Q. What is a Home Inspection?
A: A home inspection is a non bias, non invasive, visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a home, from the foundation to the roof. It is important to be realistic in your expectations of the home inspector and understand that all home inspections are a visual assessment of the home. Any items that are inaccessible or concealed from view cannot be inspected. A home inspection is a snapshot in time and will inform you of the condition of the home and it's systems on inspection day. Having a home inspected is like giving it a physical check-up. If any problems or symptoms are found, the inspector will document and address the issue in the inspection report and may recommend repairs, replacement or further evaluation.

Q. When do I call in the home inspector?
A: Before you sign the contract or purchase agreement, make your purchase obligation contingent upon the findings of a professional home inspection. Contact a home inspector immediately after the purchase agreement has been accepted. Home inspectors are well aware of the time constraints involved in purchase agreements and most are available to conduct the required inspection within a few days. Don't find yourself scrambling to find a home inspector at the last minute to schedule your home inspection. Most reputable Inspectors are booked at least 3-5 days in advance.The earlier you call to schedule your home inspection, the better your chances are at getting the time and date that works best for you.

Q. How do I know the inspector I choose is looking out for my best interest and not just trying to get another realtor referral?
A. Honestly you really don't know. There are many home inspectors in Indianapolis to choose from, all with different backgrounds, knowledge, work ethics and morals. One thing I can honestly tell you to watch out for when searching for a home inspector on the internet, are pages on their website that specifically target Real Estate Agents. On those pages you might see catch phrases such as "non-alarmist", "team member" or "we won't kill your deal". These tell tale phrases should be viewed as a conflict of interest and it is in your best interest to continue your search elsewhere. Home inspectors are not employees of Real Estate offices or agents. True professional home inspectors are hard working owner/operators of their own companies. Their primary job and focus should be solely on you the home buyer. They should only be working for you and be looking out for your best interest, no matter where their referral came from. Remember, the choice is completely yours to make when it comes to hiring a home inspector. Take your time and find the RIGHT home inspector for you.

We do not play games in order to keep our realtor referrals coming. Quite frankly, we don't have to. 80% of our business comes directly from our website and past client referrals. 5% comes from real estate investors. The other 15% comes from realtor referrals. The realtors that do currently recommend MC2 Home Inspections are honest hard working people with good work ethics and morals. They understand what kind of inspection we provide and that's exactly what they want for their clients. 

Q. How much does a Home Inspection cost here in the Indianapolis area?
A. Home inspection prices here in the Midwest have remained relatively unchanged over the last several years. A typical home inspection here in Indy will run you anywhere between $225.00 to $350.00. Of course the price does depend on the size of the home you are purchasing. In general, the larger the home, the more the Inspection will cost. Beware of the "low ball" inspector who charges considerably less than others. This is usually a sign of a newer inspector in the area who is trying to drum up business. Also beware of the large franchise companies who charge exorbitant prices. The reason they charge such higher prices is not because they are any better than anyone else, it is because they ARE a franchise. Their higher inspection fees are to offset their franchise fee.

Q. I have been calling around getting quotes from other inspectors, will you match the lowest price I find?
A. Absolutely not. Unfortunately there are some inspectors in town who offer very cheap and very quick home inspections. A professional home inspection is no place to cut corners when you are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for a home. We keep a "hawks eye" on all of our competitors prices and we maintain a very fair and competitive price for a quality inspection. If you are calling around trying to find the absolute lowest price on a home inspection, be VERY careful. You could wind up with more (or much less) than you bargained for.

Q. Will you invoice the inspection fee? (Typically a Realtor or Investor question)
A. No. The inspection fee is due prior to, or at the time of inspection, no exceptions.

Q: How long will the Inspection take?
A: Most basic home inspections take anywhere from 2-3 hours.
     Basic home inspection with a thermal imaging add on can take anywhere from 3-4 hours.
     Termite inspection (stand alone) can take about 1 hour.
     Mold inspection and testing can take anywhere from 1-2 hours.
     Thermal imaging survey can take anywhere from 2-3 hours.
     Obviously these times can vary depending on the size, age & condition of the home.

