detailed services description
Residential Inspection
So you’re thinking of buying a property? Make sure you have the information you need. You wouldn’t buy a car just by sight, right? So why make an investment like this without having the facts? Since this is usually the biggest purchase you will make, an inspection can give you the tools to buy that property and know you made the right choice! Home owners most often have an emotional attachments to the home, they may not know of a defect or potential problem without an inspection. Everything can be fixed, it just depends on what you feel is “doable” or a “deal breaker”. ABR Inspections gives you that ability to buy that property or make the gut wrenching decision to walk away. Robert is here to give you all information, facts and defects. He does not work for the Realtor or the home owner, he is here for YOU. ABR's reports give a complete and detailed workup on the property with an absolutely unbiased view.
You are able to attend the entire inspection, or join in later on. Either way, he will show you anything that's major and will patiently answer all your questions and concerns. Educating you, the home buyer, about hazards, utilities and more is his passion and priority.
Pre-Listing Inspection
So you’ve decided to sell your home! Now what? Well, first you need a professional with training to help spot potential hiccups in your sale. Find a good real estate agent. Call ABR, he can help you find a great one. Any good real estate agent is going to be so happy you have already done an inspection because it helps you both move through the delicate process of selling the property smoothly. You have removed the pressure of running into big unknowns later on in the selling process (some buyers still may choose to hire their own inspector) and having surprises pop up with the potential buyers. It’s a great selling point to any potential buyer! This gives you an opportunity to fix any minor defects or decide to list in “as is” condition. You’ll have the peace of mind to move forward with the best information money can buy!
Major Systems/Investor Inspection
This is an inspection that is done for an investment property. It’s much faster than a full comprehensive inspection and does not check everything a normal inspection would. This inspection includes a walk of the property and a roof check and any major defects in the foundation & key structural (both interior & exterior) areas of the home. The HVAC will be checked and the electrical box will be inspected. This includes inspection of all major plumbing components, crawl spaces, attics.
Energy Audits
Robert is a certified energy auditor, who will come to your house, set up the specialized equipment and proceed with a test that should take no more than 1 hour. He will do a full review of your home: window ratings, insulation R value, attic insulation, efficiencies of HVAC units. He will determine where certain elements are causing the loss of valuable energy and will provide a comprehensive report on where those deficiencies are occurring and what you can do to make your home more energy efficient while also leaving the smallest footprint possible.
Light Commercial Inspections
All buildings will be scrutinized and inspected up to 20,000 sq ft. You will receive a full and comprehensive report within hours after the inspection and will be able to move forward on either a purchase or lease of the property in question. This is a very good report to have when looking for commercial insurance.
New Construction/1 Year Warranty
Most people take peace of mind in new construction. It’s been recently inspected by code officials and held to newer building standards. This is where it’s easy to fall into a pitfall. New construction can carry its own list of hassles. Equipment failures, ground settling, electrical issues, water leaks, roofing or flashing issues, the list continues.
You should always get an inspection on a new build!
That’s what ABR is here for! As a licensed and insured inspector, Robert will conduct an inspection with you and point out any issues that he believes are your builder’s responsibility. He is more than happy to meet with your builder and explain what he has found.
11-month warranties are imperative for finding defects your builder won’t cover after the 1 year mark. When making this kind of investment, you don’t want to leave your wallet up to chance. Robert would love to sit down with you and go over the report so you know exactly what’s going on with your house!
This is your future, don’t take the risk!
Infrared (IR) Thermography
ABR Inspections is able to do Infra-red thermal scans. This add on service is a very powerful tool and allows our Robert to see issues that may not be visible to the naked eye. With IR he can evaluate:
- Insulation – he can check for deficiencies in the thermal boundary of your home. Robert is able to determine areas that may be missing insulation in walls or ceilings, or where insulation has failed or was not installed properly.
- Hidden water leaks – Sometimes stains have been painted over of have not yet shown up.
- Electrical issues – With IR he can see over-heating circuits or over-amped wiring.
MythBusting Thermography
- IR cameras cannot give you X-ray vision to see through walls or any other material.
Fact: IR cameras measure the surface temperature of objects by their emissivity.
- IR cameras see in color.
Fact: The color is generated by the computer to make the difference in temperatures easier to see.
Thermography is a very useful tool, but it requires training on how to use it and interpret the images. IR is not without limitations though. Some surfaces due to their emissivity will appear to be anomalies and make interpretation more difficult. Also if there is not enough of a temperature difference IR may not be suited to the situation.
Radon Testing
Testing for Radon in your home is very important to you and your family’s health. Radon is still the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. It’s literally a matter of life and death when making sure your home is safe. Each property contains its own unique mapping. Your neighbor might be fine, but your house might test at higher levels and require a placement of an active system. The test will only take 48hrs and you’ll have results right away! Call ABR Inspections today and schedule a test!
What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. Radon gas has no color taste or smell. This makes it especially dangerous for families in their own homes. When Radon enters the home it builds up and causes damage to lungs and soft tissue when inhaled. According the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer among smokers. The only way to find out if you have a problem is to test for it.
Radon Facts
- There is no safe level for radon, but EPA and the Surgeon General recommend fixing homes that have levels at or above 4pCi/L
- Radon is found throughout the United States and can vary widely from one home to another. Homes with high levels have been found in all states.
- Radon comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.
Radon Testing with ABR Inspections
- Short-term testing is done for 48 hrs.
- Robert can perform testing separate or in conjunction with a home inspection.
Results are available same day at conclusion of test.
Mold Testing
Robert is certified in testing for the presence of mold and typing the mold that is present. The initial test will only take 10 minutes and give you immediate results on the presence of mold and if the mold is hazardous based on the type of test you decide to go with. If you would like the specific type of mold it is, I will have to send it out to a lab and have it cultured.