Buying a House? Pre-Purchase Home Inspections

 

Our home inspection service will help you learn all about your future home -- giving you peace of mind that it’s built solid, in good working condition and free of major defects. A thorough home inspection will help put your mind at ease so you can feel good about your purchase, that it's just the right house for you, at closing time. As a result, we highly recommend that you attend the home inspection if you can -- this will be especially helpful if you’re moving to Charleston from out-of-state, if you're a first-time home buyer, if you’re buying an older/historic/renovated house or, if you’re buying a brand new house.  

 

Each comprehensive home inspection will assess the Roof (shingles/metal/flat, gutters, flashings), Exterior (siding, windows, doors, porch/balconies, trim, fascia/soffits, etc.), Interiors (floors, walls, ceilings, doors, windows), Attic (roof structure, insulation, ventilation), Foundation (slab, crawlspace or elevated), Kitchen Appliances, Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC and Garage. To learn more about what your home inspection will include, please click here for 'What To Expect At Your Home Inspection'.

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Where are you buying a house? We inspect homes all over Charleston and its surrounding neighborhoods including Downtown Charleston, Mt. Pleasant and Isle of Palms, Daniel Island, West Ashley, James Island and Folly Beach, Johns Island, Summerville, Ladson, North Charleston, Hanahan, Goose Creek, Moncks Corner, Kiawah and Seabrook Islands, Awendaw, Huger, Ravenel, Hollywood and Walterboro. If your neighborhood isn't listed here, just give us a call!

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Moving to Charleston from Out-of-State?  Relocation Inspections

 

Especially for home buyers relocating to the Charleston area from a different part of the country, there are a few things you'll want to know about how your new 'Southern' home works, how to live in it and how to maintain it. In fact, our home inspectors have lived in Northern states and are well versed in how a Southern home is built differently than those in the North. As part of your home inspection, we'll be happy to share with you what those difference are and what you'll need to know to keep your home working as it should in our hot and humid climate. 

 

If you're not able to attend the home inspection, no worries. Just let us know when you arrive in Charleston and we can set-up time for an After-Inspection WalkThru with the home inspector to go over inspection findings and repairs needs along with how your house works in person (*there is a small additional fee for the WalkThru, please see fees below).   

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Buying your very first home? First-Time Home Buyer Inspections

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If you're buying your very first home -- whether its a condo, townhouse or a single family house -- congrats! When house hunting for the first time, its exciting to be able to really look at the houses you've been dreaming of and to finally be able to put an offer on a home and then have it accepted by the seller. By the time you get the home inspection part however, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed. There are a lot of steps in the buying process and a lot to learn! But you can relax -- we're here to help.

 

Once your contract is ratified, its time to schedule your home inspection. Since you are a first-time home buyer, we strongly recommend that you attend your home inspection if you can. We'll be happy to schedule your inspection on a day and time that works best for your schedule so you can attend. Even if you can't attend, no worries. The home inspector will call you at the end for a recap of his findings or, your Realtor may be able to go thru the home with the inspector and patch you in via Facetime. Plus, we'll take plenty of photos and videos to include in your report. 

 

During your inspection, we're going to teach you all about the condition of your house and what repairs are needed. Plus, we'll show you how all the systems work together to create a safe and comfortable living environment for you and your family and how to take care of your home after you move in. Especially for first-time home buyers, you'll want to take a moment to look thru 'What to Expect At Your Home Inspections' because it contains valueable information such as: 

 

• The nature and scope of a home inspection

• How the inspector will evaluate the home

• What a home inspection does not include

• Limitations -- what the inspection can't tell you

• Selecting the best home inspector for the job

• What you need to do before your inspection

• Getting the most out of your home inspection

• Making sense of the inspection report

• What to ask the seller to repair before closing 

• Short and longer-term home warranties

• After you move in

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Three things to know before you close . . . 

 

It’s helpful to keep in mind on inspection day that all homes –- even brand new ones -– have minor imperfections. Your inspection report will highlight the condition of the house and any items which need attention. If there are a number of items which need attention -- relax. There are really just three things you need to know about the house you are buying:

 

1. Does the house have any significant structural or mechanical issues that need to be corrected?

2. Is everything that you’ll need to live in the house comfortably in good working order?

3. Is the house a safe place to live?

 

Plus, your Realtor will help identify those items which need to be fixed before you close and those which can be attended to after you move in or down the road. Be sure to get estimates from the appropriate professionals (i.e. plumber, electrician etc.) once you have your inspection report in hand.

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Buying an Historic Home in Charleston? Historic Home Inspections

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Many home buyers simply prefer old homes

because they are totally unique in their style

and architecture, because they have gorgeous

mature trees and bushes which have taken

generations to grow and perfectly frame the

home and property and because many of them

are located in and around Charleston's charming,

historic downtown area which has so much to

offer. In fact, Summerville has a wonderful

historic district as well. We can certainly see the

appeal!

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As you might imagine, homes which have been

around for 200-300 years have been updated time

and again over the years. Our home inspectors have a talent for identifying the transformations a home has gone thru and we'll share those with you. When inspecting an historic home, we evaluate it in the context of the time period in which it was built relative to modern building practices and the overall quality of the home. Since old homes have simply been around a long time, we look carefully at the parts of the home that are exposed to the elements, such as the foundation, wall coverings and roof. 

 

Additionally, our inspectors are very familiar with concerns you might have regarding the condition of an historic home regarding the electrical/plumbing/HVAC, age and condition of the roof, use/condition of old building materials relative to environmental concerns (lead paint, asbestos, etc.), condition of crawlspaces with lots of old wood under the house, and so on. 

 

As part of the home inspection, we'll look for signs and symptoms that the structure may need repair due to deterioration of materials and/or impact from the floods, hurricanes and earthquakes they've survived over time. That said, we are not structural engineers. Especially for those historic homes which have not been remodeled in recent years (or decades), having a structural engineer conduct a follow-on inspection would be a wise investment. A good structural engineer can assess the home's structural integrity for your peace of mind and outline structure-related repair needs in greater detail which will be very helpful in determining if this is the right house for you as well as informing contractors and your repair/renovation budget.     

 

So if you're buying an historic home, plan on being at the inspection if you can -- you won't want to miss what the home inspector has to tell you about it!

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Buying a Fixer-Upper or 'Handyman Special'? Renovation Inspections

 

Especially for those home buyers who love older homes and have found a gem that needs to be updated, a home inspection can give you the knowledge you need about the condition of the home's key structure and systems (roof, foundation, plumbing, electric, HVAC) so you'll know how to allocate your renovation budget. Plus, there are a number of safety and environmental concerns to be aware of when buying an old home so you can proceed safely with your rehab. Whether you're buying an old home that's been nicely maintained over time but has never been updated or a house that is a total re-do down to the studs, a thorough home inspection will let you know what needs to be done to turn a project house into your dream home! 

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Buying a Townhouse or Condo? Condo Inspections

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If you're buying a condo, the good news is that the HOA will take care of maintenance and repairs for the exterior, roof and foundation. That said, the condition of these can affect the inside of your condo too and you'll want to buy an a building that has been well maintained. As a result, if you're buying a top floor condo, we'll be sure to inspect the roof. If you're buying a ground floor condo or townhouse over a crawlspace, we'll inspect the crawlspace. And of course, you'll want to know about the condition of the interior including all appliances/equipment and systems (plumbing/electrical/HVAC) and any repair needs which need to be addressed. 

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Buying/Building a Brand New House? New Construction Inspections