Home Inspection for Buyers
A buyer's home inspection or also known as a pre-purchase home inspection is one of the most important steps in the home-buying process. Having a home inspection performed before you purchase the home can offer invaluable information about the true condition of a property.
A thorough pre-purchase home inspection ensures that you are armed with the most important information about the home's most important systems and components such as the structure, foundation, roof, envelope, doors, windows, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, attic, and safety related items.
Our inspections are non-invasive visual evaluations designed to identify material defects, safety concerns, and maintenance issues that may affect your decision-making.
Inspection Standards
Superior Home Inspections performs buyer home inspections in accordance with the InterNACHI® Residential Standards of Practice and InterNACHI® Code of Ethics.
Buyer Home Inspection Sample Report » Learn More About Buyer's Home Inspection »
Schedule your Pre-Purchase Inspection through our Inspection Request Form, get a free quote, or call us at (678) 410-3005.
Commercial Property Inspections
In addition to residential inspections, Superior Home Inspections provides commercial property inspections and property condition assessments throughout Metro Atlanta and North Georgia.
We follow recognized industry standards including ASTM E2018-24 and the International Standards of Practice for Inspecting Commercial Properties (ComSOP) - CCPIA. Our team can evaluate a wide range of commercial properties, from office and retail spaces to larger commercial and industrial facilities.
Pre-Drywall Inspections
A pre-drywall inspection takes place during the rough-in stage of new construction, before drywall and interior finishes are installed.
At this stage, major systems and components are typically visible, including framing, roofing, windows, doors, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and other structural elements. This creates a valuable opportunity to evaluate areas that will soon be concealed behind walls, ceilings, and floor coverings.
Why Schedule a Pre-Drywall Inspection?
A pre-drywall inspection allows potential issues to be identified before construction progresses, when corrections are often easier and less costly to address.
Best Time to Schedule
Pre-drywall inspections should be completed after rough framing, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC installation, but before drywall and interior finishes are installed.
Inspection Standards
Superior Home Inspections performs pre-drywall inspections in accordance with the InterNACHI® Pre-Drywall Inspection Standards of Practice and InterNACHI® Code of Ethics.
Schedule your Pre-Drywall Inspection through our Inspection Request Form, get a free quote, or call us at (678) 410-3005.
New Construction Inspection Service
A new construction inspection is performed once the builder has finished the build. Most often all construction has been 100% completed, but sometimes there are a few punch-out checklist items that still need to be finished. Superior Home Inspections likes to schedule new construction inspections for our clients about 1 week prior to your scheduled final walk-through with your building or superintendent. This way you still have some leverage and the builder has time to complete any repairs or corrections identified in the home inspection report.
Why Inspect a Brand-New Home?
Assuming a new construction home cannot benefit from having an experienced qualified home inspector perform an inspection is a very common misconception. Superior Home Inspections can help evaluate the property for issues such as incorrect installations, incomplete installations, failure to follow standard building practices, and even safety concerns.
Municipal inspections and code compliance inspections serve an important purpose, but they are generally focused on minimum standards and may not identify every installation issue or defect.
Even brand-new homes can have issues and safety concerns.
Contractors and construction workers likely have other jobs to finish and sometimes operate on tight timelines, or quality control is lacking. Purposefully or not, this can lead to mistakes and shortcuts.
We perform buyer home inspections utilizing the InterNACHI® Residential Standards of Practice and InterNACHI® Code of Ethics.
Schedule your New Construction Inspection through our Inspection Request Form, get a free quote, or call us at (678) 410-3005.
1 Year Warranty Inspections
Most new construction homes include a builder warranty covering workmanship, materials, and certain major systems for a specified period of time. As your warranty period approaches expiration, a professional inspection can help identify concerns that may warrant further evaluation or documentation.
By this point, you've had time to live in the home and observe how it has performed through different seasons and daily use. An inspection can help assess the visible condition of the home's major systems and components before warranty coverage expires.
When Should You Schedule a 1-Year Warranty Inspection?
We recommend scheduling a home inspection during the 11th month of ownership, before your builder's 1-year warranty expires. This allows time to identify construction defects, workmanship issues, or system concerns that may still be covered under the builder's warranty. Our non-invasive inspection is based on observations of the visible and apparent condition of the interior and exterior of the structure, including the major systems and components of your home.
By having your home professionally inspected before the warranty expiration date, you can provide your builder with a list of documented concerns and request repairs before coverage ends. Armed with this information, you can take any necessary steps to hold your builder to their warranty coverage while it's still in force and still not too late to act!
Learn More About 1-Year Warranty Inspections »
Schedule your 1-Year Warranty Inspection through our Inspection Request Form, get a free quote, or call us at (678) 410-3005.
Superior Home Inspections performs warranty inspections in accordance with the InterNACHI® Residential Standards of Practice and InterNACHI® Code of Ethics.
Seller Pre-Listing Home Inspection
Maybe you are thinking about selling your home or are already in the process of selling. Having a pre-listing home inspection performed ahead of time is a smart decision and can help the selling process in many positive ways.
Some benefits of a seller pre-listing home inspection are:
- You can make repairs ahead of time so that defects unearthed won't become negotiating stumbling blocks later.
