Frequently Asked Questions

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#666699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="15e00840erlcjm.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Quality Residential Inspections, Inc.</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Quality Residential Inspections, Inc."><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Overview"><U>Overview</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The QRI Promise"><U>The QRI Promise</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Residential Inspection Services"><U>Residential Inspection Services</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Commercial Inspection Services"><U>Commercial Inspection Services</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Testing Services"><U>Testing Services</U></A>   |   <B>Frequently Asked Questions</B>   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Affiliations and Links"><U>Affiliations and Links</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Whats New?"><U>What's New?</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our principals Who Are These People?"><U>Our principals - Who Are These People?</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" background="15811c00egdysm.gif"> <div> <B>Q</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial Rounded MT Bold" ><B>uality........</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>R</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial Rounded MT Bold" ><B>eliability........</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>I</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial Rounded MT Bold" ><B>ntegrity.......</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Q</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial Rounded MT Bold" ><B>uality........</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>R</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial Rounded MT Bold" ><B>eliability........</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>I</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial Rounded MT Bold" ><B>ntegrity.......</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Q</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial Rounded MT Bold" ><B>uality........</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>R</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial Rounded MT Bold" ><B>eliability........</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>I</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial Rounded MT Bold" ><B>ntegrity.......</B></FONT></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Frequently Asked Questions</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#1___what_is_a_home_inspection_" TITLE="Frequently Asked Questions"><U>1.   What is a Home Inspection?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#2___what_is_not_considered_part_of_a" TITLE="Frequently Asked Questions"><U>2.   What is not considered part of a Home Inspection?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#3___how_long_has_qri_been_in_business_" TITLE="Frequently Asked Questions"><U>3.   How long has QRI been in business?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#4___what_do_you_inspect_" TITLE="Frequently Asked Questions"><U>4.   What do you inspect?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#5___who_can_perform_a_home_inspection" TITLE="Frequently Asked Questions"><U>5.   Who can perform a Home Inspection in North Carolina?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#6___can_the_inspector_fail_the_house__" TITLE="Frequently Asked Questions"><U>6.   Can the Inspector "fail" the house?</U></A>  </div> <div> <A HREF="#7___will_the_inspector_advise_me" TITLE="Frequently Asked Questions"><U>7.   Will the Inspector advise me concerning the purchase?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#8___why_should_i_have_the_house" TITLE="Frequently Asked Questions"><U>8.   Why should I have the house inspected?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#9___can_i_follow_along_with_the" TITLE="Frequently Asked Questions"><U>9.   Can I follow along with the inspector? </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#10___what_kind_of_report_will_i_receive" TITLE="Frequently Asked Questions"><U>10. What kind of report will I receive and when will I get it?</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="#11___how_long_does_it_take_and_how_much" TITLE="Frequently Asked Questions"><U>11. How long will it take and how much does it cost?</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="1___what_is_a_home_inspection_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>1.  What is a Home Inspection?</B></div> <bR> <div>      A home inspection is a general and visual assessment of  the accessible systems and components of a house and is intended to provide our clients with a better understanding of the physical condition of the house at the time of the inspection.</div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="2___what_is_not_considered_part_of_a"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>2.  What is not considered part of a Home Inspection?</B></div> <bR> <div>      A home inspection is not a code compliance inspection and does not  guarantee that the house complies with building codes.  It is not an appraisal of the value of the property.  It is not technically exhaustive in nature. It does not protect a client from any future failure of any systems or components. It is not an insurance policy.</div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="3___how_long_has_qri_been_in_business_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>3.  How long has QRI been in business?</B></div> <bR> <div>      Since 1987. We are one of the most established and respected Home Inspection firms in North Carolina. We are members of the Better Business Bureau.