Homebook™

The Homebook® was written in 1981 in response to the overwhelming market demand for an accurate and easy-to-understand Home Inspection reporting system.

Once complete, The Homebook® becomes a valuable, long-term owner’s manual. Each section is designed to provide home buyers with inforamtion about the property, including probable length of life of major appliances, and estimated repairs, costs and time frames. Our reporting system, The Homebook®, is considered the "Bible" of the industry.

The Homebook® is now in its 23rd Edition. The Homebook® remains unsurpassed in its:

1. Clarity

2. Simplicity

3. Insight

The Homebook® develops these three principles into a reporting system that delivers a comprehensive and invaluable education to the homebuyer. It allows the Home Inspector to clearly communicate the problems he finds in the house to the potential home buyer. Which in turn allows the home buyer to make a more educated and informed purchasing decision.
The HomeBook® will:

Put your property into perspective by comparing it with its peers (i.e. houses of similar vintage, material usage, intent).
Summarize the major points of concern and the significant qualities of the property.
Include the level of complexity of the property and the probability of undiscovered problems.
List and Price those components which have a high probability of failure within the coming five years (i.e. roofing, heating/air conditioning, water heaters, etc.)
Identify potential remodeling problems, such as materials containing asbestos, electrical systems which cannot be expanded to accommodate a new kitchen, old galvanized plumbing supply pipes which will not deliver an adequate supply of water or may leak, etc.)
Note amateur workmanship or substandard maintenance, or advise you when to consult an expert to look more closely at suspected problem areas.
Detail the maintenance for all components of the house.
List problems in major and minor groupings. (Major problems are defined as problems that cost $500 or more to repair or constitute a significant safety hazard.

The Homebook® contains information on over 600 potential house problems, and for each of those 600 problems The HomeBook® provides:

1. The Causes

2. "What-to & How-to" Solutions

3. The Costs for repair and/or replacement

A HomePro home inspection can greatly reduce the buyers concern by screening for problems and itemizing those problems into a comprehensive, easy-to-read report. This in turn allows the buyer to make a more informed purchasing decision.

In addition to documenting a house’s problems, The Homebook® gives you cost analysis solutions, including approximations of repair costs and recommendations of useful upgrades to property systems. These estimates are extremely useful if any future problems arise after the purchase of the house.

In any event, the home owner can refer to The Homebook® before relying on contractor trustworthiness. Furthermore, the client receives The Homebook® immediately upon completion of the home inspection, providing the homebuyer with an invaluable resource and tool, both for the negotiating process of buying a house, and as a customized maintenance plan in the event you purchase the house.


Perspective Approach

Our home inspection system is designed to provide you with an objective analysis of the strength and weaknesses of your prospective home. The more informed you become the more likely you will make a more educated purchasing decision and the more prepared you will be to finance improvements should they be necessary. In this regard, it is easy to see the value of a home inspection.

Our inspectors go through properties with you explaining everything in detail, answering your questions, and making sure you understand things, including the visual limitations. Training and experience give our inspectors insight about houses similar to yours, so they really know what to look for and can readily compare your house and its systems with other houses of similar age and construction. This inspector is checking the roof and gutter system over the house and porch for proper installation and functionality.

The HomeBook® organizes information into eight major categories:

1. Structure: The structure of the home is identified in terms of materials used, type of construction, and the degree to which various areas are accessible to the inspector. Significant subcomponents, such as foundation type, framing materials, etc. are listed, as well as their idiosyncrasies. Our inspector also checks for major or minor problems in the various structural systems of the building, including the foundation, floor, wall, and roof framing.

2. Electrical: The existing electrical system is checked for sufficient capacity and safety. Our inspector evaluates the system in terms of its current condition, and considers its suitability for future intended use. The type of wiring used and it's potential for becoming a fire hazard are evaluated. Upgrades and repairs are recommended where appropriate.

3. Heating & Air Conditioning: The inspector assesses the capacity of the existing equipment to produce comfortable conditions. By considering the age of the existing equipment and the intended capacity, the inspector can approximate the life expectancy and recommend appropriate repairs or upgrades within a budget.

4. Plumbing: The piping and fixtures though out the house are checked for functional flow and life expectancies. The system is screened for unsanitary conditions and potential repairs, such as freeze vulnerability or spillage/overflow. The laundry equipment, tile work, and domestic water heating equipment are surveyed as well. Useful upgrades are itemized and upcoming replacements budgeted.

5. Basement/Crawlspace/Slab: Water Seepage probabilities and structural problems are evaluated and remediation advice is given. The inspector looks for possible problem areas that could cause structural problems, such as poor soil, surface drainage, close proximity tree roots, rotating stoops, etc.

6. Kitchen: The appliances are operated and deficiencies noted. The inspector recommends appropriate upgrades and approximates the life expectancy of each piece of equipment. Depending on age and usefulness, the inspector may suggest a budget for repairs from complete renovation to typical minor problems such as appliance malfunctions, damage to floor seams, or inoperative door springs.

7. Interior: The inspector scans the wall, floor, and ceiling surfaces for problematic conditions, such as visible evidence of water penetration, potentially dangerous or toxic materials, fire hazards, or security breaches. The ventilation and energy conservation aspects are checked and appropriate upgrades are itemized.

8. Exterior: The inspector walks on the roof (where safe and appropriate) and notes preservation deficiencies. Roof runoff controls and landscape drainage are checked and improvements are recommended where necessary. Stoops, steps, walks, and drives are checked for voids, surface problems, and safety hazards.

Each of these eight categories has its own color-coded report page. These coordinated "Key sheets" itemize the problems into both major and minor problems. The simple color coding makes it easy to find what you are looking for:

Blue - Documents the general information recorded about the house

Red - Designates major problems (defined as problems that typically cost $500 or more to repair or which constitute a significant safety risk)

White - designates minor problems or deferred maintenance items that should be reviewed on a continuous basis to insure that they do not become major problems

Perspective Summary - For the convenience of the home buyer, the most important information is summarized clearly and concisely at the beginning of the report. Titled the "Perspective Summary", this section illustrates and outlines a general overview of the condition of the house by quickly generalizing the eight categories.
If you would like more information about The HomeBook® or would like to purchase a copy, please contact us.