Every house tells a story
Whether a house is over 100 years old or completed last week, they can all benefit from a thorough inspection. We leave nothing to chance when it comes to your home. We am invested in the goals of each of my clients and work hard to make sure you are getting the home that you are looking for.
We am known for getting in, on, and under places that other inspectors shy away from or just can’t get to. These can be the areas where issues hide. You should be knowledgeable about all the issues ahead of time, be they big or small.
We inspect every part of the home that we have access to. This includes the roof, attic, foundation, structure, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, exterior grading, doors, windows, decks, and hundreds of other checklist items to give you a complete picture of the property.
Commonly Asked Questions
HOW MUCH DOES AN INSPECTION COST?
The cost of a home inspection usually comes out of pocket for the potential homebuyer. Costs can vary depending on the age, size of the home, and the type of inspection to be performed. The typical range is between $400 and $500. And, yes, you can use your credit card. We wouldn’t want you to miss out on your airline miles.
CAN I ATTEND THE INSPECTION?
Before COVID-19 I’d say, yes, of course. With social distancing in mind, I now recommend that you meet with us on site at the end of the inspection so that you can ask questions and see how your new home works. Our entire purpose is to provide you with not only a thorough inspection, but also an education about the various systems of your home so that you can feel confident in your decision making.
HOW LONG WILL THE INSPECTION TAKE?
Knowing the length of time for an inspection is important because you usually have to arrange a time with the realtor and the current owner for the inspector to examine the house. Since an inspection usually involves looking at plumbing, wiring, roofing, and areas that may be hard to reach, it will require hours to complete. An average inspection will take 3 hours and more for larger homes or multi-unit properties.
Is a home inspection a pass/fail kind of thing?
Nope. Every home will have a list of things that can use attention. Even new construction has a list. Trades forget things, home owners do sincere but substandard work and just being lived in creates wear and tear on a home. Our job is to point out these items and explain the inherent risk of not attending to them. Your job is to decide which items you want to attend to and what you can happily live with. However, we do list the potential health and safety hazards in their own category and recommend that you address these items.
WHAT HAPPENS IF major ISSUES ARE FOUND?
The seller of the home is not automatically required to repair any problems that the inspector finds. As the buyer, you can negotiate for the repairs to be made before you buy the home and I can come back to verify that the work was done and done well. If the seller is not willing to do the repairs for you, you will need to make other arrangements or terminate the contract. If you still want to purchase the house but are unable to get the financial lender to approve the loan until the repairs are made, you may have to make the repairs at your own expense.
WHAT will the report look like?
You will receive a link to the report in an email where you can view it online or download the PDF. Our reports are modern, digital and simple to efficiently navigate. They will include oodles of photos, videos and links to find more information on some topics. Our reports are broken up into three color coded categories that differentiate the urgency of the issues found. Click here to view a sample report.
ARE YOU AVAILABLE AFTER THE INSPECTION FOR QUESTIONS?
Most definitely. Our relationship doesn’t end when the report is delivered. We make ourselves as available as possible to provide you with answers to your questions. Simply contact us via email, phone, or text.
Meet the team
MY NAME IS amanda (she/they)
I am the owner of True Home Inspections. I managed my first construction site at 7 years old when my dad and I built a two story fort complete with kitchenette and a second story deck. That was when I fell in love with dwellings and I’ve spent the rest of my life in the study of them. As a matter of fact, all the photos on the site are from properties that I have remodeled. I have been a builder, a buyer and a seller so I have an understanding of each party in relation to the other. My priority is to learn as much about your property as I can and to translate it into a knowledge base that you can understand and feel at ease with.
my name is Marissa (she/they)
As a young first time home buyer, Marissa developed a passion for understanding how everything a home works. That passion led her to become a professional handyperson, where she not only learned how to mitigate defects in every part of a home’s many systems, but also how to spot, assess, and teach her clients about potential issues on the horizon. She have lived every aspect of the homeowner experience and her broad knowledge base makes her an asset in the home buying process.
My name is Erin (she/they)
Erin will be doing our sewer scopes and radon testing. She has been in plumbing since 2015. She enjoys history podcasts, parenting her delightful/stubborn child, and butter. Experienced in residential plumbing service and remodel, she is knowledgeable about home water supply and drain systems and has been up close and personal with the rusty crusty basements of Portland for years. Erin focuses on great communication and reliable information in sewer inspections and radon testing.