P.O. Box 2302 · Sugarland, TX 77487
Phone: 281-242-1300
Fax: 281-242-2711

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FAQ's

What is a home inspection and why do we need one?
How much does a home inspection cost and what is included?
Some home inspectors charge less. Why do you cost more?
Do you follow any standards?
Should we attend the home inspection?
Why should we choose ABET Inspections for our residential home inspection?
Some home inspection companies charge by the hour or set the price at the end of the inspection. How do you charge for a home inspection?

What is a home inspection and why do we need one?
A home inspection is like putting your home through a physical exam by an objective professional. All the major systems and components of the house are checked top to bottom. This includes the plumbing, electrical and heating systems, as well as the structural components, such as the roof and crawl space. We identify serious situations that will be expensive to repair—you may want to negotiate with the sellers concerning the handling of these expenses or if the inspection is for your home warranty you will have the documentation for the claim. Additionally, we look for safety and minor repairs, and also advise you with information on maintaining your house. Every house is unique and by helping you understand what it will take to care of this particular home, you can be assured that it will be a safe and dependable home for you and your family.

How much does a home inspection cost and what is included?
The fee is dependent on the size of the home. See the Fees Information page for a listing of our fees. Every inspection includes the following: During the on-site inspection we explain deficiencies we find and answer any questions you have while we go through the home. At the end of the inspection, I will have a “wrap up” discussion with you of the problems that were found and explain the items that will appear in the written narrative report. We then fax or email the report to you and/or your agent, warranty company, builder within 24 hours.

Some home inspectors charge less. Why do you cost more?
Quality! We are service oriented on site and spend the time to help our clients understand what the homes condition is like now, what major items will be needed in the future, and what maintenance it will take through the years. Our Home Inspection Reports are quite specific. For example, instead of just listing “plumbing leaks yes” or “there is a leak in a sink”, our reports state “there is a leak in the trap in the right hand sink in the master bathroom”. All this takes time, but our clients like our level of service. Some of our clients use the report as a reference document as they work through the repairs and improvements in their home. Additionally, your real estate agent will be in a stronger negotiating position for you--he will be able to use our clear explanations of issues in our reports when they negotiate with the sellers.

Do you follow any standards?
Yes! Our inspection procedures and written reports conform to the Texas Real Estate Commission Standards of Practice. The State of Texas is one of the few states to require licensing of Home Inspectors.

Should we attend the home inspection?
Yes! In fact, we encourage you to attend the inspection (yes, we work weekends). There are many situations that we can point out and discuss with you (as well as answer your questions) while we are looking at the home together. This is an excellent opportunity for you to get a better feel for the home. While we try to be as thorough and clear as possible in our written reports, the conversations that we have with you personally at the inspection are generally very valuable and may offer additional insights and suggestions. We may mention little things in person that might not warrant being included in the formal written report.

Why should we choose ABET Inspections for our home inspection?
Here are a few of the reasons that our inspection services are special:

• Experience! ABET Inspections has 22 years of residential and commercial construction experience.
• Service! We produce a clearly-written, plain-English narrative report, not a checklist or a technical jargon filled report. We complete the written report quickly—within 24 hours. We emphasize problem solving, not just problem finding. Whenever possible, we offer practical and economical solutions and maintenance tips.
  We can usually schedule your inspection within 1-3 days. Weekend and early evening service is also available.
• Commitment! We are available to answer your questions in the future as long as you own the home. Anything we can help you with by phone, fax or email is always a courtesy at no charge. We enjoy our work and our clients!
  

Some home inspection companies charge by the hour or set the price at the end of the inspection. How do you charge for a home inspection?
Some houses, such as “fixer-uppers”, repossessed houses or commercial properties can have significantly more issues or concerns. These houses typically take us somewhat longer to inspect, and much longer to write about. For these properties, we charge the same fees as long as the home size is less than 5000 square feet. In virtually all cases, we will give you a fee range when you book the appointment so that there will be no surprises at the time of the inspection. We have built our business on referrals from satisfied clients so we do our best to keep the fee reasonable and fair.