- It gives you time to find reasonably priced contractors or make the repairs yourself, if qualified.
- It can help you to price your home realistically based on the findings.
- It may relieve prospects' concerns and suspicions.
- It may encourage the buyer to waive their inspection contingency.
- It reduces your liability by adding professional unbiased supporting documentation to your disclosure statement.
We perform seller pre-listing home inspections utilizing the InterNACHI® Residential Standards of Practice and InterNACHI® Code of Ethics.
Schedule your Seller Pre-Listing Inspection through our Inspection Request Form, get a free quote, or call us at (678) 410-3005.
Radon Air Testing Inspection
What Is Radon?
Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. You can't see it, smell it, or taste it, but it may be present in your home. The Surgeon General has identified radon as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, behind smoking.
If you smoke and your home has elevated radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is even higher.
Radon is found throughout the United States and is produced by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. It can enter virtually any type of home, exposing occupants over time.
Testing Is the Only Way to Know
Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon. If you have high radon levels, reduction systems work and they are not too costly. Some radon reduction systems can reduce radon levels in your home by up to 99%. Even very high levels can be reduced to acceptable levels. The EPA recommends testing all homes for radon during a real estate transaction, targeting the lowest livable space.
Radon in Metro Atlanta & North Georgia
Superior Home Inspections encourages and recommends that all our clients consider having a radon air test performed. Especially here in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia. Per the EPA map of radon zones, we have many counties that are in zone 2 (moderate potential) and a handful of counties in zone 1 (highest potential) for elevated indoor radon levels.
Schedule your Radon Air Testing Inspection through our Inspection Request Form, get a free quote, or call us at (678) 410-3005.
Thermal Imaging Inspection
What Thermal Imaging Can Reveal
Thermal imaging uses infrared camera technology to detect, non-invasively, temperature variations on surfaces. Thermal imaging cameras don't actually see temperature. Instead, they capture the infrared (IR) energy transfer from an object to its environment and produce a real-time image in a color palette where hotter objects appear brighter and cooler objects appear darker.
This is helpful in identifying hidden issues like moisture intrusion, trapped moisture, plumbing leaks, electrical faults, electrical overheating, air infiltration, air exfiltration, thermal heat loss, or faulty insulation. It can also help verify components working adequately such as radiant heaters or pipes and HVAC refrigeration equipment. It helps find problems or issues that may be invisible to the naked eye, such as leaks behind walls/ceilings, missing insulation behind walls/ceilings, energy loss, or faulty electrical wiring.
Understanding the Limitations
Thermal imaging is not part of a home inspection scope of work or included in the home inspection standard of practice. Many other inspection firms will advertise that thermal imaging service is included for free or as a value add-on at no charge. We feel that often, this is misleading. Many home inspectors lack adequate thermal imaging training, skill, knowledge, and experience to fully comprehend what they are seeing with the thermal imaging camera. They also lack the proper or adequate thermal imaging equipment for the job.
Thermal imaging is not as simple as point and shoot.
Thermal imaging-found exceptions or anomalies always require further evaluation and diagnostics to make a proper determination of what the thermal camera is seeing. Because thermal energy can be reflected off shiny surfaces, thermal imaging cameras cannot see through glass. If you stand in front of a window while looking at a thermal imaging camera, you will see yourself in the window because of the thermal energy reflecting off the glass. Thermal imaging cameras cannot see through walls and it's not x-ray vision!
It is also important to know that thermal imaging cameras should not be used as the deciding factor that a problem exists. We must always use other inspection equipment such as a borescope, eyes or moisture meter to confirm the problem. This is where training and experience are crucial for the inspector using the equipment to interpret the images.
How We Use Thermal Imaging
At Superior Home Inspections, thermal imaging services are stand-alone and will depend on what the exact scope of work is needed. However, we do utilize thermal imaging and infrared thermometers as diagnostic tools for further investigation of potential issues or concerns observed on a case-by-case basis per our determination during a standard home inspection.
Thermal Imaging Services Sample Report »
If you are interested in or feel you are in need of a separate thermal imaging service, please reach out to us using the Contact Us / Free Quote form, or call us at (678) 410-3005.
Thermal Imaging Commonly Asked Questions
Thermal Imaging Photos
Missing Insulation
Energy Loss
Moisture - Exterior Wall
Moisture Issues
Wet Carpet
Electrical Wiring
Electrical Box & Wiring
Electrical Meter Bank
Electrical Breaker
Why Choose Superior Home Inspections?
Experience Matters
Over 20 years of verified inspection experience and more than 10,000 inspections performed throughout Metro Atlanta and North Georgia.
Your Inspection Isn't Assigned to Someone Else
Every inspection is personally performed by Ray Thoroman or Brian Cawthern.
Certified Master Inspector® Credentials
Professional training, continuing education, and one of the industry's highest inspection designations.
We Access More Areas When Conditions Allow
We carry extension ladders to inspect accessible roof systems whenever it is safe to do so.
Detailed Reports Delivered Fast
Easy-to-read digital reports delivered the same day in most cases.
No Sales Pressure
We do not sell, share, or redistribute your personal data or information about the property, ever. We do not sell, pitch, or promote third-party services or products.