A professional home inspector does not issue a pass or fail grade on a property. Instead, a professional home inspection is an examination of the current condition of the prospective property. The inspector will describe the physical condition of the home, look for hidden hazards, and indicate what may need repair or replacement.

Our report, including all digital photos, are delivered via email within 24 hrs of completion of the inspection, though generally it is the same day.

As a homebuyer, you generally have between 7 and 10 days after you sign the contract to get a home inspection. We would advise you to call us as soon as you sign the contract on the prospective home. This will ensure that you can get the inspection performed at a time that's most convenient for you.

When you're ready to schedule your inspection just give us a call. We have full time schedulers on staff to assist you. If you reach the answering machine, just leave a message and we will get back with you as soon as possible. You may also email us at info@principalhomeinspection.com.

Most inspections take between 2 1/2 to 4 hours. This may vary depending on the size, age, and condition of the home.

If you're the current homeowner, make sure we have access to all areas of your home. We will inspect every closet, electrical panel, furnace, water heater, attic access and crawl space opening. Please avoid stacking boxes in a way that would block access to these locations. Please make sure we can get to exterior faucets and electrical outlets. Please turn on all utilities -- if the property is vacant, make sure all of the utilities are turned on so we can inspect them.

If the buyer is paying for the inspection, please make sure to leave the house at least an hour before the inspection. Expect to be gone at least three hours so the inspector can do a thorough job.

We love pets, but please make sure there won't be an issue. Before you leave the property, make sure all of your animals are secure. If possible we would prefer that animals are taken off the premises, but you can also secure them in a crate on the property if possible.

If you're the homeowner or in the area, being at the inspection will ensure you gain first-hand insight into your new property. We will educate you on the home and we are able to answer directly any questions you have or address any of your concerns. If you're in another state or country, our digital report will include detailed pictures and notes.

This is one the mistake some potential new homeowners make when purchasing a home. Although the person you are considering may be very skilled, they are not trained or experienced at professional home inspections. Professional inspectors get what we call an inspector's instinct for problems. This instinct takes extensive training and lots of experience doing inspections to develop. Many contractors, and other trades professionals hire a professional home inspector to inspect their own homes when they make a purchase.

If your inspection reveals costly underlying issues with the property you are about to purchase, like roof damage or mold, you could save thousands of dollars in the long run. An inspection can help negotiate the selling price of the property or, if there are more problems than you can handle, help you make educated decisions.

Any question that you have! We are there to help you make informed decisions and used to answering any and all of your questions. One recommendation is to ask questions about the most critical (expensive) aspects of the home, such as the wiring and plumbing, internal structure, major appliances, and other such systems.

Your newly built home is likely to have all of the latest energy-saving features and comforts that you could ever want. However, there may be undisclosed issues or shoddy workmanship. Just because a home is brand-new doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s been built with the highest workmanship standards in mind. The plumbing could have serious issues, the roof may be installed incorrectly, there may be issues with the chimney, and so forth.

Just like a regular home inspection, you won’t know about these problems unless the home is inspected. Even a single careless contractor or a tiny mistake made when building the home can cause serious damage.

Home sellers are realizing more and more that there are benefits to having their homes inspected before they even list their homes to sell.

The biggest benefit of a seller’s home inspection is to know all the potential issues before they are brought up in the buyer’s inspection report. This allows the seller to make sure any repairs get done ahead of time and most likely at a better price than the buyer would ask for as a concession during negotiations.

Getting a home inspection prior to selling a house can sometimes even find safety hazards before agents and visitors tour the home, as these hazards could turn into a very expensive liability.

Some of the most common issues discovered during inspections are:

• Roof and gutter issues (leaks, damaged/clogged gutters, etc.)
• Faulty wiring/electrical problems
• Poor grading or drainage around the home
• Dampness or mold/mildew in basements
• Cosmetic wear and tear (peeling wallpaper, dirty/damaged carpets, cracked driveways/walkways, etc)
• Plumbing issues such as leaks, clogged drains, poor flow
• Inadequate ventilation or insulation
• HVAC problems

You can call us or send us an email at info@principalhomeinspection.com and discuss all the aspects of your property whenever you like. Our service is a long-term investment and we will answer any questions free of charge.