Q. How long does it take to receive the inspection report?
A. Typically you will receive the report 3-4 hours after the inspection is completed. It really depends on the condition of the home. In short, the more issues that are found, the longer the report will take. You will always receive the report the same day. After the inspection, your home inspector will go home and complete the report. We do this after every home inspection. That way everything is still fresh in the inspectors mind. The photos will get uploaded into the report and the report is filled out documenting the inspectors findings. It will also include recommendations on repairs and maintenance issues. When completed, the report is emailed to you in PDF format. The inspector may also send additional attachments along with the report such as home maintenance tips, how to control moisture in and around your home etc. The extra attachments are very educational and can help assist you with the regular maintenance your home needs.

Q. What does it include?
A: The standard home inspector's report will review the condition of the home's heating system, central air conditioning system (temperature permitting), interior plumbing and electrical systems, the roof, attic, visible insulation, ventilation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, the foundation, basement or crawlspace, and visible structure. Overall, approximately 250 points of your home will be checked and/or tested. That is quite a value when you consider how much it would cost to hire a roofer, HVAC technician, electrician, plumber etc. to inspect these items individually.

Q. What should I NOT expect from a home inspection?
A. A home inspection is not protection against future failures. Stuff happens! Components like air conditioners and Heating Systems can and will break down. A home inspection tells you the condition of the component at the time the component was inspected. For protection from future failure you may want to consider a home warranty.

A home inspection is not an appraisal that determines the value of a home. Nor will a home inspector tell you if you should buy the home or what to pay for the home.

A home inspection is not a code inspection, which verifies local building code compliance. A home inspector will not pass or fail a house. Homes built before code revisions are not obligated to comply with the code for homes built today. Home inspectors will report findings when it comes to safety concerns that may be in the current code such as ungrounded outlets above sinks. A home inspector always thinks "Safety" not "Code" when performing a home inspection.

Q. Do all of the utilities need to be on prior to the home inspection?
A. YES. Please make sure that all of the utilities including gas, water and electricity are turned on prior to the inspection. Taking this very important step will help to expedite your inspection and ensure that everything is inspected properly. Home inspectors cannot have the utilities turned on for you. Your Realtor should be able to help you in making sure that all of the utilities get turned on prior to the inspection.

Q. Who is responsible for turning on the water to a home that has been winterized?
A. You may notice that no one will want to claim this responsibility. This is mostly due to the liabilty issues that can arise from turning the water on to a home that has been vacant for a substantial length of time. The city for instance, will only turn on the water to their side of the meter pit. Who is supposed to turn it on to the home? Some will try and tell you it is the Inspectors responsibility (to get out of the liability). The truth is, it is the sellers responsiblity, or if the home is a bank owned property, it is the property management company or the listing agents responsibility to turn on the water to the home.

Q: Should I be present during the Inspection?
A: It's really up to you. We do recommend that you be present so that you can see what the inspector sees when he sees it. However we also realize that many people have busy schedules and may not be able to attend. If this is the case, put your mind at ease. Your inspector will be just as thorough with the inspection as if you were there. We also take a "photo diary" of the entire inspection and insert it into the report. This way you will always have a visual reference back to the day of inspection.

(Side note) If you are planning on attending the inspection, please refrain from inviting too many people and make sure to give your inspector some breathing room so that he can give the inspection the attention it deserves. A great deal of concentration is required in doing a home inspection and the less your home inspector is distracted, the more thorough your inspection will be. Thank you for your understanding.

Q. I work until 5:00pm, how late do you work?
A. Please keep in mind that a proper home inspection takes a minimum of 2-3 hours to complete while at the home. Then approximately another 2-3 hours to complete the report. We only schedule 2 inspections per day per inspector. The first at 9:30am and the second at 3:30pm. This gives ample time for the inspector to conduct a proper inspection and write up a comprehensive report without having to feel rushed to get to another inspection or working deep into the middle of the night. If you work until 4-5:00pm, it is recommended that the inspector start the inspection no later than 3:30pm. Then you can plan on attending after you get off of work. The inspector will then go through everything with you when you arrive and answer any questions you may have. By scheduling this way, everyone should be home before 7:00pm and you will receive your report around 8-9:00pm that evening.

