For a Frisco home inspection, call AIS (972) 342-9183 today. Advanced Inspection Service provides prompt scheduling and thorough results to give home buyers and real estate investors the information they need to make an offer and negotiate a good deal.
- TREC-Certified Home Inspectors
- Experts in Frisco real estate and construction
- Detailed Home Inspection Reports with Photos
- Prompt Scheduling and Completion
- Peace of Mind for Home Buyers
TREC Certified Home Inspectors Frisco TX
AIS specializes in residential home inspection in Frisco and throughout the Northeast Dallas area. As you would expect, all of our personnel have professional training and are Certified Home Inspectors by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). We understand the building codes, design and construction practices in this real estate market. And if you’re buying a new construction house or condo, we highly recommend you hire a home inspector to ensure you are getting the safe and sound dwelling and systems performance you expect.
Our comprehensive home inspection process focuses on key structural components and systems: electrical-plumbing-HVAC to identify deficiencies and potential problems. The conditions of these are documented in a written home inspection report – including illustrative photos. Over the past 30+ years, we have conducted thousands of house inspections of single and multi-family dwellings in the Dallas suburbs.
- Pre-listing inspections for home sellers
- Post-offer inspection for home buyers
- Older houses and new construction inspections
- Detailed reports with explanations and photos
- Prompt scheduling and inspection completion
- Simplifies home purchase and negotiations
- Ensuring Customer Satisfaction and Peace of Mind
Our experience inspecting homes in Frisco, Allen and McKinney enables us to quickly identify problem areas in a house’s structure or systems. For the convenience of our clients, we schedule jobs promptly and can generate a comprehensive inspection report within 24 hours. And to enhance customer service, we are glad to discuss our detailed reports with clients and answer all their questions. This gives home buyers peace of mind when purchasing a home – and a significant advantage in the highly competitive North Texas real estate market.
If you are buying or selling a house in Frisco TX, call AIS to schedule a prompt and thorough property inspection – Mike Martin, TREC # 20835 (972) 342-9183.
AIS Frisco Home Inspection Services
This year, the majority of our AIS home inspections in Frisco involve recent (2000 and later) single family dwellings. Given the upscale nature of this area, our team is doing a lot of new house inspection work in planned communities. We also examine many older dwellings in the North Dallas area. And we highly recommend pre-listing inspections for sellers.
Our familiarity with the builders, architecture and construction practices here enables us to identify and evaluate potential problems quickly. AIS Frisco home inspectors have extensive experience with a diverse variety of residential real estate – houses, condos and multi-family dwellings. We know the mistakes builders and tradesmen commonly made during the construction process. All part of the customer service we provide clients with our home inspection services.
The past decade produced a huge population growth and real estate boom in Texas. More and more, we are inspecting new homes in Frisco. Our team is conducting a record number of McKinney real estate evaluations this year. As well as the nearby towns of Plano and Richardson TX. In this environment, we highly recommend Frisco home buyers schedule inspections as soon as possible.
Most new home purchasers don’t even think about having their newly built house inspected – a big mistake. As you can imagine, builders and their subcontractors labor under tremendous pressure to get the work done quickly and reduce costs. So we advise having new construction inspections with detailed inspection reports at key stages in the building process.
House Inspection vs Municipal Approvals
Local governments and water districts do conduct some limited aspects of new home inspection in Frisco. But the standards for passing these pale in comparison to the rigorous inspection process we use. We encounter a lot of sketchy as-built electrical wiring, plumbing supply and drains, heating and air conditioning installations. And properties with neglected home maintenance issues.
Not surprisingly, there’s a big difference in quality, performance and safety between “minimum standards” and “best practices”. Without a professional 3rd party home inspector, you can not confirm that you are getting the house, systems and materials you specified and paid for. For peace of mind, we highly recommend home buyers obtain independent home inspection services to conduct construction inspections at key stages of the build.
Given the growth in housing cost, a Frisco home inspection represents a great investment. We highly recommend professional property inspections for any type of real estate. Without this, structural problems or issues with plumbing, electrical or HVAC systems can come back and bite you.
