intended, that are in need of immediate repair, that might adversely affect the habitability of the house, or that might warrant further investigation by a specialized professional.

A home inspection is a general and visual inspection of the readily accessible and visible systems and components of a house and is intended to provide our clients with a better understanding of the physical condition of the house at the time of the inspection.

We inspect the major systems and components of the house. Our goal is to identify and report on any major defects, safety issues, or any systems or components that are not functioning as intended, that are in need of repair, that might adversely affect the habitability of the house, or that might warrant further investigation by a specialized professional or requires subsequent observation. The results can then be compared to provide part of the basis for a buyer making an informed purchase decision.

As part of your home inspection, the inspector will inspect and report on the following areas:

1.  Structural Components – including foundation, columns and piers, floors, walls, ceilings, and roofs.

2.  Exterior – including wall claddings, flashings, trim, entryway doors, representative number of windows, garage door operators, decks, balconies, stoops, steps, areaways, porches, railings, eaves, soffits, fascias, vegetation, grading, driveways, drainage, patios, walkways, retaining walls.

3.  Roofing – including roof coverings, roof drainage systems, flashing, and skylight, chimney, and roof penetrations. 

4.  Plumbing – including interior water supply and distribution systems, interior drain waste and vent systems, and hot water systems. 

5.  Electrical – including service entrance conductors, service and grounding equipment, main and distribution panels, main and branch Overcurrent devices, amperage & voltage ratings and compatibility, branch circuits, polarity and grounding of certain required receptacles, a representative number of installed ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, switches and receptacles, ground fault circuit interrupters, and smoke detectors.

6.  Heating– including permanently installed heating systems, heating equipment and its normal operating controls, automatic safety controls, chimneys/flues/vents, the heat distribution system, solid fuel heating devices, and the presence of installed heating source in each room. 

7.  Air Conditioning – including permanently installed central air conditioning or through-the-wall systems, including the cooling and air handling equipment, normal operating controls, the distribution system, and the presence of installed cooling source in each room.

8.  Interiors – including walls, ceilings, floors, steps, stairways, balconies, railings, a representative number of cabinets and a representative number of doors and windows.

9.  Insulation and Ventilation – including insulation and vapor barriers, ventilation of attic and foundation areas, kitchen, bathroom and laundry venting systems, and any readily accessible attic ventilation fan.

10.  Built-in Kitchen Appliances – including the inspection and operation of the dishwasher, range, oven, cook top, trash compactor, garbage disposal, ventilation equipment, permanently installed microwave oven.

A home inspection is a visual inspection of readily accessibly areas and is not technically exhaustive in nature.  It does not protect you from or predict any future failure of any systems or components.  It is not a hedge against future repair or maintenance costs.  It is not an insurance policy.  It is not a warranty.  It is not a code compliance inspection and does not guarantee that the house complies with any building codes, zoning, ordinances, or statutes.  It is not an appraisal of the value of the property. It is not an inspection for the presence or absence of pests or insects.

Only those individuals licensed by TREC may conduct home inspections in the state of Texas.

A typical inspection for an average house will normally take between 3 and 4 hours to accomplish.  Larger and/or older homes may take significantly longer.  Typical fees for a Home Inspection range from around $275.00 to $500.00 and are quoted upon request in accordance with our very competitive fee structure.  Various factors such the size (square footage) and the age affect the fee.  If you are comparing home inspection firms, the fees that they charge should not be your most important consideration.  Remember, you are considering a major purchase. It may not be wise or prudent to base your home inspection selection on a difference of fees. With A Pro Real Esate Sevices, LLC, a thorough, objective professional home inspection is a standard "given" and service is what really matters and we provides the best service available to you.

We also understand that time is limited when you're making a home buying decision. We will make scheduling an inspection easy. But, there are some considerations. The home inspection must be completed during daylight. To properly evaluate a home a professional inspector must be able to operate the systems, thus requiring the utilities to be on at the time of the inspection. If the home is vacant, confirm that the seller will have all utilities on during the home inspection.  Failure to do so may require a second trip to the home when the utilities are on, and you may incur additional fees.  We will work with you to best meet your needs with flexible scheduling times to accommodate your availability. You can call or e-mail us to schedule an inspection.

With A Pro Real Estate Services, LLC, we are required to provide a written contract that shall describe the services performed, limitations and the cost of the services. This contract is required to be signed before the home inspection is performed.

It isn’t required for you to be present at the inspection, however every client is highly encouraged to attend. The inspection is a valuable learning experience for most and we consider it a very important aspect of the inspection. The Inspector will provide valuable insight and perspective concerning the home, its systems, and will comment on and discuss important issues regarding the house.

Our inspection report will give you a complete and accurate account of the home's condition. Our report will come with digital photos. Our report are factual and detailed, yet easy to read and understand. The client can receive the report in an pdf file electronically via e-mail usually within 24 hours or the day after the field inspection.

There is no "passing" or "failing".  Our goal is to accurately report on the physical condition of the house at the time of inspection in a very objective, factual, and professional manner by indicating whether or not there are any items not functioning as intended, that are in need of repair, that might adversely affect the habitability of the house, or that might warrant further investigation by a specialized professional or requires subsequent observation. The results can then be compared to the real estate “Offer To Purchase and Contract” and or the “Residential Property Disclosure Statement” and a determination can be made as to what items may be subject to negotiation. It is up to you, your realtor and your contract with the seller to determine which problems you can live with, if you may be able to get repairs done before closing, or to negotiate with the seller on the price of the home. No house is perfect. Just because the house may have some problems doesn’t mean it isn’t a good investment. The inspection will help you understand the condition of the house. 

We have no knowledge of the market value of the property, the financial condition of the client, or any number of many other very important factors such as the compliance or non-compliance with codes, zoning, ordinances, statutes, or the suitability of the property for a specialized use. Each individual client knows what financial risks they are willing to take on regarding repairs, renovations, upgrades, etc., that may be involved. It is the client’s decision whether or not to buy the house. The home inspection should be viewed as valuable information on the condition of the home, which is used to make a more informed decision regarding the advisability of the purchase.  We are happy to provide consultation not only during the inspection but also after the client has reviewed the report, usually via telephone.