Questions & Answers

A home inspection is an unbiased evaluation of a home’s condition by a trained professional.  The inspector will conduct a visual inspection of the accessible portions of a house, both inside and outside. The resulting inspection report is an objective assessment of the condition of the house and its operational systems.

The purpose of a home inspection is to identify defects and adverse conditions that may affect the value or livability of the house. Our inspectors have been in thousands of homes and are familiar with the signs to look for that may indicate something is amiss or getting ready to fail.

The home buying process can be a stressful and emotional time. For many people, it’s the single biggest investment that they’ll ever make. A home inspector’s objective and unbiased view will provide you with the information needed to make confident decisions regarding the suitability of the home and reduce the amount of risk involved.

Every home is different and may contain different building components, so there is no set list.

Your home inspector can’t see through walls, but they will visually inspect virtually every accessible location of the house as well as the working components within the house.

The standard home inspector’s report will cover the condition of the home’s heating system; central air conditioning system; interior plumbing and electrical systems; the roof, attic and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors; the foundation, basement and structural components. If you'd like to know more, use our contact page or give our helpful staff a call at 215-362-1234 and they’ll answer all your questions.

Anyone who wants or needs an objective assessment of a home. However, home inspections are most commonly associated with a real estate transaction. Often, the sale of a home is contingent on resolving any issues that arise out of the inspection. In these cases, the buyer or the buyer’s agent arranges an inspection prior to closing. We’ve also had clients who’ve had their homes inspected prior to listing them.

You bet! Don’t assume that just because the house is newly built that there aren’t any problems.  Building a new house is complex and even the best and most reputable builders may overlook something. It’s always best to have those problems taken care of before you close the deal and move in.

In short, experience and objectivity.

Over time, building materials and methods have changed. Even in modern homes there are multiple ways of heating it, multiple types of foundations, and so on. Our inspectors have been in thousands of homes in our area and are familiar with the signs to look for that may indicate something is getting ready to fail, regardless of when or how the house was built.

In addition, if you are involved in buying or selling a house, it is impossible for you to remain completely unemotional about the house — not to mention that it’s often a very busy time for you. For a variety of reasons, you may miss or forget something. In addition to being an experienced professional, your home inspector will not have these distractions or biases.

No, but you should be.

Your home inspector is a wealth of knowledge regarding the components of a house. After the home inspector finishes their inspection, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive an in depth description of what they have to say regarding the home’s components and systems. You will learn a lot about your new home as well as some tips on maintenance that will be of great help once you move in.

Yes, there are many items that aren’t part of a standard home inspection that should be checked. Here at SPY Inspection Services, we offer an array of services, including Radon Testing, Wood Destroying Insect Inspection, Water Quality Analysis, Well Inspections, Septic Certification, and testing for Mold and Lead-Based Paint. The best part is it only takes one call to schedule all of your services! For more information, check out Our Services page.

The bad news – no house is perfect. The good news – it doesn’t mean you should or shouldn’t buy the house, only that you will know in advance what to expect.

Most issues we find are minor and can often be resolved with a service call. Oftentimes, when major problems are found, the seller may agree to pay for part or all of the repairs. In any event, you are armed with the information necessary to make sound and confident decisions about the property.

If you are in need of a single inspection or multiple inspections for a real estate property, ONE phone call to SPY Inspection Services can take care of all of your inspections needs.

From the moment your order is received, SPY will coordinate all of your inspections so they take place on the dates and times scheduled. You can be assured that you’ll receive comprehensive reports containing the results of thorough examinations performed by experienced, well-trained, licensed and insured inspectors. Our inspectors take the time to review your report and systems of the home in terms that are easily understood.

There are many excellent government publications regarding various aspects and components of your house. We have gathered many of them together on our Resources page. There, you can find links to: publications from federal and state agencies on environmental issues; information on pests and how to control them from top universities and professional organizations; and local organizations involved with the home inspection industry. Of course, if you’d like more information on any home inspection related topic, feel free to give us a call at (215) 362-1234 or fill out our contact form.