</div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="4___what_do_you_inspect_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>4.  What do you inspect?</B></div> <bR> <div>      We inspect the major systems and components of the house. These include, but are not limited to, the Roof, Exterior, Structure/Foundation, Electrical, Heating and Cooling, Plumbing, and  Interior. Our goal is to identify and report on any major defects, safety issues, or any systems or components that are not functioning as intended to provide part of the basis for a buyer making an informed purchase decision.</div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="5___who_can_perform_a_home_inspection"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>5.  Who can perform a Home Inspection in North Carolina?</B></div> <bR> <div>      Only individuals licensed by the North Carolina Licensing Board for Home Inspectors may conduct home inspections. </div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="6___can_the_inspector_fail_the_house__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>6.  Can the Inspector "fail" the house? </B></div> <bR> <div>      No.....There is no "passing" or "failing".  Our inspectors goal is to accurately report on the physical condition of the house in a very calm, straight forward, and professional manner while indicating what repairs might be necessary or what items may need to be monitored for change in the future.  The results can then be compared to the real estate 'Offer To Purchase and Contract' and a determination can be made as to what items are subject to negotiation. </div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="7___will_the_inspector_advise_me"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>7.  Will the Inspector advise me concerning the purchase?</B></div> <bR> <div> No.   Ultimately, it is the clients decision whether or not to buy the house. We have no knowledge of the value of the property, the financial condition of the client, or any number of many other very important factors. The home inspection should be viewed as one more "piece of the puzzle". Each individual client knows what they are willing to take on regarding repairs, renovation, upgrade, etc..</div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="8___why_should_i_have_the_house"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>8.  Why should I have the house inspected?</B></div> <bR> <div>      Many home buyers lack the specific knowledge, skill, experience, and <U>emotional detachment</U> that is required to conduct a thorough home inspection. At the time of most inspections, the majority of home buyers have previously spent an average of 20 minutes or less at the property. By hiring a home inspector, clients can gain valuable understanding of, and insight into, the physical condition of the house and especially whether or not there are any items not functioning as intended, that are in need of immediate repair, that might adversely affect the habitability of the house, or that might warrant further investigation by a specialized professional.</div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="9___can_i_follow_along_with_the"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>9.  Can I follow along with the inspector?</B></div> <bR> <div>      Absolutely.....In fact, every client is highly encouraged to attend. The inspection is a valuable learning experience for most home buyers and we consider it a very important aspect of the inspection. The inspector will provide valuable insight and perspective concerning the home, its systems, and will comment on important maintenance issues regarding the house.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="10___what_kind_of_report_will_i_receive"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>10.  What kind of report will I receive and when will I get it?</B></div> <bR> <div>      Basically.....a complete and thorough report. We use a  proprietary format (that means that it is designed and copyrighted by QRI, Inc.) checklist/narrative combination report to transmit our findings; our report has endured the test of time and proven to be very effective and well received. The client receives the report at the time of the inspection..... QRI doesn't make anyone wait until tomorrow or next week to provide the information that our clients pay us to provide. </div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="11___how_long_does_it_take_and_how_much"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>11.  How long does it take and how much does it cost?</B></div> <bR> <div>      A typical inspection for an average house will normally take between 2 and 3 hours to accomplish.  Larger and/or older homes may take significantly longer because, simply,  there is more to observe.</div> <bR> <div>      Typical  fees for a QRI Home Inspection average around $250.00 - $325.00 and are<U> quoted upon request in accordance with our fixed fee schedule</U>. Various factors affect the fee. If you are comparing home inspection firms , the fees that they charge should not be your most important consideration. We know what QRI inspection services are worth and we assume that other home inspection firms know what their services are worth. Remember, you are considering a <U>major</U> purchase. It may not be wise or prudent to base your Home Inspector selection on a difference of $25.00 or $50.00 in quoted fees.  With QRI, a thorough, professional  Home Inspection is a "given"; service is what really matters and QRI provides the best service available.</div> <bR> <div> Forms of payment accepted include cash, check, VISA and MasterCard.</div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div>                            <IMG SRC="1b13c250.gif" border=0 width="60" height="37" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">         <IMG SRC="1b33c250.gif" border=0 width="60" height="37" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">                   </div> <bR> <bR> <div>        </div> </td> </tr></table></body>