Jason Day

THANKSGIVING DAY IS A UNIQUELY AMERICAN HOLIDAY.

IT'S THE DAY WHEN WE RE-ENACT THE AUTUMN HARVEST FEAST SHARED BETWEEN THE PLYMOUTH COLONISTS AND THE WAMPANOAG INDIANS IN 1621. NEARLY 400 YEARS LATER, WE STILL CELEBRATE THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION THAT EXISTED THEN AND CONTINUES TO THRIVE AMONG SAILORS AND MARINES SERVING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TODAY. IT'S ALSO A CHANCE FOR ALL OF US TO GIVE THANKS FOR OUR GOOD FORTUNE TO LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

A home or building cannot fail an inspection. A professional inspection gives you an independent, unbiased view of any problems and their solutions, so that you will have all the facts you need to make a sound, informed decision.

Depending on the size and condition of the property, a thorough inspection will take no more than four hours, usually between an hour and a half and three hours. (NOTE: We inspect small commercial buildings up to 50,000 sq. ft.) Ideally, you will accompany your inspector during the consultation, so that you will have visual reinforcement of your written report.

We take our inspection reports seriously. Every inspection is a complete and thorough analysis of all the major systems and components in the home. The report includes a clear description of what we've found with any problem areas noted, so you can easily identify them. Our inspectors also provide a free telephone consultation after your inspection.

A thorough property inspection will include the following:

Walking you through the Inspection

You don't need an inspector to point out that your floors are scratched or the paint on the wall is peeling. Cosmetic flaws are the least of your worries.

Instead, we will go to great lengths to uncover what you can't see. This includes a thorough analysis of all the accessible systems, components and structures that make up your home. That means everything from the windows, doors and roofs to the electrical, heating and plumbing; be it up in the attic, down in the basement or the crawl spaces in between. This exhaustive inspection usually lasts between two to three hours and will leave nothing to the imagination.

This will not be a secretive undertaking. In fact, we will encourage you to be there for every second of the inspection. This way, questions and concerns can be addressed on the spot. Once the inspection is complete, you'll have a chance to backtrack and synthesize everything we have found: the good, the bad and the ugly.

Inspections can help you buy or sell your home or building with confidence. As trained professionals we have seen it all, and we'll provide invaluable help in turning you into a knowledgeable consumer. Owners can identify problems in the making and take preventive measures to avoid costly repairs. Sellers can understand conditions the buyer's inspector may point out and put the property in better selling condition by making repairs. Our inspection services include:

Buyers Inspection
In both new and older properties, the best way to ensure that you are well informed about their strengths and weaknesses is to have us give you a licensed professional inspection. 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.

Sellers Inspection
Whether you are selling your property on your own or using a realtor, it's always a prudent idea to have a licensed professional home inspection. Knowledge is power. All properties have strengths and weaknesses: we help you answer how serious the problems are, which must be immediately addressed and which can wait. The more you know about your home, the more prepared you will be for negotiation.

Warranty Inspection
Most builders provide a one-year warranty for new construction. Generally during this period of time the buyer develops a "punch list" of corrections for the contractor to repair under the warranty coverage. Some defects will not be obvious to the untrained eye. It is prudent to obtain our home inspectors list of items that will most likely be repaired by your builder at no cost to you. You will be reassured knowing that potential problems were addressed before they grew into something that could cost you a great deal down the road.

Environmental Hazards
Our job as your professional home inspector is to alert you, to the extent possible, to unknown problems and potential environmental hazards in your current or potential house. Ours is a non-invasive visual inspection of your property which can alert you to possible problems.

We inspect for these hazards:

• Asbestos: Asbestos material that crumbles easily if sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder is more likely to create a health hazard because it can be inhaled into the lungs, increasing the risk of disease.
  
• Lead: Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. In general, the older a home, the more likely it has lead-based paint.
  
• Mold: There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture. Molds can produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances.
  
• Radon: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in soils, rock, and water throughout the U.S. Radon is a threat to health because it tends to collect in homes, sometimes to very high concentrations.
  
• Termites or other wood-destroying organisms: These pests cause serious damage to wooden structures and posts and can also attack stored food, household furniture, and books.

Following through with the Report
There are too many inspectors who deliver otherwise thorough and detailed inspections in reports that are difficult to understand. At First Class Property Inspections, we produce computer-generated reports that are easy to read and user-friendly, leaving you with no doubt as to the required course of action. In order to meet the various demands of our clients, these reports can be delivered on the spot, by e-mail or through a password-protected section on our website.

Keep in mind that the inspection does not end with the bill. Because all our inspectors are required to carry Professional Liability Insurance, you will be covered for any errors or omissions in the inspection or final report. This guarantee extends to your realtor as well.

One of the most common misconceptions is that an inspection without any negative findings was a waste of money. Nothing could be further from the truth. Inspections leave you with valuable peace of mind that allows you to rest easy knowing that your investment is a healthy one.