Who are you?

• Tim Kallmer
• Professional Inspector
• Professional Engineer
• Owner, Engineered Real Estate Inspection
• Serving buyers, sellers, owners, and investors since 2002
• Independent, objective, detailed, clear, and friendly
• Certified by the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI)
• Licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC)
• Member of Texas Association of Real Estate Inspectors (TAREI)
• Am I the perfect home inspector?: no
• Will I work hard for you?: yes!

Why did you become a home inspector?

• I want to help others avoid difficulties my wife and I experienced with our home
• I enjoy working closely with clients and educating them about their home
• I believe alerting home owners to safety hazards is extremely important
• I find helping people to be very rewarding

What do you do as a home inspector?

• I work in your best-interest
• Protect your pocketbook: avoid costly repairs
• Protect your investment: avoid deterioration of your home
• Protect your family: avoid serious injury and harm

What is a home inspection?

• Service to help you make decisions about real estate based on the current condition of a property and its systems
• The purchase or sale of a home or commercial property is one of the largest single investments/transactions you will ever make
• Major deficiencies identified, repairs noted, and also positive aspects, helpful tips, maintenance advice to keep it in great shape
• We encourage clients to attend the inspection
• You will have a clearer understanding of the property you are about to purchase
• Like a physical check-up
• If problems or symptoms are found, I may recommend further evaluation by experts
• What it is not: does not include appraisals, exact quotations for repairs, noncompliance with building code requirements, and is not intended to provide guarantees or warranties

What does it include?

• Reviews the condition of the home's visible systems, components and structures
• Exterior: Slope, grading and drainage of the property; Foundation and exterior walls; Porches and decks; Windows, doors, headers and sills; Fascia, soffits and eaves troughs; Roof, flashings, vents and chimneys; Garage, carport and outbuildings
• Interior: Foundation walls, basement floor, posts and beams; Evidence of moisture penetration, wood damage, etc; Electrical service and wiring; Plumbing supply, waste drainage and fixtures; Heating, air conditioning and ventilation; Appliances; Fireplace; Floors, walls, ceilings, doors and windows; Attic insulation and ventilation; Various optional systems such as pools or irrigation systems
• Usually lasts between 3 and 4 hours, occasionally longer
• Report is emailed the following day at the latest normally

Who needs a home inspection?

Used home buyers:

• An inspection is highly recommended
• Gaining a clearer understanding of the property you are about to purchase
• Making a confident buying decision

New home buyers:

• An inspection can be important
• Phased inspections to monitor building process
• Address problems before closing

Home sellers:

• An inspection may be useful
• Expedite your property sale
• Eliminate last minute surprises which can cause the deal to fall apart
• Help accurately disclose the property condition
• Receive more realistic offers
• Close with fewer problems
• Sell faster with fewer unanswered questions
• Avoid surprises after the buyer makes an offer leading to delays and price renegotiation
• Provides an opportunity to make repairs that will put the house in better selling condition
• Make your house more marketable and attractive to buyers because they know they're working with an honest, sincere and committed seller

Home owners:

• An inspection may be useful
• Identify conditions which may lead to premature deterioration or safety issues
• Learn preventive measures to avoid costly future repairs

Investors or Landlords:

• An inspection is very important
• Protect yourself from litigation due to safety issues

Renters:

• An inspection is not common but may be desired
• Become familiar with safety issues for a home you are not familiar with prior to lease

Builders:

• An inspection is not common but may be desired
• Have your work checked
• Address issues during construction prior to them becoming more expensive as building progresses

What does an inspection cost?

• Each home is different
• By calling, emailing, or requesting a quote through the website, I can quickly quote a fee based on basic information about the home
• The majority usually run between $300 and $500
• Do not let cost be a factor in deciding whether or not to have a home inspection, or in the selection of your home inspector
• Knowledge gained from an inspection is well worth the cost
• The lowest-priced inspector is not necessarily a bargain
• The inspector's qualifications, experience, training, professional expertise, and personality should be the most important considerations

How long will the Inspection take?

• Most inspections take about three to five hours
• Times vary depending on the size, age and condition of the home

Can I inspect my home myself?

• Short answer: yes -- however, this is the biggest mistake many potential new homeowners make when purchasing a home
• Generally lack the knowledge and expertise
• Generally lack familiarity with the many elements of home construction
• Generally lack understanding of how the home's systems and components are intended to function together, as well as how and why they fail
• Find it difficult to remain completely objective and unemotional about the house they really want, and this may affect their judgment
• Professional inspectors have an instinct for problems, which takes extensive training and lots of experience to develop
• Many contractors, and other trades professionals hire a professional home inspector to inspect their homes when they make a purchase
• For the most accurate information, it is best to obtain an impartial third-party opinion by a home inspector

When do I call in the home inspector?

• For home buyers, typically right after the contract or purchase agreement has been signed
• Before you sign, be sure that there is an inspection contingency clause in the contract
• Often available within a few days

What if the report reveals problems?

• No house is perfect, so keep things in perspective
• If there are issues, it doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't buy the house -- only that you will know in advance what to expect
• Seller may adjust the purchase price or contract terms
• It is not always reasonable to expect the seller to correct every item on the inspection report: you must decide which items are most important to you, and which ones you can live with

How do I choose a Home Inspector?

• I would encourage you not to sacrifice quality just to find the cheapest fee and save $50 bucks on such a sizeable investment
• Communication skills and qualifications should be your top priorities in choosing an inspector
• Ask about their qualifications and experience
• You should feel that the inspector is qualified, experienced, attentive to your needs, and willing to answer your questions
• Ask to see a sample report. It should be thorough
• Make sure they include digital photographs
• If you do not choose me, be sure to choose someone you are comfortable with

What qualifications should a home inspector offer?

• When choosing a home inspector, begin with a list of association members in your area
• Then check to see who among these has the most outstanding reputation for thoroughness as an inspector
• Be sure to attend your inspection -- that way, you'll learn as much as possible from your inspector
• Some have college degrees in fields related to construction such as engineering and architecture
• Even fewer are professional engineers

Should I be present during the Inspection?

• Yes, I recommend that you be present at the inspection
• It usually works best if I can concentrate on inspecting, then meet with you as I am nearing completion
• I will be glad to speak with you, show you my comments, and teach you about the house

Why use my Services?

• The purchase of a new home is one of the single most costly investments that a family will make
• It is important for you to know what are getting for your money
• A home inspection is an excellent tool for you, the home buyer, to help determine not only the condition of the home, but to also help foresee any immediate unnecessary additional cost that may go unnoticed
• Although a home inspection is not a prediction of future performance, it can pinpoint existing problems

What if I have questions after the inspection?

• You can call me and discuss all the aspects of your new home
• My service is a long-term commitment