You are about to have your home inspected for the prospective Buyer. What are some things you need to do to allow for a thorough inspection? Start by imagining how you would want a house to be for your inspection. You want to be able to give the home inspector clear access and allow the inspector to focus by doing the things listed below:

1) Remove all pets from the premises or kennel them. We cannot be responsible for pets that get loose. Also, most inspectors will not enter a home with a loose dog. It isn't because of a fear of dogs but, the fear of what happens to a dog that bites. We would hate to see the worst.

2) Make all attic accesses clearly accessible. We would hate to have a family heirloom broken because we have to move things to get into the attic. Most inspectors will move things only to a certain point. Please clear those spots.

3) Make all mechanicals accessible. We need to look in the furnace, at the water heater and open the electrical panel. We understand you may be packing for moving but, keep those things clear. 

4) Have your house clean. Again, there may be a mess due to the move but have your house as clean as possible. It makes for a more comfortable inspection and gives the buyer a feeling that you have cared for your home.

If you need a home inspection in the Fox Valley area of Wisconsin, including Appleton, Oshkosh, and Fond du Lac, contact Ace Home Inspections today. We have the experience and expertise you need to make sure your home inspection is thorough and nothing is missed!

We all think highly of loved ones that are well versed in the ways of the home. In fact, my dad taught me most of what I know about home repair and I will forever remember those lessons. With that being said, I wouldn’t buy a home just because he said “I don’t see anything wrong here.”

If we can’t trust loved ones with the single biggest investment in our lives, outside of education maybe, who can we trust? The answer is simple, a WAHI (Wisconsin Association of Home Inspectors) Home Inspector! There are many reasons why an inspection is important but I view 3 main reasons to have a WAHI member inspector this huge investment for you.

The first reason is the specialized training we have. WAHI Home Inspectors have access to the best training in Wisconsin. Inspectors can attend monthly education meetings along with 2-2 day long seminars a year that have a mix of classroom style learning of current trade practices and a day of getting their hands dirty with field training under the watchful eye of an experience home inspector. You won’t find a better training for someone you want to trust with your future home!

Secondly, TIME! When an inspection is performed, we are allotted an amount of time to allow us to thoroughly go through the systems of your home, pressuring them to make sure that they will perform safely and as intended while you are living there. When you bring a loved one through the home on a showing, you have a limited amount of time to see what you can see. Sometimes running faucets, flipping switches, maybe even running the HVAC system. What you can miss in that short amount of time can ruin your experience of home ownership. WAHI Home Inspectors are trained to inform you about the troubles that might lie ahead as a home owner.

Last, ACCESS! Wisconsin Standards of Practice for Home Inspectors dictate what we need to inspect and what we don’t.  As Home Inspectors, we have access to everything system in the home. Walking roofs. Opening electrical panels. Crawling in attics and crawlspaces. WAHI Home Inspectors brag that we go into places in a home that some people didn’t even know they had much less ever want to venture into. These are all areas that can provide indications that something might be wrong, giving you the opportunity to call in a trade professional to determine if and how wrong something might be to give you an accurate idea of how it should be dealt with after discussion with your Realtor.

Home Inspections are a small price to pay to make sure you buy a home with peace of mind and a good knowledge of your home. A WAHI Home Inspector is your guide to a happy and long time of being a home owner! If you need a home inspection in Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Appleton, or anywhere in the surrounding areas, please give us a call!

It's not All About Price!

I get a lot of calls that start with, "How much do you charge?" My answer, as much as humanly possible! We have a chuckle and begin talking about the inspection.

As President of the Wisconsin Association of Home Inspectors, I get all of the bad calls. Let me tell you, it sure seems like you get what you pay for. 

When looking for an inspector, don’t just ask about the price. We don't all do the same inspection. Ask about their procedures. Ask about their experience prior to becoming a home inspector. Ask how many inspections they have done. Ask about where they get their continuing education. Ask if they are a WAHI member!

The cheap inspectors are cheap for a reason, mostly. Some just want to be cheapest, most are begging for work. Make your search about more than just price! You may just get what you pay for!