FAQ

A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a house, from the roof to the foundation. A home inspector, therefore, will not pass or fail a house, but rather describe the physical condition and indicate what components and systems may need major repairs or replacement.

Premier Inspection Services performs professional home inspections that exceed the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) “STANDARDS OF PRACTICE”. The inspector will perform a complete and through inspection utilizing the most advanced inspecting equipment. The inspection will take approximately 3 hours. Our thorough home inspection reports will cover the condition of the home’s heating system; central air conditioning system (temperature permitting); interior plumbing and electrical systems; the roof, attic and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors; the foundation, basement and structural components.

Our focus is to ensure proper installation, functionality, safety and if any repairs or replacements need to be made.

We accept cash, check, money orders, credit or debit card (MasterCard, Visa) Payments are to be made prior to or at the time of inspection in order to receive your report. If paying by credit card please call our office and provide credit card information over the phone with our staff. If you can not attend the inspection, you will need to pay by credit card. We do not accept payment at closing due to this could be seen as a conflict of interest; meaning that the payment to the inspector is dependent upon the customer buying the home. It could be viewed that the inspector wrote a soft report so that he/she could get paid for the inspection.

We encourage you to ask all the questions you want at the inspection. However, should you have additional questions or concerns after the inspection, please feel free to call or email our office. Some of our clients call our office with specific and general questions well after the inspection takes place. The inspector is also available for a complete phone consultation to go over your report in detail if you are unable to attend the inspection. We believe client support during the inspection and beyond is one of the many reasons that our company is so successful.

We offer a re-inspection after each inspection that is performed. The inspector will have a copy of the original report and will verify that all requested repairs have been made properly. We will also issue another report based on our findings of the re-inspection. However, there is an additional charge for this inspection. Please call our office with enough advanced notice (usually 2-3 days) to schedule a re-inspection.

A Pre-Inspection Agreement is a document that describes the inspection process and payment terms, this document will need to be signed or accepted on our website or at the time of inspection by the client paying for the inspection of the property. If you will not be attending the inspection, we ask that the Pre-Inspection Agreement be accepted and signed prior to the date of the inspection. An email of the Pre-Inspection Agreement will be sent to you after scheduling your inspection; Agreement must be accepted and returned inorder for the report to be released. If needed we can also fax the agreement to be signed and returned prior to the inspection date.

Premier Inspection Services is committed to providing our clients with the highest level of service possible. We pride ourselves as one of the better inspection companies in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area with over 15 years of industry experience, competitive pricing and outstanding service throughout the inspection process. When you call Premier Inspection Services, you’ll always talk to a “live” person that is employed by our company who can assist you with any questions. You will not get lost in some complex voice mail system or answering service. Not only do we have experience in performing home inspections, we help homeowners with analysis and solutions of specific problems, such as wet basements, energy conservation and cracked foundations. So be sure and call our office to schedule your next home inspection.

The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) is the oldest and leading non-profit professional association for independent home inspectors. Since its formation in 1976, ASHI’s “Standard of Practice” has severed as the home inspector’s performance guideline, universally recognized and accepted by professional and government authorities alike. ASHI Members subscribe to a professional “Code of Ethics” that prohibits them from engaging in conflict of interest activities, which might compromise their objectivity. This is the consumer’s assurance that the inspector will not, for example, use the inspection to solicit repair work. In order to assist home inspectors in furthering their education, ASHI sponsors a number of technical seminars and workshops throughout the year, often in cooperation with one of the nearly 50 Chapters. ASHI also serves as a public interest group by providing accurate and helpful consumer information to home buyers on home purchasing and home maintenance.

Members of ASHI are independent professional home inspectors who have met the most rigorous technical and experience requirements in effect today. To become an ASHI Certified Inspector, an inspector must pass two different written technical exams, have performed a minimum of 250 professional fee-paid home inspections, and maintained his or her candidate status for no less than six months. ASHI Members are required to follow the Society’s “Code of Ethics”, and to obtain continuing education credits in order to keep current with the latest in building technology, materials, and professional skills.

Definitely! Many homebuyers are led to believe that the county or municipality inspection and the final walk-through with the builder’s representative is an adequate way to inspect a home. Most county or municipality inspectors spend no more than 30 minutes at a home site. The builder’s final walk-through inspection is very unlikely to disclose any problems with the home they built as some repairs can prove to be expensive. A certified ASHI home inspector will spend 2-3 hours during a typical inspection and could save thousands of dollars in repairs later on. Homeowners will have to correct defects that were present at the time of construction when they sell their homes in the future. We also offer a One-Year Inspection to assist the homeowner in negotiating builder warranty issues.

As trained, experienced and qualified professional home inspectors, we are familiar with the elements of: home construction, building materials, proper installation, construction history, safety and maintenance. We are well-versed in how the home’s many systems are intended to function together, and what steps to take if there is a system failure. In addition, it is very difficult for even the most experienced home buyer or owner to remain completely objective in regards to their home. We offer you impartiality and a valuable third-party opinion to help objectively identify problems, needed repairs and to evaluate the overall home condition.

In most real estate cases, a home inspector is called after the purchase agreement has been signed by you and the seller. As soon as you know that you have a signed contract and all of the property utilities are on; you need to schedule the inspection. It is important for potential home buyers to ensure that there is an inspection clause in the contract that makes the final purchase contingent upon the results of the professional home inspection.

It’s not required, but it is recommended. Throughout the inspection, you will be able to ask questions and you will learn about the condition of your home and the best ways to maintain it. Never pass up this opportunity to see your prospective home through the eyes of a professional.

No house is without at least some flaws. When problems are identified it doesn’t mean you should or shouldn’t buy the house. It just allows you to know in advance what to expect. If you are on a tight budget, or you do not want to incur immediate repair work, this information will be important to you. Often the buyers and sellers will work together to negotiate repairs or to adjust the asking price.

Just as you regularly service your car, go to the doctor and have dental checkups, a house is in need of regular maintenance. If your home is revealed to be in good condition, this will give you peace of mind. If you are considering purchasing a home, you can now do so with confidence. If you are the current homeowner, you now know that your home is well-maintained and no costly problems are lurking around the corner.

No. This is a conflict of interest that could compromise the impartial, unbiased inspection. In addition, the American Society of Home Inspectors’ code of ethics expressly prohibits its members from soliciting repair work on properties inspected. The ASHI code of ethics is designed to make sure the inspector has the client’s best interests in mind and not their own.

No.  Not all home inspection companies carry E&O insurance and many in Kansas & Missouri do not carry any type of insurance at all.

At Premier Inspections we carry general liability, workmen’s comp on our employees,  errors and omissions and agent/broker referring party indemnity insurance.   All for your protection.