Services Available:

• Standard Home Inspection
• New Home Walkthrough
• Pre-Contract and Foreclosure Inspections
• Partial Inspections
• Environmental Testing
  • Radon/Lead Testing
  • Mold Testing
• Maintenance Inspections
• Energy Audit & Energy Survey Inspections
• Commercial Inspections
• Thermal Imaging
• EDR Environmental Review

Our Standard Home Inspections include:

In both new and older homes, a professional home inspection is the best way to ensure that you are well informed about the strengths and weaknesses of a property. We are trained to identify problem areas both small and large that may have been overlooked by the previous owners and to identify which require immediate attention.

I recently talked to a client working as a contractor who wanted to know what we were going to inspect that he couldn’t just do himself. I explained that there are thousands of things we are looking at. While I am sure that he knows a great deal about homes and might be a great home inspector with some training, he was not qualified to do his own inspection. I made a bold bet with him: If he was not happy with what we found and thought he could have done a better job, he didn’t have to pay me. Well, I got paid on that job and have since extended that bet to all clients with our 200% guarantee.

The average home inspection takes about 3 hours to complete the on site portion followed by a couple of hours of report writing and editing back at the office.  So unlike most companies we have about 5 hours of inspector time in most inspections. 

Along with each inspection our customers get a complimentary Recall Chek.  What can that do for you? My wife and I recently got a $500 credit for a new dishwasher even though the one we had was only 3 years of age and was working. Many of my neighbors and friends have also gotten repairs and new appliances due to the Recall Cheks we have done for them.  Free is great, but keeping your home and family safe is even more important.

Included with each of our full inspections is a 90 day warranty that we purchase for you.  Unlike many warranties, ours has no deductible and has saved our customers thousands of dollars over the past year. Stuff breaks and knowone can tell for sure when that will happen.

In a standard home inspection we are looking at all of the following:

Furnace & AC units	Waterheater	Washer / Dryer
Roof and Gutters	Kitchen  Equipment	Foundation/ Framing
Grading	Landscaping	Driveways / Sidewalks
Porches/ Decks	Stairs / Railings	Fences/  Retaining walls
Attics/ Insulation/	Ventilation	Floors/ Walls/ Ceilings
Doors and Windows	Siding and Trim	Electrical system
Plumbing system	Bathrooms	Basements/ Slabs
Crawlspaces	Sump pumps	Garages/ Carports

 

Termite Inspection

We offer termite inspections and since we do not do any treatments there is no added incentive to find termites that are not really there.  A common practice among treating companies is to find termites in wood piles and mulch several feet from the home or observe old damage and claim a treatment of the entire home is needed.  Since we do not have anything to sell, we will call it like we see it.  Each termite inspection comes with a 90 day warranty.  

Radon Testing

Radon testing is done on about 70% of our inspections. We offer a package deal with a Radon test and Termite inspection for a discount when done together that will save you $25 off the cost of doing them separately.

 

New Home Walkthrough

In a new home the quality of construction is often not what it used to be some years ago; therefore, many buyers have independent reviews of their properties during various stages of the construction process. We provide Pre-Drywall and Post Completion Inspections--usually performed as a package. These inspections protect your purchase, prevent unpleasant surprises and ensure the quality workmanship of your home.

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Pre-Contract and Foreclosure Inspections

We frequently perform Pre-Contract Inspections for clients who anticipate a competitive bidding process and want a quick check of the big ticket items before the writing a contract. A similar inspection also helps clients who are purchasing a foreclosure property and need to know if there are any “show stopper” problems. In both of these situations the client typically does not have time to do the entire inspection or the seller will not allow a full inspection. In many cases the water or electricity are not even on. We recommend following up with the full inspection after purchase.

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Partial Inspections

We can evaluate specific areas of a home when the owner receives conflicting information or advice from contractors. Since these inspections take less time and are of a limited scope the fee is generally much lower. The typical time for this type of inspection is an hour.

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Environmental Testing

• Radon: We perform radon tests using a continuous monitors. These monitors not only give the 48 hour average used to determine the overall radon level, but our monitors give an hour by hour reading allowing you to see what the levels were for any hour during the test. While a radon inspection is commonly done at the time of a full home inspection, we offer this as an individual service as well. The test must remain in the home for a minimum of 48 hours and the results are usually sent out the same day the device is retrieved.
• We sell a continuous radon monitor that can be plugged into a standard electric outlet and give a report on your radon levels on a permanent basis. Many of our customers like to purchase this monitor to test different areas of a home or even family member's homes.
• Lead: We offer lead testing using a XRF device, which is the only method capable of determining if lead exists in a particular area. We can also perform an overall assessment of the building’s lead dust content using dust wipes.
• Mold Testing: We have 3 certified microbial contamination technicians on staff and do testing and mold evaluations all over the Washington area in both residential and commercial environments. Mold testing can be expensive, but we have packages that can reduce the cost substantially when done with some of our other services. Both mold testing and mold screening services are available. 
• Mold evaluation:  In addition to testing for mold it is important that the inspector have the ability to determine where the microbial growth might be coming from and how to get rid of it. Testing will tell you if there is a problem, but unless the inspector can tell you what to do about it, you will still be in the dark.

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Maintenance Inspections

These inspections are primarily designed to uncover serious safety concerns, as well as help the homeowner know which types of expenses he is likely to incur over the next year. The cost is generally about 1/2 of the typical inspection. This type of inspection can be of great benefit to clients who lack either the time or the mobility to maintain their home. Many of our clients have purchased this inspection service for their parents.

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Energy Audit & Energy Survey Inspections

This valuable service saves our client’s money on their utility bills and affords them the peace of mind that their home is operating at peak efficiency. It is not uncommon for our clients to cut their gas and/or electric bills by 30% or more. Not only can we do the testing, but we can point you in the right direction to get the work done right.

An energy audit inspection is a comprehensive survey of your home’s efficiency. It includes the following services:

• check the home for air leaks using a blower door and chemical smoke candle
• check the walls and ceilings for proper insulation using an Infrared Camera
• evaluate existing appliances, including the heating, cooling and kitchen appliances
• evaluate lighting and water use, provide recommendations if needed
• evaluate windows and doors for heat loss and air movement
• provide a comprehensive report showing areas needing improvement and recommendations

The services for the energy survey can be purchased on an as needed basis depending on your requirements. In many homes we do just thermal imaging or thermal imaging along with the blower door test.

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Commercial Inspections

We have done several commercial inspections over the years including embassies, office buildings, schools, hotels, restaurants, doctor offices, retail space and churches.  

Our commercial inspections are designed to provide our customers with whatever they desire. Price is determined by the customers needs and the time required assembling the requested information.  Some of our customers just want to know if the building will fall down, while others want a complete accounting of everything. 

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Thermal Imaging

Infrared scanning offers a way to visualize problems in a building that would not ordinarily be visible by the naked eye.  Our infrared cameras work by changing differences in temperature into different colors using the infrared spectrum allowing us to see these temperature variations.  

How does that make a difference?  A wet surface will cause evaporation on the surface and a subsequent slight cooling of the surface. This small difference in temperature shows as a completely different color when viewed through an infrared camera.

In addition to seeing wet areas, we can detect missing insulation, under slab radiant heating systems, injuries in animals, air leaks in buildings and overheating electrical components. 

EDR Environmental Review

Information coming soon

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Montgomery County Home Inspection Company | Potomac Home Inspection | Montgomery County Licensed Home Inspector | Potomac Certified Home Inspector | Montgomery County Home Mold Testing | Potomac Mold Testing  | Montgomery County Radon Testing | Potomac Commercial Property Inspections