Types of Birmingham Home Inspections

After nearly three decades of providing successful Birmingham home inspections for Birmingham families, we have added new features to our home inspections in order to provide services tailored specifically to the needs of today’s more informed home buyers. We can help in the Birmingham area and Mobile Al and Baldwin County. 

Home Buyers Pre-Purchase Inspection (MOST COMMON)

We specialize in Birmingham home buyers pre-purchase home inspections. Our pre-purchase home inspection is crafted from nearly three decades of actual home inspection experience and is tailored to the needs of the home buyer. We offer a proven inspection and report that is geared toward the real estate process. This thorough inspection includes hundreds of details including: roof, exterior siding and windows, foundation, plumbing systems, electrical systems, heating, and air systems. We will walk the roof, attic, and crawlspace during the inspection process where safely accessible. Our computer generated report has been designed to aid in your purchase negotiations and planning your maintenance needs.

First Time Home Buyer

Now are furnished with a copy of the GHA Home Analysis Manual. This is a helpful guide to home ownership and includes fix-it manuals as well as a guide to home repairs and ownership. The first year maintenance plan is also included to help new owners budget for that first year. We encourage these buyers to be present for the walk-through and ask many questions. We get a lot of parent interest in the inspection, and yes, Dad is welcome on our inspection walk through.

 

Pre-Listing Sellers Birmingham Home Inspections

Today’s modern smart home sellers know that a buyer’s home inspection is imminent and the best position in the real estate transaction is to know more about the condition of the home than the buyer. Don’t wait for the surprise negotiation home maintenance issue while in the home inspection negotiation phase. Find out before the contract is in jeopardy what the real extent of any real maintenance issues the home may have before it goes on the market or maybe just have peace of mind that there are no surprises lurking. Traditionally, pre-listing home inspections have been common for multi-million dollar homes, now we perform these inspections daily for all price ranges of listings. Savvy sellers just want additional knowledge during the transaction and seek to hire the best inspector available to represent them during this expensive transaction. 

Relocation Home Inspections For Employees

 Include digital photos and an insurance checklist of typically the required questions. Certified radon tests are available (by real certified technicians) using electronic CRM testing equipment. As always, reports are professional looking and typed–no handwritten notes. Reports are emailed and delivered in universal pdf format that is convenient for forwarding as needed. No re-faxing of Illegible copies to relo.Pre-listing inspection features not only an initial inspection and a draft report but also a final inspection after any needed corrections are properly satisfied. We recognize that marketing materials are needed to fully benefit from this type of inspection, and as such we’ve provided presentation quality bound extra report copies and a pre-inspection rider sign. Often a buyer will accept a pre-listed inspection report if it is from an established home inspection company—such as Griffith Home Analysis.

New Construction First Phase Home Inspection and Final Inspection

Consists of pre-drywall and frame member inspection. This checklist and the report are designed to answer buyer’s questions on the quality of construction before it is too late to see. It details how construction frame members are installed. We recommend a first phase inspection during the framing stage together with a new construction home inspection at the end of the finish stage (just after municipal approval).

Generally, all new construction should have at the least a full home inspection after the final city inspection and CO is granted. We’ve done thousands of new home inspections and never had one perfect yet. Get those items on the punch list.

Annual Maintenance Home Inspection

Annual Maintenance Home Inspection and report are designed to keep an eye on the building overall and check on areas and systems, then provide a specific maintenance plan for the home. This makes it easier to budget repairs and less headaches from surprises—Wonder and worry what’s wrong with your home? Our experience has been that most of these types of inspections usually relieve the home owner’s concerns about something they thought or had been told was a serious defect and in fact was a manageable maintenance item.

Get a third party’s guidance opionn how to resolve maintenance issues without the pressure of contractor quotes.

First Year New Construction Home Inspection

is a follow-up inspection performed at end of the first year of new construction home ownership. This inspection has developed from years of listening to inspection requests by new home owners wanting to finalize their first year punch lists before the builder’s initial home warranty expires.

Residential Moisture Diagnostics Home Inspection

is for the “I smell mold or mildew” times. This specific inspection and report are tailored to the areas and systems that can contribute to excessive moisture and possible mold/mildew conditions in homes. This provides a third party inspection that is not performed by a mold contractor, hence we don’t sell unnecessary repairs. The latest equipment is used in the inspection process. This report has evolved for the many calls from concerned home owners with questions about their wet basements, attics, or new stains on walls/floors.

Birmingham Home inspection
Birmingham Home inspectors
Birmingham Home inspector

FAQ

How much is a home inspection in Birmingham AL?

The cost for a complete Birmingham Home Inspection is generally $400-$600 range with larger and more complex homes costing much more

Prices for home inspections can vary widely. It depends on a number of factors such as complexity, size of the house, age and foundation type to start with. Certainly other pricing factors can come into play as well. With that being said for a normal starter house property the typical range we see and hear about is 350 to 650. This fee can quickly go up as you add crawlspaces and age or size to a house. It can also go up if you add additional services such as Mold testing or radon testing or EIFS inspections.

What is included in a home inspection in Alabama?

Alabama home inspections are conducted according to a State of Alabama Standard-specific list of components. Including: roof, exterior siding and windows, foundation, plumbing systems, electrical systems, heating, and air systems. Most inspectors will walk the roof, attic, and crawlspace where possible to view these systems during the inspection process. 

Do home inspectors have to be licensed in Alabama?

Licensing and standards of practice for Alabama home inspectors are regulated by the Alabama Department of Finance Real Estate Division. Department of Construction Management  Home Inspector Services.

Who governs home inspectors in Alabama?

Home Inspectors are governed by a third party in the state of Alabama. The State of Alabama Department of Finance Division of Construction Management. There is no home inspector board, there is a however a state of Alabama Home Inspector Advisory Committee which functions like a board in some ways. 

Do I get a report from my home inspection or do I need to take notes?

We issue a detailed computer-generated inspection report. Griffith Home Analysis has been refining the pre-purchase home inspection report for decades for the purpose of assisting the home buyer. The report includes a summary designed to aid in contract negotiations as well as a detailed report with many photos, illustrations, and descriptions of any maintenance issues that are identified for comprehensive but easy-to-understand report reading. Reports are sent via email.

Can I attend the home inspection?

Home buyers are welcome to attend the inspection and encouraged to arrive at the start of the home inspection. It’s important to be present in order to review a significant defect if found. This is also a great opportunity to measure areas and make plans for the move.

How long does a home inspection take?

Typical home inspections take 2 hours to 3 hours but smaller homes in good condition can be quicker and larger complex homes will obviously take longer. Homes with many defects or complicated defects will also take longer. It varies greatly. We recommend that our clients allow about 2 hours on an average home and typical inspection result. We don’t type reports on site. Our inspection reports are generated back at the office and this saves our clients some time on site and results in a better quality of the report.