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A home inspection is a non-invasive, visual examination of a residential property's condition. At Embark, we follow InterNACHI's Standards of Practice to identify system defects. During your inspection, we will examine accessible areas, including the building's roof, exterior, foundation and structure, heating and cooling, plumbing, electrical, fireplace, attic, doors and windows, and interior.

The timing for your home inspection depends on what you're trying to accomplish. Buying - Receiving an inspection report before you buy a home can help you understand the condition of the property and the safety of your investment. The inspection can identify safety issues and maintenance problems that may result in larger, more costly issues in the future. Selling - Embark offers Move-In Certified inspections, which allows you to confirm that there are no major systems in need of immediate repair or replacement, and no known safety hazards. Our seller's Inspection alerts you to any defects or problems with your home so that you can address them before prospective buyers discover them. You can then take the time you need to obtain reasonable repair estimates and show prospective buyers that you are dealing in good faith. Avoid 11th-hour negotiations and delays, and justify your full asking price by having your home pre-inspected Maintaining - A home inspection is an invaluable resource to ensure that your home's systems continue running smoothly. As an owner, your inspection report can show you how to care for your home and address any issues before they become major problems. We also offer focused audits for when you need a second set of eyes on home repairs. When you have work done on your home, call Embark for an un-biased report on the quality of the repairs so you can ensure all work was done properly or call back the contractor to complete it to an appropriate standard.

Costs vary depending on the age, size, and location of the property, as well as the inspector's experience. A new home being inspected pre-drywall will often take less time than a historic home with many iterations of updates, while a multi-family home will likely take more time to inspect than a tiny-home. We have a formula to determine how much each inspection will cost. To receive a quote, have the following information ready when you call or email: Address Year built Size (sq. ft.) Don't let cost be the deciding factor in choosing an inspector - the knowledge gained from an inspection report is worth the inspection cost!

You will receive a copy of your report within 24 hours of the completion of your inspection.

Home inspections are not "pass" or "fail," they are a resource to help owners (or potential owners) better understand a property's condition and needs. An inspection report with multiple issues provides an opportunity to fix those issues before they worsen or, in the case of safety concerns, cause injury.

Speed up your home sale by preparing your home ahead of time using the following tips. Your home inspection will go smoother, with fewer concerns to delay closing. Confirm that that the water, electrical and gas services are turned on (including pilot lights). Make sure your pets won't hinder your home inspection. Ideally, they should be removed from the premises or secured outside. Tell your agent about any pets at home. Replace burned-out light bulbs to avoid a "light is inoperable" report that may suggest an electrical problem. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace dead batteries. Clean or replace dirty HVAC air filters. They should fit securely. Remove stored items, debris and wood from the foundation. These may be cited as "conducive conditions" for termites. Remove items blocking access to HVAC equipment, electrical service panels, the water heater, attic and crawlspace. Unlock any locked areas that your home inspector must access, such as the attic door or hatch, the electrical service panel, the door to the basement, and any exterior gates. Trim tree limbs so that they're at least 10 feet away from the roof. Trim any shrubs that are too close to the house and can hides pests or hold moisture against the exterior. Repair or replace any broken or missing items, such as doorknobs, locks or latches, windowpanes or screens, gutters or downspouts, or chimney caps. Checking these areas before your home inspection is an investment in selling your property. Embark can ensure that your home is Move-In Certified™. Your real estate agent will thank you!

In short - yes! A Move-In Certified home has been pre-inspected, which means that the seller can confirm that there are no major systems in need of immediate repair or replacement, and no known safety hazards. A Move-In Certified Seller's Inspection alerts you to any defects or problems with your home so that you can address them before prospective buyers discover them. You can then take the time you need to obtain reasonable repair estimates. Show prospective buyers that you are dealing in good faith. Avoid 11th-hour negotiations and delays, and justify your full asking price by having your home pre-inspected now. Here are some advantages of having your home-for-sale inspected before you list it: You can choose an InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector® to inspect your home first, which may prompt the buyer to waive his own inspection contingency. And even if he doesn't, a Seller Inspection means you won't be in for any surprises. You can schedule your inspection at your own convenience, rather than accommodating a buyer's inspector. You can assist your inspector during the inspection, which is something not normally done during a buyer's inspection. A Move-In Certified® Seller Inspection may alert you to any immediate concerns that require prompt attention. The Seller Inspection: allows you to take the time to shop for competitively priced contractors to make repairs, rather than making rushed decisions to get things fixed in a hurry; lets you attach repair estimates or paid invoices to the inspection report; and removes over-inflated buyer-procured repair estimates from the negotiating table. Move-In Certified® yard signs, free from your InterNACHI inspector, will attract potential buyers touring homes in your neighborhood. A Move-In Certified® Seller Inspection is the ultimate gesture in forthrightness on your part. There are other distinct advantages of having a Move-In Certified® Seller Inspection report: You're given the opportunity to dispute any misstatements in the inspection report before it's distributed to real estate agents and prospective buyers. The report provides an unbiased, third-party, professional opinion about the condition of the home to potential buyers. The report may encourage the buyer to waive his own inspection contingency, so the deal is less likely to fall apart the way they often do when a buyer's inspection reveals unexpected problems at the last minute. The report can be hosted on www.FetchReport.com, which can be used as an effective marketing tool. The report can help you realistically price the home if problems exist. The report can help you substantiate a higher asking price if problems don't exist or have been corrected. The report may relieve a prospective buyer's unfounded suspicions and concerns before he walks away from an otherwise great deal. The report provides full-disclosure protection from future legal claims. Read this article that explains some of the reasons it's a good idea to have your home pre-inspected: 8 Unexpected Factors That Can Threaten Your Home Sale.

With your permission, we can share your home's report online or e-mail it for prospective buyers to review. Some owners choose to print and bind a copy of the report for an open house or e-mail the report directly to buyers.

At Embark, we uphold a strict code of ethics to ensure our inspections are unbiased and impartial. We prioritize our clients' needs by abstaining from recommending specific contractors or accepting kickbacks for referrals. Unlike companies that profit from unnecessary repairs, our focus remains solely on your safety and peace of mind. When we suggest a repair or identify an issue, rest assured it's driven by our commitment to your well-being.

My home inspection journey began almost a decade ago when my husband and I bought our first home. Over time, we learned that the sellers had attempted to cover up issues throughout the home, including drainage issues, pinhole leaks in the pipes, and mold damage. One burst pipe had been "fixed" with duct tape and plastic wrap! As we hired various electricians, plumbers, and other industry professionals, we heard the same story again and again - each of the larger issues started out as smaller problems that could have been caught by someone who knew what to look for. Many people also asked if we'd had a home inspection, since there were plenty of signs With this in mind, I began taking a home inspection certification course. I didn't initially plan on starting a business, I just wanted to understand and care for my own home. Alongside the technical knowledge, our instructor talked about being careful not to upset real estate agents by pointing out too many issues with a house. He told us that agents whose clients were "scared away" from a house wouldn't call that inspector again. In this moment, I thought about my family's experience with a sub-par home inspection and how

MD License #35017 InterNACHI ID - NACHI23041319