Most new homes built in Michigan come with a home warranty, This service allows homeowners to identify and have warranty items repaired prior to their warranty expiration.
Expert Home Inspections does far more than just home inspections. EHI is your complete home inspection and testing service provider. From water analysis, radon testing, lead and asbestos to thermal inspections and more.
Each of our home inspection services are designed and priced to provide you with top quality service at an affordable price.
11th Month Warranty Inspection - Starting at $498
When you are having a new home built, one important question for your builder is about what kind of Home Warranty if any they provide. In Michigan, the Builder does not have to provide a specific warranty for the home. Although not required, these warranties are extremely important, and are offered by most reputable builders. These warranties can vary greatly between builders, but primarily, the majority of the coverage lasts for the first year of occupancy of the home. Many large builders also offer extended limited warranties on their homes as. For Instance, Pulte Homes sometimes offers up to a 10 year warranty on the structural integrity of the home. You can check out their link here for more details on their specific warranty https://www.pulte.com/build/10-year-warranty.
If however you are purchasing your home through the VA or FHA, the FTC does require a home warranty be provided, and further, they require it be provided by a 3rd party. The following is a link to the specific requirement by the FTC. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0186-warranties-newly-built-homes.
Why is this important?
After buying your new home, much of the first year is spent moving in, decorating, and getting comfortable your home. While certain problems may be glaringly obvious, there are smaller, more subtle issues that can begin to emerge during that first year. If the problems are not corrected they can often lead to major repairs down the road. For Instance, an improperly sealed gutter may create a small point of water intrusion into the house. If the leak is small enough it could be many months before the damage is noticed. It is always best to have your home inspected BEFORE your warranty runs out. A small leak left unchecked can easily cause thousands of dollars in damage. When you are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on your home, doesn’t it make good sense to spend just a few hundred to protect that investment?
But my Builder was REALLY good, he has never had a complaint, do I still need to have an 11th month inspection?
Finding warranty repairs after a house has been built is far more the rule than the exception. Most of the time, many of these repairs have very little if anything to do with the quality of work from your builder. As homeowners we must understand we are building a structure in an environment that is subject to a multitude of forces far beyond the control of any builder or engineer. Even with the best site preparation and planning things such as ground settling, extreme temperatures, groundwater flooding, etc can cause building materials to fail and not perform as designed. What’s more, a home is the combination of parts and labor from dozens of suppliers and laborers, and even under the best of conditions, mistakes do happen. This is why it is ALWAYS best to have a professional inspect your home to make sure any covered repairs are addressed before the responsibility falls completely on you!
Mold Inspection - Starting at $168
There are many misconceptions about mold, its identification and assessment of its relative danger.
While the mere presence of mold can at times be visually identified, the absence of obvious visible mold deposits or growth, does NOT mean the absence of mold.
Even when mold can be visually identified, it is impossible to determine by visual inspection in the field, if the mold is of a dangerous or harmful variety.
Similar to the water tests, we offer 2 different levels of mold testing.
The Standard Mold test detects only for the presence of ANY mold.
This test is the most useful where there is unidentified staining, or environmental conditions are ideal for mold to form, such as the presence of musty odors.This test can also be useful if there are family members who suffer from severe allergies.
The Complete Mold Test, (the only way to determine the strain and potential toxicity of the mold) includes collecting a sample of the suspect substance and having it sent to a lab for full analysis.
The report typically takes about a week to return from the lab. The final report will show an exact breakdown of the substance.
Should mold be identified, and remediation completed, we highly recommend air quality testing after clean up. This is to ensure 100% of the mold has been removed and has not spread or continued to grow.
We use only top rated and certified labs to test samples.
Radon Inspection - Just $168
Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that is formed in the earth’s crust. Latest research has determined that exposure to this gas, even in very small amounts over extended periods of time, can cause lung cancer.
Radon can seep up and become trapped in a basement.
A Radon test involves collecting an air sample over a period of 2-4 days and then sending the sample in for analysis. The lab takes 72hrs to process the sample and provide a result.
