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House Call Inspections is the only Metro-Atlanta Home Inspector you will ever need!
Providing Home Inspections in the counties of Gwinnett, Fulton, Dekalb, Rockdale, Cobb, Cherokee and more!
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OUR SERVICES
Buyer's Inspection
 This is the type of inspection that typically first comes to mind when you think of a home inspection. A Buyer's Inspection is initiated by a prospective home-buyer to allow them to hire a professional to examine the house to determine its true condition. These types of inspections are designed to assure that there are no hidden surprises for the purchaser.
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It is estimated that up to 80% of all home sales are contingent on the Buyer's Inspection! You'll be hard-pressed to find any real estate-related expert who doesn't adamantly suggest that you require an inspection prior to purchasing a home.
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Seller's Inspection (Pre-Listing Inspection)
 When a person is searching for a home to buy, they typically have hundreds of homes to consider. A Seller's Inspection is initiated by the property owner, usually prior to listing the property. The purpose is two-fold. It gives the seller an idea of what prospective buyers (and their inspector) will see when they are determining whether to purchase the house.
More importantly, though, it gives the seller the opportunity to decide if they want to make the repairs (to lessen any negative thoughts a buyer might have about the house) or use the knowledge as a negotiating tool (determine who will pay for the repairs). Remember, you only have one chance to make a first impression.
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Being used more and more, a Seller's Inspection is helping to speed-up the sales process. When sellers can show what damage an inspector found, and how that damage was fixed, the buyer's confidence may increases enough to move the transaction forward. But, the buyer should alway hire an their own inspector to perform another inspection to get a second-opinion.
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Warranty Inspection
 A new home has a warranty from the builder that is designed to cover the costs to repair systems and structural-related problems during the warranty period, typically one year. A warranty inspection should be performed prior to the expiration of the home warranty contract so that you can address repairable issues with the builder while the warranty is in-force. Otherwise, you may be fully liable for the repair costs on your own should you allow the warranty to expire prior to discovering defects. Warranty inspections allow you to take full-advantage of the warranty's benefits which can save you from paying out-of-pocket for repairs that may otherwise have been the fault of the builder or OEM manufacturer.
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You've heard it before: "It broke just as soon as the warranty expired!" If anything, a Warranty Inspection holds builders, installers, suppliers, and manufacturers liable for their work and products. The few-hundred dollars you pay for a warranty inspection could very-well save you from having to hand-over thousands (or tens-of-thousands) of dollars for future repairs and new systems that were damaged before the warranty expiration!
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New-Construction Inspection
 When a home is under construction and the components (building beams, wall studs, sheathing, electrical wiring, plumbing lines, HVAC ducts, etc) are still exposed, a 'Pre-Drywall' inspection can be very beneficial. Whether they are careless mistakes or intentional shortcuts, deficiencies are much easier to correct while they are still accessible. For example, it's much easier to correct a pinched duct while it is exposed than trying to improve the HVAC airflow into an uncomfortably hot or cold room later on.
House Call Inspections provides you with an unbiased review by acting as an objective and knowledgeable observer (on your behalf) to identify construction-related, code-related, and installation-related issues with home systems and structures. You can also bounce ideas off me to see if something is feasible (even if the builder says it's not). When combined with a final inspection after the construction is complete, you can be assured that builder callbacks will be minimized and that your home (even what's not visible) is a quality product.
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Many of the components from a home's system's and structure may be newly assembled, but they may also have been sitting in a lumber yard or warehouse for months. Also, even the best contractors make mistakes that could compromise the integrity of the job they do. It just makes sense to be sure!
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Home Maintenance Inspection
 Also called a "Home Health Check-up", maintenance inspections are performed usually once per year simply to ensure the integrity of a home's systems and structure. Because all things have a "planned obsolescence" period, our maintenance inspections help to make the homeowner aware of immediate and upcoming needs for replacement and repairs that could save thousands-of-dollars if discovered early-on.
