Home Inspection Services in Northwest Indiana
Better Home Inspections will prepare your home inspection reports with easy-to-read details on:
- The condition of every major component from the roof to the basement
- Major and minor deficiencies
- Any major expenditures necessary
- What to watch out for
- Helpful home preservation tips
- Safety concerns and much more
Our Home Inspector will review the detailed report with you to make sure you understand everything and answer any remaining questions.
Pre-Purchase Inspections (Buyer Inspections)
A home inspection is a visual process where all of the items typically used within a home are tested and/or operated to verify proper operation or installation. Doors and windows are opened and closed, roofing materials inspected, air-conditioning and heating systems operated. The Inspector will fill the sinks and tub(s), run the shower(s), and flush the toilets. All the while making notes on the condition and operation of the components tested. Upon completion a report will be distributed to you.
Pre-Listing Inspections (Seller Inspections)
Listing inspections are very good for the homeowner who may not be in tune with the condition of their home. A great many sales are cancelled due to the buyer’s shock at the “functional condition” of the home. It may look great, but have serious technical, safety, or functional issues present without the owner’s knowledge. Having the home inspected prior to placing on the market is the ideal way to identify and either repair or disclose the issue found in the Inspection Report. Obviously, repairing the items would be the most beneficial towards completing the sale. However, there may be financial reasons where the owner can’t make the repairs. Disclosing them up front and pricing the home based upon that disclosure will often times produce a higher net sales price for the homeowner.
Radon Testing
Radon is a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. Its presence in your home can pose a danger to your family’s health. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer in America. The U.S. Surgeon General and EPA recommend that all homes be tested for the presence of radon. Better Home Inspections is a qualified radon testing service, having completed the Radon Measurement Operator Proficiency course. We use measuring devices that are placed in the lowest level of the residence for an exposure period of between 48 – 96 hours. The test devices are then sent to the laboratory and upon receipt and completion of the testing, the results are available online and emailed out to our clients.
To learn more about radon and view a citizen’s guide to radon, go to www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html, or view the Home Buyer or Seller’s Guide at www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/hmbyguid.html.
New Construction Inspections
New construction inspections are performed at the completion of construction, but prior to your final walk through with the Builder’s Customer Service Representative or Superintendent. It is always a good idea to verify that utilities (gas, water, and electric) have been turned on, either by you or the Builder depending on the Builder’s policy. The inspection should be scheduled just a day or two before your final walk through with the Builder. This will ensure that most, if not all, last minute items have been completed prior to your inspection. At the conclusion of the inspection a completed report will be distributed to you.
Pre-Warranty Expiration Inspections
Warranty inspections are performed during the 11th month of your 1-year Builder Warranty. The inspection will be performed to verify that proper building techniques were used and that the various components of the home were properly installed. You will be presented with a completed report at the end of the inspection along with digital photos taken as needed for inaccessible areas.
Investor Property /Multi-Unit Housing Inspections
Investor property inspections are performed prior to purchase as well as periodically during ownership. Pre-purchase inspections are performed to identify defects prior to taking ownership to negotiate repairs or price adjustments which reflect the condition of the property. Periodic inspections for properties currently in your portfolio would ensure the identification of needed repairs following a long-term tenant’s departure. Long-term tenants sometimes neglect to mention repairs and/or abuse the property during their tenancy. Identifying those problems early is the key to profitable ownership.