Most home inspections are designed to be surface-level. Inspectors are trained to use their eyes and to avoid "invasive" practices. While many experienced certified inspectors produce excellent outcomes this way, at the end of the day you just can't beat the security and protection that comes from deep diagnosis. When something gets missed in the inspection process it can really increase exposure to outcomes that are not beneficial for those you care most about. And we aren't charging an arm and a leg for the added service! Our pricing is straightforward and transparent.
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
When we don't have a clear picture of how heat, air, and moisture are moving in a home AND whether each critical system (HVAC, Plumbing, Roofing, Electrical, Insulation, Moisture Management, etc) is working properly with other systems unintended outcomes result and they have a huge impact on your family. Here are some examples of the things we find and prevent for buyers just like you every day.
- HIDDEN MOLD, PEST INTRUSION AND STRUCTURAL DETERIORATION - When moisture and heat make their way into and are trapped in spots they're not supposed to be, like your walls, attic, basement or crawlspace, or your subfloor, they create hidden spots that act like little biomes for organic growth (mold/mildew) and pests. When things grow and are living in these spaces the very structure of the home is under attack. You can't see it until you dig deeper. If you miss it, the surprise maintenance costs and health impacts can be significant. Not to mention, catastrophic failures in any critical system in your home can rock your financial world out of the blue. Check out what the EPA has to say on this topic: https://www.epa.gov/mold/brief-guide-mold-moisture-and-your-home
- SOURCES OF SERIOUS HIDDEN HEALTHY AND SAFETY RISKS - Our testing process includes the latest in continuous radon monitoring equipment, combustion analysis (checking your furnace and other gas-burning appliances for dangerous toxins), and a thorough evaluation of many other sources of health risks that come from things that you can't smell or see. This is critical to your family's well-being. Radon is a leading cause of lung cancer and, according to the State of Michigan's Indoor Radon Program (https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/materials-management/indoor-radon ) ,1 in every 4 Michigan homes has toxic levels. Remediation is easy and doesn't cost much, but you can't fix what you don't know is there. Carbon monoxide is another major threat, with more than 100,000 Americans heading to the emergency room each year due to accidental poisoning according to the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/copoisoning/index.html#:~:text=Every%20year%2C%20at%20least%20420,due%20to%20accidental%20CO%20poisoning. ). None of those impacted ever expected it to happen to them. We believe it's better to have the certainty that it isn't happening in your own home through rigorous testing.
These are just a few examples. The bottom line is that your family's well-being is tied to the depth and structure of your home inspection and YOU CHOOSE what kind of inspection process you believe is best for those you care about.
If you'd like to dive into this issue more on your own, check out Harvard University's Healthy Home site:
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/healthybuildings/work/healthy-homes/