Frequently Asked Questions
Q:
What exactly are you looking for when you perform a home inspection and which
items are inspected?
A: As you can see from the cut away above, we inspect every major item of your
new home seeking out and reporting defects that may affect your purchasing
decision or closing price.
Structure, Roofs, Attics and Ventilation, Insulation, Walls, Floors, Ceilings,
Chimneys, Flashing, Windows, Doors and Locks, Heating and Cooling Systems, Sump
Pumps, Hot Water
Heaters, Electrical Systems, Plumbing and Waste Systems, Bathrooms and Fixtures,
Kitchens and Appliances, Fireplaces, Washers and Dryers.
Garages and Door Openers, Gutters and
Downspouts, Property Grading and Pitch, Driveways, Sidewalks, Fences, Trees,
Virtually Everything !
Q: Why Do I Need A Home Inspection?
A: The purchase of your new home is probably the single most expensive
investment you’ll ever make in your lifetime. Unfortunately and far to often,
problems with the home don’t
become evident to the new home buyer until long after the “ newness “ and
excitement of the purchase have long worn off.
Q: If problems are detected, what happens next?
A: Many times if the problems are small enough, the home seller makes the
necessary repairs prior to the actual closing. Other times if the needed repairs
are extensive enough, the seller will re-negotiate the closing price of the home
to offset your expense of having those repairs made.
Quite often, our
inspections will actually pay for themselves or be profitable to the buyer
in the form of allowances made to the buyer from the seller due to items we
uncover during the inspection process!
Q: If the home I'm buying is being sold "As Is" a foreclosure or a short sale property, is a home inspection still worth the expense?
A:
It sure is! If the home is being sold "As Is" it definitely
pays to have a home inspection. It could
be the best money you ever spent if it keeps you from buying something that
needs a fortune in repairs. Even if you've already signed a contract, our
inspections will give you a clearer picture of what you're getting into.
Q:
Why choose a West Suburban inspection?
A:
In a word, quality. We know your concerns and we know what to look for. We
give you the tools you need to make the most informed and intelligent decision
possible. We are Not a franchise but a family owned
Company. We do for you what we would want done for us and we never
confuse our priorities. Also, please feel free to compare our credentials to
any of our competitors!
Q: Why are you guys so much cheaper. Do other Companies check more than you?
A: No, not at all. We are asked that quite often though. We're cheaper because we perform so many inspections a year. We have finally reached a level where our Yellow Page and Yellow Book advertising is at a minimum and we rely mostly upon word of mouth advertising and customer referrals. Lower overhead means lower prices. Some of our clients have loyally been with us through their first Condo, Town Home, then their first Single Family Home and on to New Construction. Also, most of the Realtors we know use us not only for their own purchases but those of their family and friends and refer us exclusively to their clients. This is Not because we have some secret "pact" with these Realtors but due to the fact that these Realtors truly do have their client's best interests at heart and prefer the honesty of our home inspections over the quick close and the "Blind Eye Inspection" of some other Companies in the interest of a future referral. We're simply cheaper because we no longer pay outrageous advertising fees.
Q: Should I test for Radon?
A: Definitely. Radon is actually the number one killer in the home. This is according to the Harvard School of Public Health. Radon is also the second leading cause of lung cancer. The previous number one killer in the home was being electrocuted in a crawl space. Who would have guessed? Go figure. What ever happened to falling off a ladder? Anyway, you definitely want to test for Radon. If the test comes back high, the sellers are obligated to repair it. These repairs typically run from $950.00 ~ $1300.00 and you don't want to be stuck with that.
If the test comes back high ( 4.0 Pcl or higher ) the sellers will need to make those repairs. If they don't and you walk away from the home, they still have to make the repair or they can't list the house again and legally state on the disclosure form that they are not aware of this problem. Since they have to fix the problem anyway, why not fix it for you?
The Company we use charges us $195.00 for the Radon test. We no longer do our own Radon testing. This expense is not marked up and is passed along to you at our actual cost so we can provide this service to you. You can find more information regarding this issue and the average Radon readings for the community your are moving to by clicking on the website link below.
Radon Detection Specialists, Inc.
What Areas Do You Serve?
Service Area Towns: The lists below only partially reflect the towns / areas we have served.
If you're not sure if we service your area please just give us a call. Chances are we do ( or will ).
Will County:
Beecher, Bolingbrook, Braidwood, Channahon, Crest Hill, Crete, Frankfort, Homer Glen, Joliet, Lemont, Lockport, Manhattan, Mokena, Monee,
Naperville, New Lenox, Peotone, Plainfield, Ritchie, Rockdale, Romeoville, Shorewood, Wilmington, Illinois.
DuPage County:
Addison, Aurora, Bartlett, Bensenville, Bloomingdale, Bolingbrook, Burr Ridge, Carol Stream, Clarendon Hills, Darien, Downers Grove,
Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Glendale Heights, Glenn Ellyn, Golfview Hills, Hanover Park, Hinsdale, Itasca, Lemont, Liberty Park, Lisle,
Lombard, Naperville, Oak Brook, Oak Brook Terrace, Roselle, Saint Charles, Schaumburg, Villa Park, Warrenville, Wayne, West Chicago,
Westmont, Wheaton, Willowbrook, Winfield, Woodridge, Wood Dale, Illinois.
Cook County:
Alsip, Arlington Heights, Bensenville, Berkeley, Berwyn, Bridgeview, Brighton Park, Broadview, Brookfield, Buffalo Grove, Burr Ridge, Cicero,
Country Club Hills, Countryside, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Elmwood Park, Evergreen Park, Forest Glen, Forest Park, Forest View, Franklin Park,
Hanover Park, Hickory Hills, Hoffman Estates, Homewood, Indianhead Park, La Grange, La Grange Highlands, La Grange Park, Lyons, Maywood,
Melrose Park, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Northbrook, Northlake, Norridge, Norwood Park, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Oak Park,
Orland Hills, Orland Park, Palos Hills, Palos Heights, Palos Park, Park Forest, Park Ridge, Prospect Heights, Richton Park, River Forest,
River Grove, Riverside, Riverdale, Rolling Meadows, Roselle, Rosemont, Schiller Park, Stickney, Stone Park, Streamwood, Summit,
Tinley Park, University Park, Western Springs, Wheeling, Willow Springs, Worth, Illinois.
Kane County:
Algonquin, Aurora, Bartlett, Batavia, Carpentersville, Dundee, East Dundee, Elburn, Elgin, Gilberts, Hampshire, Hoffman Estates, Kaneville,
Montgomery, Mooseheart, North Aurora, St. Charles, Sleepy Hollow, South Elgin, Sugar Grove, West Dundee, Illinois.
Kendall County:
Bristol, Oswego, Plano, Yorkville, Illinois.