Regarding new construction inspections, these need to be done before structures get covered up by flooring or sheetrock. To protect themselves, many smart home buyers insist on an inspection pre-acceptance. When the builder knows there’s going to be an independent home inspector evaluating the work, they feel a powerful incentive to make sure it’s done right the first time.
TREC and ASHI Certified Home Inspectors
The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) and the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) are the major government and professional organizations oversee home inspectors. So you know a highly trained expert – certified by both TREC and ASHI — performs every AIS home inspection in Frisco. Our memberships and continuing education from these organizations keep us up to date with advances in technology, equipment and procedures.
Periodic training helps us to continually improve our property inspection capabilities and inspection process. This translates to better information, value and peace of mind for our customers in Frisco, Richardson, McKinney, Allen and throughout the North Dallas region. Nothing compares with a thorough examination to reveal hidden damage, termite problems – and how well the owner has been doing home maintenance.
TREC offers a variety of courses (taught at local colleges and business schools) for home inspectors. These encompass detailed instruction in how to inspect home electrical systems, fireplaces and plumbing systems. As well as appliances, foundations, framing and roofing systems. TREC recently expanded the curriculum to include courseware on Green Building, EPA and CPSC Requirements, and Mold Inspection. They also mandate courses in report writing, inspecting pools and spas, and home inspection ethics.
ASHI publishes the Standards of Practice for Home Inspection, updated most recently on March 1, 2014. This document details the scope and process of inspecting homes, with specific chapters for each major component of the house: Exterior, Roof System, Plumbing, Electrical Systems, Heating, Air Conditioning, Interior, Fireplaces, Insulation and Ventilation. As new building materials and techniques emerge, we devise improved inspection equipment and procedures. ASHI publishes articles and updates the Standards of Practice to reflect these changes. Over the years, timely detailed reports from ASHI have headed off several Frisco home inspection issues (e.g., Chinese dry wall, substandard electrical panels, slab foundation problems).
Affordable House Inspection – Frisco TX 75034
For most people, purchasing a home represents the largest expenditure they will ever make. Fortunately, the cost of hiring an AIS professional ends up costing less than picking a less qualified and inexperienced home inspection service from the phone book or Internet. The money spent on your Frisco home inspection represents one of the best investments you’ll ever make.
AIS enjoys a reputation for excellent customer service as the most responsive real estate inspection company in North Dallas. To put buyers in a better bargaining positions, we strive to schedule and perform our real estate inspections promptly. This enables our clients to make timely purchase offers and meet tight closing schedules. Most importantly, we examine homes thoroughly – to identify existing problems and/or damage, or highlight potential issues in the future. This information gives our clients the ability to negotiate pre-purchase repairs or price reductions. Ensuring the soundness of your new home and saving you money.
Call today to schedule your Frisco home inspection. (972) 342-9183
Frisco Condo Inspections – Town Homes – Garden Homes
AIS conducted a lot more condo inspections in Frisco TX and McKinney last year. And this trend appears to be continuing and expanding. Everyone knows about the benefits of living in these Northeast Dallas suburbs. The job opportunities, excellent schools and community amenities bring people to this community from all over the USA. As a result, we expect to perform even more Frisco property inspection work this year.
For the past 5 years, this area has experienced a tremendous housing boom. Most of the condos we inspect in the Frisco area were built in the last 10 years. This gives homebuyers all the advantages of modern design, construction methods, building materials and systems.
And there are plenty of good values in condo resales. Many of the 8-15 year old condominiums and garden homes have been recently updated with new eco-friendly paint and floor coverings, upgraded granite countertops, modern kitchen and bathroom fixtures. As these modernized dwellings come on the market, they frequently attract multiple bidders — creating an intense auction-like competition among buyers.
Looking at Frisco TX condos or townhomes?
Call AIS Inspector Mike Martin (972) 342-9183
New Condo Inspection – Frisco TX
People buying a brand new townhouse or garden home don’t always think about the benefits of a Frisco condo inspection. And who can blame them? Not surprisingly, they are excited about buying and moving into their new home, getting new furniture and settling into a new community. The new owners get the condo inspected because the lender requires it, not realizing how useful this can be.
