There is no perfect home, and there are few perfect Home Inspections

At EPI, we work hard to conduct a very thorough inspection; however, after you have lived in the home for a while, you may discover some problems that were not identified in the inspection report.  Please read the comments below the get a better understading of why not every defect may be identified in an inspection.

Reasons for items not being reported: 

• Not in the scope of the inspection:  Take a moment to review the sections of your inspection agreement titled "Scope" and "Outside the Scope of Inspection."  Our inspections cover most systems and components in the home, but not all such as security systems, irrigations systems, landscape lighting, environmental ussues...
• The home was occupied and or furnished at the time of the inspection:  If the home was occupied, furniture and stored items (boxes being prepaired for the move...) will obstruct accessibility and visibility to some areas.  Any areas not readily accessible and or visible, could not be inspected.  We do not move these items due to the potential for damage to personal items.
• Normal wear-and tear:  Unless your home is new, there is some degree of deterioration and wear on all systems and components in the home.  We take "normal wear-and-tear" into consideration.  Depending on the situation, doors that rub, windows that are stiff, drywall cracks, etc. may not be reported on.
• Visual inspection:  A visual inspection was performed; some areas of interest may have been probed to determine if deterioration exists.  Not all areas were probed.  Some areas at upper levels of the exterior, or benith recently painted or repaired locations may conceal defects or deterioration that is not readily apparent and were therefore not reported.
• Areas not readily visible:  In most cases, the inspection was performed from the ground.  Not all areas of the roof, chimney, etc. are visible from the ground.  Some visible areas may contain defects that are not apparent when viewed from a distance.  These defects may not be discovered.
• No recent rains or home not recently occupied:  Many water leaks are not apparent unless there is running water.  If there has been no recent rainfall, or if the home was not occupied at the time of the inspection, there would be no wet materials identifying a leak.
• Repairs do not mean there is a defect:  Many older homes have visible signs of previous repairs made.  Unless the inspector can identify a definate problem associated with any repair, we must assume that the defect was properly repaired and threfore no defect exists.  Some repairs such as filling of rotted door or window frames with wood putty may conceal serious deterioration that may continue to deteriorat even though the filler has been applied.  If we can't see the defect, we can't report the defect.
• Inspections are not technically exhaustive:  In othe words, we are inspection generalists and conduct a visusal inspection using few simple tools and normal operating procedures.  Special tools or procedures such as that required by a specilist to test the freon pressure of an air conditioning system is beyond the scope of a standard inspection.  We operat the systems under normal conditions and determine if the system "operated as intended."  Some defects may not be found if special tools or procedures are required to locat them.
•  Damage occurred after the inspection:  In some cases there is a lenght of time between the inspection, and when you move in.  Especially in occupied homes there is the potential for some damage and or system failure after the inspection due to continued use.  The inspection can only identify defects that are readily apparent at the time of the inspection.
• Defect not apparant:  Some defects such as site drainage, leaky basements or crawlspaces, event severe termite damage may not be readily apparent during a home inspection that only lasts a few hours.

Differences of opinion between inspectors and contractors:  As an inspection company, our purpose is to identify the "condition of the home" with respect to wether the system or component "functions as intended."  Some contractors who make their living making sure their product is as good as it could be, may assess the same condition with different recommendations that that of an inspector.

We extended great effort to give you a thorough home inspection and identify all relevant issues.  However, because some defects may go unnoticed, we are unable to offer the inspection service as a warranty or insurance against defects or unidentified defects.

What to do if you feel an error was made:  If there is any unreported deffect you would like to bring to our attention, contact us immediatly and before any alterations or repairs have been made.  Give us the oportunity to revisit the site for an assessment of the situation.  Our contact informatio is available at a different page of this web site.