In the event the results come back positive, we will provide you with both DIY and professional resources to mitigate the radon.
Drinking Water Analysis - Starting at just $98
We rely on our faucets to provide us with clean, safe and reliable water every day. Yet water quality is one of the most overlooked aspects of the home ownership experience. Recent events such as the Flint water crisis have made it apparent we must also pay attention to our water quality. EHI currently offers two levels of Water testing and analysis: the standard test, recommend for homes on municipal water systems, and our complete water analysis that we recommend if the home is on well water, or if you are particularly sensitive to chemicals.
Municipal Sources: Many wonder why they should spend money on water testing when their source is from a treated municipal water supply that is actively monitored for contaminates. While it is true that most municipal water supplies are tested regularly, municipalities do NOT test at the home(s), but rather where the treatment and distribution starts. The Flint water crisis is a great example of why we should all have water testing done in our homes. The water in Flint was not contaminated as it entered from the Flint River but became contaminated with lead when the more acidic water leached lead from pipes going to the homes.
By the time water reaches our faucets, it can easily travel through miles of pipes, often pipes of different materials. A water analysis in your home is truly the only way to identify if the water has become contaminated between the source and your faucet.
Our standard water testing will check for the following criteria and contaminates in your water: total alkalinity, pH level, total hardness, iron, copper, lead, nitrite, nitrate, and free chlorine. This is the water analysis we recommend for those who are supplied by a treated municipal water source.
These water testing parameters include the most common, and the most dangerous contaminates typically found in treated water sources.
Private well sources: If your home is on its own well, or you live in a smaller, more remote area and are on a local municipal well where there is no regular water testing or analysis, there is more potential for additional contaminates in the water supply.
Just as with municipal supplies, just because a well was tested once many years ago, over time there are a multitude of variables we cannot see that can change the quality of water over time. Additionally, because this water is most often not treated, there is even more of a call for a complete water testing analysis.
For these situations, EHI recommends the complete water testing which examines all the parameters of the standard test, plus the following parameters: bromine, total chlorine, fluoride, cyanuric acid, and carbonate. This water analysis will help you make good decisions to keep your water supply safe for your family.
Additionally, if you are on a well, this complete water testing analysis will also help with identifying the need for a water softener system if your well water is particularly hard or contains a large amount of iron deposits. This can help extend the serviceable life of the water supply system in your home, and even help to remove or prevent staining from hard water.
Q&A about water
Q: Why get a water analysis if I can’t afford the “fix” if contaminates are found?
A: While cost can become a factor, you may be surprised at how affordable some solutions can be. Additionally, the “fix” can often be scaled and then increased over time as budget allows. Most contaminates found are most dangerous to humans when ingested. Initial solutions may be as simple as a filter pitcher for drinkable water, or simply buying bottled water. A quality filter pitcher from a company like Brita or PUR can be had for less than the cost of the water testing itself! Over time, depending on what the water analysis says, the protection can be scaled up to include everything from a whole house cartridge filter, to a whole house water softener system with reverse osmosis filtering for the entire home.
Q: If I am on a well, why would I need water testing after years of good water?
A: There are a multitude of reasons why your water quality could change over the years if you are on a well. A complete water analysis is the ONLY way to identify if a change has occurred. When a well is dug, the drilling company may find a water source anywhere from 50 feet, to over 500 feet deep. There is no accurate way of telling how much water is at that depth, or where it is coming from. Additionally, as climate conditions change, and water levels change it can drastically affect even the water that is many feet below the surface. Just as rivers and creeks can change their path on the surface over time, the same can occur underground. This can mean surface contaminates can leach deeper over time, or pockets of natural deposits such as lead can suddenly begin leaching into the underground supply. Again, the only way to identify if the quality has changed is through a water testing analysis.
Q: Are there any identifiable signs that indicate I should get a water analysis?