Newly built housing has several downsides. Most obviously, no one has ever lived there before. So the home has not been tested under real-world conditions. Yes, it may have passed the nominal structural, electrical and plumbing inspections by the municipal authorities. But these only test for minimal compliance with building codes, and that bar is set pretty low.
Something else to think about. Frisco area developers and their subcontractors are under tremendous pressure to finish houses quickly to meet deadlines and maximize profits. In some cases, they sell new condos and garden homes on spec with ambitious delivery dates. This kind of environment can lead to mistakes and troublesome shortcuts, some of which are not visible to the unsuspecting buyer.
If you’re going to be the first occupants of a new residence, you’ll want to be sure your house or condo inspector does a thorough job. Call AIS today (972) 342-9183.
Inspecting Frisco Townhomes and Garden Homes
The great thing about having performed so many condo inspections in Frisco is we know what to look for. We’ve experienced a plethora of things done wrong in the initial design and implementation, maintenance or upgrades by the building management, and sketchy DIY work by the occupants. A few of the most common deficiencies and potential problems we find:
Poor HVAC system maintenance. We don’t find many design issues in modern buildings, but some of the older systems employ antiquated technology and have poor SEER ratings. So they use more energy and don’t do as good a job of heating and cooling. In condo inspections for Frisco and McKinney clients, we often run across HVAC units with cracked drip pans or clogged drain lines. But the most frequent issue we find is dirty or clogged air filters, some of which appear not to have been replaced for many months!
Common Inspection Problems with Frisco Homes and Condos
Ill-fitting or substandard windows and doors. These can be caused by poor quality doors or windows, settling, severe wear and tear, or occupants painting operable windows shut. Depending on the severity, these cause problems ranging from minor drafts and increased energy costs – to safety hazards (preventing egress in the event of a fire or other emergency)
Undersized electric panels and service. This is usually only an issue in older buildings that were built before we all acquired the need for lots of power-hungry systems and appliances. But we do see some overloaded electrical panels, circuit breakers and outlets during older condo inspections in Frisco, Richardson and McKinney.
Missing or inoperable smoke or carbon monoxide detectors. The building codes have gotten a lot stricter about these recently. New condos and townhouses are nearly always up to code. The same goes for most other dwellings that have changed hands in the past five years. The condo inspector will have flagged any deficiencies, causing the owner to install compliant devices.
AIS Experience in Northeast Texas
These represent the most prevalent issues. As you might expect, our Frisco inspectors have accumulated a much longer list – and the latest in high tech equipment – to find other potential problems.
We have done residential property inspections in North Dallas for more than 30 years. The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) licenses all of our personnel. Additionally, they have earned certifications by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). Our inspectors also possess specialized training and certification in Swimming Pool and Wood Destroying Insect inspection.
Let us apply our experience, professional training and modern equipment to your home or condo inspection. The purchase or sale of a home is one of the most important financial transactions you make. And the relatively small cost of our evaluation is a solid investment. AIS has earned a reputation for our ability to schedule inspections promptly and thoroughly. This gives our clients the information they need to make critical purchase decisions and negotiate the best possible price.
If you are thinking about buying or selling a condo in Frisco Texas, call AIS today to schedule a thorough inspection.
Home HVAC System Examinations
AIS performs a thorough HVAC inspection on every house or condo. This year we’re getting a lot of new clients who are moving from California (and places up North). Heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems don’t experience the same stress that they encounter here in Texas. So the smart clients ask us to pay extra attention when evaluating the cooling capabilities of their units.
Many of our house and condo inspections in Frisco and McKinney examine older homes. In some cases the components are reaching the end of their useful life. The buyer needs to evaluate the trade-off between getting an efficient new system – and trying to coax a few more years out of the old one. A thorough home HVAC inspection costs very little and can help the prospective buyer make this decision.
As we all know, residential construction is going like gangbusters in the Northeast Dallas suburbs. So our HVAC inspection team examines quite a few brand new heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems. Interestingly, some buyers don’t insist on having their new home inspected during construction. We guess they think new houses are perfect (they’re not). But this usually turns into an excellent idea and investment. Especially if the builder and subcontractors know this is coming.
If you need a home inspection in Frisco, McKinney or Northeast Dallas, call Advanced Inspection Services (AIS) today! Mike Martin (972) 342-9183 TREC-Certified Home Inspector.
