Today's home-buying market has brought about time-sensitive needs for buyers and some are even waiving home inspections altogether in an effort to appeal to sellers and "sweeten the offer". While we understand the dilemma, for obvious reasons, we feel waiving home inspections is unwise. As an answer to the cut-throat nature of today's market, yet not a substitution for a home inspection, we have created a service to provide potential buyers somewhat of a safety-net for their peace of mind: Enter, "The Dad".
"The Dad" walkthrough is intended to allow buyers an extra set of eyes from a qualified individual's perspective. With "The Dad" we will meet you at a scheduled walkthrough and visually observe the condition of the home you're interested in. While we may not be interested in making an offer on the home, we are interested in helping you decide if there are any obvious unsafe conditions or potentially costly issues. We can't tell you what to do with the information we provide, but we hope it will help your initial assessment of the property.
What is included with "The Dad" walkthrough?
We will be performing a non-invasive, visual plain-view observation while walking through the home with you, indicating them as we go. Again, we are primarily trying to identify hazardous conditions that make affect safety or cost a lot to repair. While we are good at identifying issues quickly, we cannot assume this is a home inspection. In fact, we urge you to use this method of our observation as a precursor to a home inspection.
What is not included?
Well, first thing's first, redundancy aside, this is not a home inspection. Our role in "The Dad" walkthrough is to do what you would do, only more focused on business and less on finding a new place to live. We cannot perform any invasive act, no matter how minimal, towards the existing home and its included systems. This means we aren't checking the home's plumbing, heating and cooling, electrical, opening doors, cabinets, turning on appliances, climbing into attics, crawling beneath the floors, taking a dip in the swimming pool (or hot tub) or even daring to check out the "she-shed" in the back yard. Walkthroughs tend to be very rushed; don't let it fool you though, we are soaking in the sights as we see them.
How much does it cost for "The Dad"?
We expect most of our time will be spent traveling to the home you are interested in, with the rest of the time spent observing the home. We also respect your wallet, so we came up with a compromise for us both:
$100 base rate (includes up to 2000 square foot home, walkthrough and 15-minute one-way drive time)
+ variables increasing both time and distance:
$25 per additional 15-minute one-way drive (that's 30 min, there and back)
$25 per additional 1000 sf of house to explore
Don't worry, we will do the math for you, give you a breakdown and tell you what it's going to be before we agree to meet you at your new dream home (or nightmare). We ask that you work with your realtor or the listing agent to secure at least a 30-minute window of time to walk through the home to look at it. Anything less would only be detrimental to your ability to make an educated offer to the seller.
Disclaimer:
This type of observation is a variation of a buyer's walkthrough where Alpha Omega Home Inspection is acting as a qualified individual to observe the visual condition of the property's basic existence. It is not a home inspection nor a substitution for a home inspection. The observation is intended to assist the client in identifying the actual condition of the property in an attempt to help inform from a qualified individual's perspective. It is in no way to be shared with any entity outside the written consent of Alpha Omega Home Inspection. The observation is not intended to dissuade or influence the purchase of the property. A written report will not be included with the observation. Any information provided by Alpha Omega Home Inspection will be used for informational purposes only. Contracting this service is client's agreement to hold harmless the inspector and Alpha Omega Home Inspection of all liability to include any condition found or excluded from the observation. Client understands issues/hazards may exist in inaccessible or concealed spaces, which are beyond the scope of this observation.
No-shows or cancellations without 24-hour notice and verification will be subject to a site-visit fee of $50.