A: Most of the time no, but there are a couple indicators that should trigger water testing. The three primary conditions to look for are changes in taste, odor, or staining from the water. While often these obvious changes are not directly from dangerous chemicals, but rather from harmless minerals such as iron, they ARE an indication that the water is changing below the surface and is an indicator that it is time for water testing.
Q: If I am concerned, can’t I just boil my water to make it safe instead of having my water tested?
A: It is true that boiling water, when done properly, can effectively destroy biologic contaminates such as virus and bacteria. However, with many contaminates, boiling can actually make the problem worse. Lead is a good example of this. You cannot boil off lead, in fact if you boil lead contaminated water, you would actually make the water more dangerous. As water evaporates, it would actually increase the concentration of lead. Again, the only way to identify many of the most dangerous contaminates it through direct water testing and analysis.
Home Inspection - Starting at $398
An absolute necessity when considering the purchase of a new home.
We will inspect your home from foundation to roof, identifying deficiencies that may cause issues in the future.
Included in the standard home inspection, we will inspect outbuildings or other structures on the property such as sheds, patios or barns up to 10% of the square footage of the main home being inspected.
List of Systems Inspected:
Electrical, plumbing, HVAC, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, roofing, siding, foundation, basement, attic, insulation, flashing, trim, gutters, skylights, sump pump, fireplace hot water tank, property grading and drainage surrounding the home, microwave function (built in), AND MUCH MORE!.
Depending on the size of the home and complexity of the systems, inspections typically take 2-3 hours. A full digital detailed report will be sent to you within 24 hours of the inspection. We understand things can often move fast in real estate. If the report is needed sooner, in most cases for a nominal fee, we can provide the report within a few hours of your inspection (*must be booked in advance).
Personal service – our commitment to our customers does not end when you receive your report.Our knowledgeable staff will gladly answer any questions you may have and further explain anything in the report until you have a complete understanding and are fully satisfied.
Should your report show deficiencies you want corrected, we are also available for re-inspection of any corrective work done following our inspection.
Cost Saving- IR(Thermal) Attic/Wall Insulation Inspection - Starting at $368
With the high cost of heating and cooling, and to make your home as energy efficient as possible, these exhaustive thermal inspections can provide you with a detailed report of the insulation, air gaps and leaks, and other potential sources of energy loss from your home using infrared technology. From attics to exterior walls, these inspections can save you money.
Through thermal inspection with an Infrared camera, we can scan and inspect all exterior walls, doors and windows; The thermal inspection will identify leaks, and/or deficiencies in insulation that cannot otherwise be seen. A detailed digital report with full color photos of any thermal leaks will be provided. Armed with the information from a thermal inspection, you will be able to make improvements to drastically reduce your gas and electric bill.
Basement Moisture Inspections - Starting at $268
With the high cost of heating and cooling, and to make your home as energy efficient as possible, these exhaustive thermal inspections can provide you with a detailed report of the insulation, air gaps and leaks, and other potential sources of energy loss from your home using infrared technology. From Attics to Exterior walls, these inspections can save you money.
Through thermal inspection with an Infrared camera, we can scan and inspect walls, floor and ceilings of your basement and identify where the moisture is coming from; The thermal inspection will identify leaks, cracks, high moisture content, and defects in the structure that cannot otherwise be seen. Without having to cut into floors, walls, or other finished material, with thermal, we can usually see behind the drywall and flooring without ever disturbing it.
Asbestos Testing - Starting At $168
Asbestos is a product that was used for many years in a variety of home construction products including insulation, drywall, tile, and siding. The product is relatively safe when left undisturbed, but when it is sent airborne, it is a dangerous carcinogen. This test includes safe removal of a sample of the suspected material and laboratory testing. The results are returned within one week.
Additional samples can be tested for a reduced price. The primary reason to have a product tested is if you are planning on having that suspect product removed, or disturbed in a way that could make its particles airborne. Often times it is far safer to simply leave the product in place undisturbed. Should the testing indicate positive for asbestos, we can provide you with contact information for reputable companies who perform remediation.
