Mold Testing: Modern Strategies (Part 3)
When it comes to choosing the right mold sampling method, it’s crucial to consider various factors
When it comes to choosing the right mold sampling method, it’s crucial to consider various factors
Mold sampling techniques have evolved significantly over the years, driven by the need for accurate and reliable assessment of indoor mold levels.
Thermography, or thermal imaging, can be a valuable tool during a property inspection. . .
Welcome back to our blog series! If you’ve been following along, you’ve read about “Mold & Real Estate Transactions & Mold, Moisture, and Your Home.” Now, let’s dive into the next step: understanding lab reports.
(Actual footage during an inspection – looking for a plumbing leak)
Inspect Montana’s first approach to every inspection is to look directly at all aspects of the property. There are times when parts of the property are structured such that we are not able to get to them due to space limitations or heights or weather. We have drones for roofs that aren’t accessible, thermography camera’s to see temp differences in materials that reveal water leaks or missing insulation, and for crawl spaces that are too narrow for us to crawl through we have BigCrawler.
For crawl spaces, if the space is too short for us to enter we will deploy the BigCrawler. This tool stands 6 inches in height with four-wheel steering and a low center of gravity allowing this crawler to get in and out of debris-filled crawl spaces without getting stuck or caught. Crawling over pipes, plastic, bricks, etc. makes this crawler the tool of choice for these situations.
In many other states across the US, the home and commercial real estate inspection industry is regulated. Inspectors must be fully licensed in order to inspect homes and provide reports about the condition of homes and commercial properties for sale.
Should Montana get on board with so many other US states to regulate the inspection industry with licenses?
This debate has been going for the last few decades as to whether Montana should require all home and commercial real estate inspector to qualify for and carry a license. The options are to leave the real estate inspection sector as is with little to no oversight or require license or certification with minimum qualifying standards.
Currently, anyone, however inexperienced or unqualified, may advertise himself a qualified inspector with little to no recourse for official verification outside of voluntary certifying organizations.
On one hand, the industry does not need any more regulations. Any legislation put forth will undoubtedly be written by those who do not understand the industry variables. Many argue to let the market decide.
On the other hand, there is a serious lack of consumer protection without standards in place to ensure inspectors meet minimum qualifications worthy of the profession and assurance to the otherwise unsuspecting consumer. This leaves the market to only decide after a potential injury.
Unfortunately, the absence of consumer protection without minimum standards and assurances in place affects those who are buying homes or commercial properties. This is a large number of people every day, putting themselves and their families at potential risk by leaving the inspections to unqualified inspectors.
Without proper regulation and licensing standards, consumers may face losing the cost of the inspection, at a minimum. At worst, more expenses than the cost of the home or building itself may be suffered, maybe even personal injury.
The lack of minimum qualifications and standards for home and commercial real estate inspections means that serious professionals are competing with unprofessional hobbyists or industry looky-loos.
The Bottom Line
A minimum standard ought to be in place for both the protection of the consumer and the industry itself. Inspect Montana would welcome and encourage regulation of inspections to increase the credibility of the entire inspection field.
With over 17 years of experience inspecting homes and commercial properties in Lolo and across Western Montana, Inspect Montana are proud to provide reliable and professional inspection results.
At Inspect Montana, we believe the industry is here to protect consumers and only provide inspections that uphold the integrity of the home and commercial real estate inspection industry.
If you are buying an investment property, selling investment property, or perhaps looking to lease a property, the process can be as exhilarating as it is frustrating – often leaving you feeling intense excitement and extreme frustration at the same time.
Hiring a team of experts who have a full understanding of the real estate climate in your area is imperative to offset the potentially overwhelming task of navigating through the logistics, details and due diligence of a sale or lease. Besides hiring a competent and knowledgeable commercial real estate brokerage firm to represent you, one of the most essential members of your team of experts is a qualified and experienced commercial real estate inspector. Hiring the right inspector can turn a potentially dreadful situation into a successful and often-times worry-free transaction.
A good inspector’s objective is to uncover issues that could present potential surprises or hazards. Providing an informative and educational assessment of the property will save you time and money and protect your investment for the long-haul. The assessment can also be a guide to consider any maintenance, alterations, renovations, or other projects moving forward. Letting your inspector know of any such plans or thoughts ahead of time will help your him or her highlight those pertinent points for you. Whether you have plans or not, it is essential to have a comprehensive assessment of the property’s present condition.