Q. Do you get up on the roof?
A. This is a very common question we as home inspectors get. The answer is yes and no. Home inspectors are not required by Indiana state law to walk a roof. However, if there is a genuine need to get on the roof, such as to inspect the top of a brick chimney dome, or inspect the flue, then yes we will get on the roof, if it is safe to do so (4:12 pitch max). Truth be told, a person can do significant damage to a roof by walking on it. When someone walks on your roof, they are actually damaging your shingles and shortening their life span. The added weight and particularly the shoes of a person loosen the protective granules of the roof shingles, thus making the shingles less effective against shedding rain water. Other issues that can arise from walking on a roof include: falling off, cracking rafters, ridge beam and damage to the roof decking from excessive weight (especially in older homes with conventional framing). In most cases, walking the roof is completely unecessary. A good experienced home inspector will evaluate the roof by a ladder against the edges of the home, and more importantly from underneath by inspecting the roof decking from the attic. If there is an issue with the roof, the story is always told by the roof decking. In short, the only time anyone should be walking on your roof is when it is being repaired. 

Q: Why can't I have someone in my family who is very handy or a contractor, inspect my new home?
A: This is the biggest mistake many potential new homeowners make when purchasing a home. Although the person you are considering may be skilled, and think they can do the job of a professional home inspector, they are not trained, certified or experienced at performing a true life home inspection. Professional home inspection is a unique skill like no other. Professional home inspectors get what we call an “inspector's instinct” for problems. That instinct takes extensive ongoing training and experience doing inspections everyday to develop. Many contractors, realtors and other trade professionals hire professional home inspectors to inspect their homes when they make a purchase. Why take a chance when it comes to your new home?

Q: What if I have questions after the inspection?
A: You can contact us anytime and discuss any aspect of your new home, whenever you like. Our service is a long-term investment. Once you are a client, you are ALWAYS a client. Our services go well beyond the point of sale.

Q.Can a house fail a home inspection?
A: No. A professional home inspection is an examination of the current condition of the home. It is not an appraisal, which determines market value, or a municipal inspection, which verifies compliance to local codes and standards. A home inspector can not pass or fail a house. A home inspection simply describes in detail the current physical condition of a property on the day of inspection, and indicates what may need repair or replacement. The inspection report is to provide you with the information you need to make an educated decision when purchasing a home.

Q. What kind of Investor inspections do you offer?
A. We offer a couple of different options for the investor. The first being the regular basic home inspection. We will cover everything and report on everything as if it were a normal real estate transaction. We will take extra pictures of every room in the home as well as neighborhood pictures as we realize that many investors are out of town and may not have seen pictures other than the listing. Those extra pictures will be sent as an additional file along with the regular home inspection report. If you do not need a full home inspection, we also offer quality check inspections for the investor. This is where we will go into the home after your contractors are finished with all repairs and cosmetics, take pictures of all items that were repaired and report back to you in writing stating whether or not the items were repaired satisfactory.

Investors please take note: We will not deal with slum lords nor will we do a full home inspection on a delapidated property. In this business, you get what you pay for. Properties are priced accordingly in todays market. If you are spending $5,000 to $30,000 for an investment property, you do not need a home inspection. In these cases, it is best to just send your contractors out to the property for your estimates. If we arrive at a property only to find that it is in delapidated condition, we will not do the inspection and you will be notified of our right to refuse service by phone or email.
 
Q. I have visible mold in my home, can't I just clean it up with some bleach and water?
A. No. This is the most common mis-conception concerning mold. New OSHA studies have confirmed that bleach does not kill mold, it kills bacteria. Mold is a Fungi not bacteria. Bleach is 99% water and water is of course the #1 contributor to mold growth. When trying to clean up mold with bleach, all you are really doing is bleaching the mold (changing the color). The water in the bleach will actually feed the molds roots and it will come back! If you have an area of mold that is less than 10 square feet, you can use full strength 3% Hydrogen Peroxide in a spray bottle to kill the mold. Hydrogen Peroxide will actually kill the mold DNA. If you have an area of mold that is larger than 10 square feet, it should be remediated by a professional who will use a 2 step process in which encapsulates the mold and prevents it from spreading.