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Just as doctors recommend that people get check-ups every few years, your home also require periodic check-ups. Things wear out ~ you can't avoid it. Struc- tures will fail, and systems will break. It's a fact of life. The "trick" to saving tons of money is to catch the problems before they occur!
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Pre- and Post-Renovation Inspection
 Renovation inspection services are new in the inspection porfolio. Prior to discussing your exact needs with a building professional, you may wish to discuss your ideas with House Call Inspections to determine if the idea is feasible and whether any problems are likely to develop in the long-term. After all, who is better able to predict problems than someone who sees them on a daily basis? Damages or improper installation of a home's systems (plumbing, electrical, etc) found prior to a renovation project may help to increase the success of the renovation. Damage or improper installation found after the renovation will help you to address the contractor with facts to initiate necessary repairs before the expiration of any warranties (related solely to the renovation), or before your contractor evacuates the premises with your money and leaves you with a sub-par project.
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Think of Renovation Inspections as being a check-up by the "family doctor" prior to the "surgeon" going-in to rebuild your home. Keep in mind that your inspector is there to help you validate whether or not specific items (according to their S.O.P.) are done to code for your protection.
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ITI Inspections present you with a unique advantage and option for any type of inspection you require. Just keep in mind that a great inspector with ITI technology becomes a great inspector who provides you with more information. A bad inspector with ITI technology is still a bad inspector! If you have the chance to request ITI, then get it. It might cost you a little more, but the benefits may be well-worth it. Just make sure your ITI inspector is properly trained.
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Radon Inspection
 Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas that you can't see, smell, or taste, but it may be a problem in your home. Radon is estimated to be the cause of thousands of deaths each year because when you breathe air containing radon, you can develop lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. Radon can be found all over the U.S. It comes from the natural decay of uranium in soil and gets into the air you breathe. Due to tight construction, radon can become concentrated in your home, especially the basement, where you and your family are most likely to get your greatest exposure. Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon and the EPA and Surgeon General recommend all homes be tested.
You should consider having the house you are purchasing tested for radon in conjunction with the home inspection. That way, if radon is present, you can negotiate abatement remediation costs with the seller.
If you didn't have your house tested prior to moving in, House Call can still do a test to provide you with your radon level.
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Radon is a radioactive gas. It comes from the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Any home may have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well- sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.
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Mold Inspection
 Although there is much debate in the world of science concerning mold, everyone agrees that it can damage property and deteriorate a person's health. There is also a consensus that mold is a beacon for other problems, often a hidden water leak that has existed for a long time. High humidity and poor air circulation can also result in mold presence.
Mold has been around much longer than humans and, for the most part, could be typically ignored as a health hazard. Like other hazards, though, it has recently become an issue as our homes have become tighter (less drafty), allowing the mold spores to become concentrated in our indoor environment. Fortunately, unless a person is especially predisposed to mold allergies, only a few mold strains exist that cause significant health issues.
Once a mold is observed during a home inspection, House Call Inspections can take one or more samples and send them to a laboratory for analysis. The lab will identify the particular strain, the typical source of that strain, and the health hazards associated with the strain. This low cost analysis is the recommended first step in determining what remediation, if any, is needed to make your house safe.
Be leery of any home inspector who claims to be a 'mold expert'. It takes years of specialized training to reach that level of expertise, and I know of no inspector with that background.
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Wood-Destroying Organism Inspection (WDO Inspection)
 Sometimes called "termite inspections", this specialized inspection looks for damage caused by any type of insecta, primarily termites that feed on, and nest in, the wood that supports your home's frame, porch, patio, flooring, ceiling, and other places. Of course, not all wood-destroying insects are termites. Ants, bees and beatles, and various larva are also known for making a buffet of your home's wooden elements and thereby compromising the soundness and integrity of your home's ability to support itself. The damage caused by wood-destroying insects can certainly lead to the sharp devaluation of your property's value as well as increasing the danger for occupants.
With most inspections done by House Call Inspections (ask for details), a no-cost inspection done by a third-party professional termite inspection company can be done simultaneously with the home inspection. That company will then issue you the Georgia Wood Destroying Organisms form that your lender may require.
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