Why Do Home Buyers in Phoenix Need a Qualified Home Inspector?

Are you in the market to buy your dream home in the greater Phoenix area? Or maybe you already found it and now you're worried there might be serious issues with it. In either scenario, you or your real estate agent need to contact a qualified home inspector.

Good, licensed home inspectors know the ins and outs of the building trades. Whether you're a buyer or a seller, professional, licensed home inspectors should be able to identify any major issues with the home, present possible solutions to resolve those issues, have expert knowledge in the particular area they're calling out, and know who to refer you to if the issue requires an expert or engineer.

Where We Come In

Here at Xcel Property Facts, based in the greater Phoenix area, we work hand in hand with a lot of home inspection companies. Home inspectors and their customers, commonly home buyers, give us a call when they encounter something that needs extra care and attention. Some of the issues they find may not be in their specific area of expertise, and they know when it's time to bring in an "Xpert."

Many home inspectors in Phoenix have enough experience to know what the root issue is but may lack the expertise or professional license in a particular field. They don't have the professional engineering credentials to provide an opinion on whether certain conditions may affect the structural integrity of a home.

A Crack Isn't Always the Whole Story

Home inspectors can identify visible concerns, but they typically can't determine the exact cause or severity of a possible structural issue. An inspector may discover a crack in an interior or exterior wall, but the crack itself doesn't explain why it occurred or whether it's cosmetic or potentially related to foundation movement.

The crack could simply be the result of normal settling of the construction materials over time, temperature and humidity changes, or minor cosmetic movement. On the other hand, it could indicate a more significant issue, such as foundation movement, soil settlement, structural shifting, or water-related damage. Without additional evaluation, it's difficult to know whether the issue is cosmetic or requires serious and expensive repairs.

Fast Answers During Your 10-Day Inspection Period

At Xcel Property Facts, we receive a lot of calls from home inspectors, especially during the inspection period of a home sale. Within this 10-day inspection period, there's limited time to review and report issues. Xcel Property Facts understands the time crunch and the pressure you may be under to get these issues resolved quickly. Our engineering staff is extremely responsive and can usually be at the property within twenty-four to 48 hours of the initial call.

A member of the Xcel Property Facts team will meet with either the home inspector, owner, or real estate agent at the property to assess the noted issues. We evaluate these issues so everyone understands the details and their mind can be set at ease. If it's a major issue, it's good to know up front. If it's a minor cosmetic issue, everyone can move forward.

When Inspectors Flag Something They Haven't Seen Before

We also run into cases where it's obvious the home inspector has seen something they're unfamiliar with. They sometimes resort to using language that implies there are serious issues with the foundation or the roof when there are not. When we look at it, our 30 years of experience in residential construction helps us identify the issues correctly. It may be a non-structural problem that might deserve a little TLC but won't pose serious concerns structurally. That extra care and attention can mean the difference between a $200 repair and a potentially unnecessary $50,000 repair or more.

Learn More

You can learn more about our Foundation Report Card and Roof Report Card inspection services elsewhere on our site, or give us a call and we'll walk you through what to expect.