SERVICES

Buyer resale inspections:

You've taken the first step of making the wise choice to search for the best quality 3rd party inspector you can find.  Let us do the hard work and provide you with a comprehensive user friendly report.  

Buyer inspections are often done during the purchase of a resale home.  During these inspections a potential buyer wants to know what they are potentially signing up for.  Any evidence of roof or shingle damage? How does the roof or attic framing look? Foundation issues?  Any low areas or missing insulation? We're very often able to identify deficiencies that would've only been discovered during original construction with our infrared scanning technology and other state of the art tools.  We won't compromise quality on any inspection.  Some inspection companies charge extra for these services but infrared scans and other services come standard with any real estate inspection we perform.  All of these things can help give you a better idea of what you're purchasing and the likelihood of potential items that'll need correction or attention.  This translated to money out of your pocket.  Let us help you avoid the land mines and equip you with as much information as possible so that you can make the best informed decision.   

One of the mistakes that many people make when buying a newly built home is to skip the home inspection. After all, they reason, it's a brand new house - everything should be perfect. And the city or other local government will inspect it anyway in order to issue a certificate of occupancy.

Unfortunately, even a new home can have flaws, sometime major ones. And a local government inspection doesn't guarantee the quality or the work or verify that everything has been built according to plan - it only verifies that certain minimum standards have been met. And when you've got several hundred thousand dollars tied up in a new home, "minimum" is not what you want.

During a new build hundreds of contractors will be coming in and out of the build site.  Items that are found on a pre closing inspection are evidence of poor workmanship or failure to follow the plans - warped floors, joists weakened by improperly installed ductwork, leaky plumbing, bad wiring, drainage problems around the foundation, improperly installed appliances, poor seals around vents or other roof structures, or other things that just weren't done properly.

The pre-pour foundation inspection is conducted when the home’s foundation make-up has been completed and the builder is ready to pour concrete.

The primary reason for an inspection at this stage is to ensure that the work done on your home’s foundation was conducted in a professional manner; before some of the vital in-slab components are completely covered by concrete.

The main systems that are inspected and reported on are as follows:

• Checking all foundation form work locations and bracing capabilities
• Inspecting the installation of the post-tensioned cable system for adherence to common manufacturer installation guidelines
• Inspecting the reinforcing steel sizing and method of placement
• Inspecting the interior pads for form and compaction issues
• Inspecting the plastic vapor barrier for workmanship defects and location
• Inspecting the trenchwork and pads for potential drainage issues
• Inspecting the exposed plumbing for atypical or problematic configurations
• Checking all beam depths & widths for reduced sizing & atypical configurations

A pre-drywall inspection can identify potential problems with the framing, plumbing, and electrical systems in the home before it's too late. It's also a good way to get an idea of what repairs may need to be made at this stage of the building process.

Items and systems inspected include:

• the foundation;
• floor system;
• roof system;
• wall systems;
• plumbing system;
• electrical system;
• HVAC;
• exterior wall covering;
• roof covering; and
• the interior.
• grading
• electrical wiring and junction box placement;
• framing;
• foundation slabs, walls and drains;
• notching of floor joists;
• firestop material;
• pier pads;
• crawlspace;
• retaining walls;
• plumbing pipe placement;
• waterproofing;
• flashing for windows and doors;
• wall studs;
• any missing metal clips; and
• the placement of HVAC air ducts and registers.

After your home is finished, your builder will likely offer you a one-year warranty. This warranty is intended to cover any needed repairs up to one year after you’ve moved in. You protect yourself from any damage to your home, and it helps keep the builder accountable for their work. Getting a home inspection before your builder’s warranty expires will help catch potential issues early on, and could potentially save you thousands of dollars down the road. shop, or added a new product or service? Don't keep it to yourself, let folks know.

Pre-listing inspections can help give the seller of a property more leverage by uncovering any surprises that may show up during the buyer's inspection. Having the house inspected before putting on the market allows you to identify what needs to be repaired you can be proactive which will help lessen the negotiating power of the buyer.  Give us a call so we can help you position yourself for optimal results.  

Don't let our name fool you.  We also specialize in commercial inspections, not just residential.  Warehouse spaces, office spaces, dental offices, health care facilities, and any other structures used for private or corporate businesses.  We've done it all and can help you identify issues so that you can make the best real estate decisions for your business.   

What happens during a septic inspection?

What happens during a septic inspection will depend on the type of septic inspection you’re paying for (don’t worry, we’ll get into this later). However, most septic inspections will begin with a visual assessment of your septic tank.

During the visual inspection, we will access your septic system by opening your septic tank manhole and taking some high definition photos of the interior.

If you opt for a more comprehensive septic inspection, the inspector will have time to conduct a top-to-bottom examination of your septic system, from its electrical components and mechanical plumbing to its effluent screens and scum/sludge levels.    

If you want to maximize the chance of detecting any issues early, we recommend having your septic system inspected at least once every five years. Over this same interval, you should also reach out to a specialist pumping service to pump your septic tank and drainfield as needed.  We definitely recommend getting a septic inspection before purchasing a property with a septic system.  

At Hill Country Home Inspections we spare no expense on acquiring the most advanced tools and superior training.  Do you have a drain plumbing concern?  If your purchasing a home that has had past foundation issues or foundation corrections you'll want to order this service.  This could save you thousands in the long run.

WHAT IS A SEWER SCOPE INSPECTION?
A sewer scope is a video inspection of the lateral sewer line from the house at or near the foundation to the city, HOA tap, or the septic tank. The inspector runs a camera scope on a 100-foot cord down the sewer line, stopping at the sewer main/septic tank, or until an obstruction prevents it from going any further.

WHAT ARE SOME COMMON SEWER LINE ISSUES?
Root intrusion, crushed/collapsed sewer lines from heavy construction equipment, cracks, holes, pooling, and pipe separation/disconnected joints are just some of the many issues which can occur in sewer lines, and may cause a future backup, leading to emergency repairs or line replacement.

Sewer lines do not discriminate which types of properties they can negatively impact. Homes built prior to 2000, properties with non-PVC sewer lines, and any building with trees in the front yard are especially vulnerable to sewer line issues. New construction properties may also be vulnerable from incomplete sewer line construction, and construction debris.

Repairs can easily cause upwards of tens of thousands of dollars that the homeowner is responsible for.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU GET A SEWER SCOPE INSPECTION?

OWNERS / PROPERTY MANAGERS:  If you occupy your own home, we recommend having a sewer scope inspection performed at least once every 3 years, though more frequent services may be appropriate if you suspect any potential issues. If you rent your home out, we strongly encourage having annual sewer scope inspections..

Investor inspections are common with multi-unit properties. This is a numbers game, and an inspection will help you know what to fix so the contractors can get you the repair numbers you need to be profitable.
A house is a huge investment in money, time, and emotion. Let us do what we do best so that you can rest easy with the peace of mind knowing that your home or commercial property was thoroughly inspected by a top notch highly trained inspector.  Be sure to announce it so everybody knows and gets excited about it.

We also inspect swimming pools, hot tubs, outbuildings, and more.  

We also conduct foundation elevation surveys.  What is a foundation survey? A foundation survey is a document that shows a schematic floor plan of your house with elevation readings throughout the floor plan. The elevation readings represent the high and low points of your foundation at the time the readings are taken. It's essentially a snap shot of the current position of the foundation.