Inspection FAQ's
It depends on how much you want to participate. We encourage you join us for the entire inspection. Therefore, you may want to wear comfortable clothes that you aren’t afraid to get a bit dirty. Also make sure that you dress appropriately for the weather.
No, Up-Country does not provide repair services. We want to remain a neutral party with no vested interest in the conclusions of the inspection. Furthermore, we adhere to the American Society of Home Inspector’s (ASHI) Code of Ethics which prohibits us from performing work on houses we have inspected.
Most building inspections take about 2 to 2.5 hours, but can take longer depending on the size and complexity of the building.
We recommend that you bring a notepad to take notes on if you wish. Putting the inspector’s observations in your own words may be helpful. If you plan on following the inspector into attic or crawlspaces, you may want to consider wearing clothes that you are not afraid to get dirty or torn.
We are not in the business of construction repairs and therefore, cannot provide estimates on repairs or upgrades. It is best to contact a specialist in that area to provide you with a scope of work and costs.
We typically send our reports electronically within 24 hours of the inspection. We can also provide a hard copy upon request.
Attending the inspection is not a requirement but highly encouraged. We feel that joining the inspector during the inspection will give you additional insight into not only the condition of the building but also how the systems work.
Please make sure all rooms of the house are accessible as well as any access points to attic spaces, etc. If an attic hatch is accessed through a ceiling in a closet, please remove the contents of the closet so that we can safely gain access to the attic.
A general building inspection does not include mold testing. If you would like to have mold sampling conducted, you should contact an Indoor Air Quality Specialist.
No. A home inspection is a visual inspection and an evaluation of systems and components. We do not do damage to walls or ceilings, use invasive tools or disturb personal property. We do not operate generators, pool equipment, wood burning appliances or appliances that have been shut off.
There is no licensing requirement for home inspectors in the state of Maine. Our inspectors are ASHI-certified and several are members of the Maine Coalition of Home Inspection Professionals (MECHIPs). To be an Up-Country building inspector, an individual must meet rigorous professional and technical requirements, including the successful completion of the National Home Inspector Exam and ASHI certification which includes reaching certain milestones based on the number of inspections performed. In addition, the inspector must complete continuing education training annually.
We accept cash, checks as well as VISA and Master Card. Payment is due at the time of the inspection.
We provide inspection services in all of York, Cumberland and Sagadahoc Counties and portions of Oxford, Androscoggin, Kennebec and Knox Counties.
Depending on inspector availability, we can provide services on Saturdays.
No. We are not qualified to provide code inspections. Furthermore, we would need to be familiar with codes within each of the municipalities that we provide services in. If you have questions regarding codes in a home that you are thinking of purchasing, you should consult with the code enforcement officer of that particular municipality or a Third Party Inspector.
We may not be able to determine the condition of the entire roof if it is partly or completely snow-covered. We can only inspect what is visible at the time of the inspection. Snow cover may also limit other portions of the inspection of exterior components. We will inspect as much as we can, given the conditions.
Factors that affect the cost of an inspection include the size, age and complexity of a building. Additional systems or components such as additional kitchens, in-law apartments, etc. will also affect the price, as will the presence of large garages (able to store 3 or more vehicles) because it takes more time to inspect additional components.
From our customers…
[testimonials_cycle theme=”no_style” width=”100%” category=”testimonil” count=”-1″ order_by=”date” order=”ASC” show_title=”0″ use_excerpt=”0″ show_thumbs=”0″ show_date=”0″ show_other=”0″ hide_view_more=”0″ output_schema_markup=”1″ testimonials_per_slide=”1″ transition=”fade” timer=”5000″ pause_on_hover=”true” auto_height=”200″ show_pager_icons=”1″ prev_next=”1″ paused=”0″]