Oftentimes a building will appear quite healthy on the surface and will even have municipal records to support that; but upon further inspection may reveal alterations made by unqualified persons, or by disqualifying methods. Many property owners attempt do-it-yourself projects or will hire a less-than-qualified individual to do work in an effort to save money. These efforts to save a buck are often more costly in the end and can create hidden hazards unbeknownst to potential buyers and tenants, and sometimes even the building owners themselves.
Another common finding of a property inspection is construction that has taken place without proper permitting and/or municipal inspections during the construction phase. This is especially common in more remote areas of the state. Hidden electrical boxes, abandoned live wires, over- cut framing members, and poor plumbing venting are just a few common finds. All of these present their own hazards, some obvious, some not so much, but with the use of specialty tools and equipment, as well as the knowledge of a qualified inspector these issues can be identified and addressed.
One way of avoiding any surprises if you are selling a commercial property is to be pro-active in the process by hiring an inspector prior to listing to stem some of the possible surprises and maintain control of the due-diligence process.
Montana does not yet have any formal oversight of the recently established Real Estate Inspection industry. So, in addition to assessing your investment property, it is also essential to vet a potential inspector. Is he or she certified by a nationally recognized agency rather than merely an affiliate? Is continuing education a part of their mandate for maintaining certification? What specialty tools or experts does the inspector have access to in able to perform a thorough assessment? Are they insured, experienced and qualified? What is their background? Did they come with a recommendation? Without formal regulation by the state, as with other industries and professions, you must ask the qualifying questions to ensure they meet the standards you require for your team of experts.
Whether it is a real estate transaction or a maintenance assessment of your own property; whether you are looking for a broad or narrow scope assessment (e.g. just the electrical system for insurance renewal), an inspection by a qualified, equipped, certified, and experienced inspector can save you money, time, and, of course, undue anxiety. And, hiring an experienced and equipped commercial property inspector rather than your typical home inspector is a must for your commercial properties. There is simply too great a disparity in training and experience to properly assess most commercial buildings. With that, as with any relationship, long or short, communication is a key to success.
Inspect Montana has been inspecting home and commercial properties for nearly 18 years, starting in 2001. Master certified, experienced, and insured we utilize advanced tools to provide as thorough an assessment as possible for you including drones, IR thermography, IR moisture metering, radon and water testing, multiple inspectors, digital administration, a panoply of qualified experts and specialist consultants, etc. serving all throughout western Montana from border to Bozeman, and sometimes even beyond.
For your next commercial building inspection, give me a call or shoot a text.
Tim (TC) Netzley
Inspector, Consultant, Instructor, and President,
Inspect Montana
(406) 241-9464 | www.InspectMT.com
Home Inspection Services in Lolo, Montana
Whether you’re about to buy a home or you’re currently living in one, it may be time to think about an inspection. Getting your home inspected is the one step you can take to make sure your house truly remains a home. The detailed inspection specialist at Inspect Montana conducts a detailed visual examination of the home in question, from the rooftop to the foundation, to make sure it’s a safe and secure place for you and your family or investment purposes.
A general home inspection includes an in-depth examination of HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems, as well as structural and foundational elements. Inspect Montana also tests for radon to make sure the air at your home is free of dangerous toxins.
Home Inspection Lolo
Make sure your family is living in a safe environment
You can trust a home inspector with over 15 years of experience to provide you with peace of mind. After completing the inspection, we will:
Provide you with a detailed report for your records with color photos
Make recommendations for repairs and maintenance
Suggest needed installations or upgrades for increased longevity
Inspect Montana appreciates the peace of mind that comes from living in a quality home. If you believe there may be something in the way of you having the perfect home for your family, call our Lolo, MT home inspector to come take a look. We service clients in Missoula, Montana, the Bitterroot and throughout Western Montana as well.
Call us today to give your home the checkup it deserves.
The Inspect Montana team wishes you the happiest of holidays this season. May the New Year be filled with joy, health, and prosperity!
If you need any assistance from us during the holiday season, feel free to get in touch with us by clicking here.
Inspect Montana serves clients across Montana including Lolo, Missoula, Hamilton, Corvallis, Florence, Victor, Darby, Alberton, Polson, Ronan, St. Regis, Clinton, Stevensville, Philipsburg, Drummond, Frenchtown, St.Ignatius, Garrison, Lincoln, Sula, Pablo, Deer Lodge, Bitterroot Valley and throughout Western Montana.
Consult Montana Home Inspectors
Experience the Inspect Montana Difference.