Frisco Home HVAC Inspections – AIS
Advanced Inspection Service inspects HVAC systems in Frisco and nearby Dallas suburbs. Amazingly, we’ve been doing this for more than 30 years. Most of our work entails single-family homes. But we also inspect heating, ventilation and air conditioning installations in apartment buildings, condos and duplexes.
Our evaluations enable homebuyers to gauge the soundness and effectiveness of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and components. So they can make an informed purchase decision and/or negotiate for repairs or a better price. A thorough HVAC inspection can detect defects and potential issues that would be expensive and time-consuming to repair. A clean inspection report gives the buyer confidence that the system functions properly and will not produce any surprises following the purchase.
An AIS inspection for a homebuyer involves a rigorous and comprehensive HVAC system examination. A lot more than the typical system checkup performed by an air conditioning repairman. First of all, our evaluation is not undertaken with an orientation toward fixing an operational issue or performing annual maintenance. We are evaluating the condition, performance and safety of the entire system. So our client can assess its longevity and what repairs might be necessary.
HVAC Inspector’s Checklist – A/C Items
In our 30+ years of performing HVAC inspections, we have developed a list of common deficiencies and their symptoms. Our examinations extend well beyond the standard TREC-mandated items. And we employ advanced instruments like electrical multimeters, moisture detectors and infrared cameras.
We focus on the areas that tend to deteriorate over time and cause the most problems —
- Thermostat and Controls
- Indoor and Outdoor Coils
- Condensation Pan and Drainage
- Compressor Performance
- Refrigerant Level
- Electrical Wiring and Safety Features
- Supply vs. Return Air Temperature Differences
That said, the issue we find most frequently (and are obliged to cite in our Inspection Reports) is dirty air filters. This is really a shame because they can be replaced so easily and inexpensively. And the presence of a clogged and dust-laden air filter makes the prospective buyer wonder what else the seller has neglected.
Call AIS (972) 342-9183 to schedule a Home inspection.
Common Problems – Clogged Drains – Dirty Coils
Next to dirty filters, we encounter problems with the condensation pans and drains most frequently. In Frisco many HVAC systems are located in attics where A) The house occupants rarely have a chance to see them, and B) Dust and other foreign matter can accumulate in the pan, blocking the drain. This can lead to overflow and damage to the insulation, framing and ceiling below.
The same applies to the air conditioner’s condenser coils – inside and outside the house. Over time, these get dirty and they don’t conduct heat as well. The dust acts as an insulator, preventing the efficient operation of the system. Dirt-covered coils are easily avoided with annual (semi-annual better) checkups and maintenance. And at the same time, the technician can check and top off the coolant fluid if it is low – another common HVAC inspection issue.
Heating System Inspections and Checklist
In our warm Texas climate, air conditioning provides most of the work for HVAC systems – cooling the home. But we do get some cold winter weather that motivates us to switch thermostats to the heater setting. So during our inspections, we test to see that the heating elements are working properly, and that the system transitions from cooling to heating and back without any problems.
Modern HVAC systems employ heat pumps and work just like a refrigerator. In cooling mode, they pump warm fluid outside where it is cooled by condensing coils. In heating mode the process reverses – the fluid extracts heat is from inside the home and transfers this to the air outside. The physics are simple; but a lot of complex electronics monitor and control the operation of the thermostat, heat pump and air handler components.
Additional items we inspect in heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems include –
- Presence of Carbon Monoxide
- Combustible items near the HVAC unit
- Proper venting
- Operation of furnace burner and motor
- For gas furnaces — check gas pressure, examine fittings for leaks
- For electrical furnaces — check wiring connections
Schedule a Frisco HVAC system inspection!
Advanced Inspection Service – Frisco TX
An HVAC system comprises a critical component of one of the most expensive purchases you will ever make – your home. The main unit is usually located in a difficult-to-access place; and the ductwork, plumbing and control systems run throughout the house. As part of every home inspection in Frisco, the HVAC system should be carefully examined to ensure no unexpected problems or expenses.
Call AIS today – TREC-Certified HVAC Inspector Mike Martin (972) 342-9183