Applied Real Estate Inspections

"Taking the fear out of fungus"
Mold, Allergy, Bacteria, Fungus And Well Water Tests & Inspections
Inspections

What is a Home Inspection?

A home inspection is a professional, objective, visual examination of the condition of a home. Home buyers now entering the marketplace view inspections as a way to gain valuable information about the biggest purchase of their lifetime. It helps them to determine whether there are any major defects or system inadequacies at the time of purchase.

In most cases, home inspections are performed after a sales contract, conditional upon a satisfactory home inspection, has been accepted by the seller. The inspection can usually be arranged immediately to within a few days. The home buyer is typically encouraged to attend the inspection, so that he/she can see first hand the workings of the home. It also represents an excellent opportunity for the prospective buyer to ask questions about the home or to discuss potential changes.

Home inspections should also highlight the positive aspects of a home. In fact, many of the home inspector's observations or recommendations help to dispel home purchaser anxieties, and provide useful repair suggestions.

The home inspector's service to the purchaser is primarily one of education. The goal of the inspector is to provide the purchaser with a better understanding of the physical condition of the home in order that they can make a well-informed decision. It is also the inspector's role to keep his findings in perspective for the buyer. After the inspection is completed, a written report should be prepared for the home buyer, documenting the results of the inspection, along with an estimation of repair time frames and costs.

The home inspection should not be confused with an appraisal, a municipal code inspection, an environmental audit, or a home owner's warranty.

A complete home inspection should cover all of the major systems of a house, including structure, exterior, roofing, electrical, heating, cooling, insulation, plumbing and interior. As a minimum, an inspection should meet the Standards of Practice of the American Society of Home Inspectors® (ASHI®).

Consumers should be very careful when shopping for a home inspector. The industry on the whole is unregulated and many unqualified people offer home inspection services. Home inspection companies that offer to do repair work, or recommend repair companies, should be avoided.

Here are the tests and inspections we offer:

Mold Inspections: Initial inspections with protocols by CIH, Certified Industrial Hygienist, Viable and Non-viable air, physical and bulk samples, Clearance testing
Allergens: Cat, dog, dust mites, cockroaches
VOC's: Co, Co2, Formaldehyde, Mycotoxins
Bacteria: Eccoli, Legionella, Coliforms
Environment: Asbestos, Radon
Well Water: Bacteria, pesticides, PH, Total dissolved solids
Thermography: Construction defects, leak detection, electrical

We also offer certified home inspections. All reports meet or exceed ASHI standards of practice.

Ask about ERMI, Environmental Relative Moldiness Index. This is set forth by the EPA, Environmental Protection Agency. This will tell us how moldy your potential purchase is compared to thousands of structure sampled by the EPA.
mental Protection Agency. This will tell us how moldy your potential purchase is compared to thousands of structure sampled by the EPA.
What should you look for when considering a inspection service?
Ready to request service? Have a few more questions?

Santa Cruz, Monterey & Santa Clara County Tests & Inspections
Environmental testing and inspections - mold, allergens, bacteria, fungus, asbestos, radon, VOC's, well water and thermography for Santa Cruz, Monterey and Santa Clara Counties including Aptos, Capitola, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Carmel, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Campbell, Los Gatos, Palo Alto, San Jose and Sunnyvale.