A General Home Inspection is a complete visual examination of a homes structural and mechanical systems. Your Circa Home Inspector will work from top to bottom to identify and report on the specific components of your home.  A detailed electronically generated inspection report will provide a clear overview of the homes structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, exterior cladding, grading, and drainage conditions, roofing, insulation, interiors, windows, doors, attics, crawlspaces, and built-in kitchen appliances.

Pricing is determined by the age and square footage of the property. Contact our office at 704-900-4377 or click on the Book Today button to get the pricing specific to your property. Please have the age and square footage ready to receive the most accurate quote. 

How will I know what is going to be inspected and what is not?

The home inspection industry is governed by the North Carolina Home Inspector Licensure Board. Below is a link to their Standards of Practice for home inspectors which detail exactly what will and will not be inspected. Common limitations to the home inspection include but are not limited to: security systems, irrigation systems, pools, hot tubs, backup generators, central vacuum systems, solar systems, environmental hazards, water softening, and purification systems. If these are systems or components that you wish to be inspected then you would need to coordinate the pertinent specialists during your due diligence period.

https://www.ncosfm.gov/media/603/open

How long does a General Home Inspection take?

There are many variables that can cause an inspection to take more or less time (age, size, access restrictions, crawlspace) however the general rule of thumb is 1 hour per 1,000 square feet. Most home inspections take between 2- 4 hours while large homes can take 5 – 8 hours.

Should I attend the inspection?

We encourage our clients to attend any portion of the inspection that they wish to. If a client attends the inspection, they are also welcomed to shadow the inspector when it is safe for them to do so, or they can just hang back and wait to hear the inspector’s findings at the end of the inspection. Most of our clients choose to attend the end of the inspection and your inspector can let you know when they expect to be wrapped up at the site. We at Circa know that you are busy so we also offer remote video conferencing after the inspection if you cannot attend.

It is customary in our area for builders to offer a small window of time at the first year anniversary for a homeowner to provide a repair request for completion under their warranty policy. This is often the last chance for a homeowner to engage the builder for repairs. Your Circa inspector will listen to any concerns you have experienced over your first year at the property and perform a full examination of the homes structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, exterior cladding, grading, and drainage conditions, roofing, insulation, interiors, windows, doors, attics, crawlspaces, and built-in kitchen appliances. The report will then summarize a list of identified defects using photos and concise written explanations that you can then pass to your builder for warranty fulfillment.

Pricing is determined by the age and square footage of the property. Contact our office at 704-900-4377 or click on the Book Today button to get the pricing specific to your property. Please have the age and square footage ready to receive the most accurate quote.

When should the builders warranty inspection be performed?

Also known as 1 Year Anniversary inspections these are usually scheduled after about 10 – 11 months following the completion of the home. 

Can I give the inspector a list of concerns that we have collected over our first year in the home?

Absolutely! Our clients are encouraged to show us their list of concerns prior to the inspection. The home inspector will be performing a complete general inspection of the property, but we know that the client has been living in the home for nearly a year and we value and will document those specific concerns. A home inspection is designed to identify and report on components that do not function as intended, safety defects, or defects that warrant further evaluation by a specialist, therefore cosmetic concerns that the homeowner may have will have to be given directly to the builder and are considered outside of the scope of the home inspection.  

What should I do to my home before the inspector arrives?

In addition to a list of concerns, it will be important for the homeowner to make sure that vital components of the home are easily accessible by the inspector (ex: electrical panels, attic accesses, water heaters, mechanical equipment, etc.). 

Our area’s fast paced real-estate market demands for sellers to stand out by giving buyers the confidence they need to move forward on an offer to purchase quickly. The Circa Pre-listing Inspection takes the guess work out for your buyers which can make for a smooth and efficient transaction. Your Circa inspector will listen to any concerns you have experienced over your time at the property and perform a full examination of the homes structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, exterior cladding, grading, and drainage conditions, roofing, insulation, interiors, windows, doors, attics, crawlspaces, and built-in kitchen appliances. Your report will also summarize a list of identified defects using photos and concise written explanations that you can use as a punch list for any repairs needed and ultimately a report on the homes condition. Have a quick look at our Sample Report outline to see the format your Circa Inspection Report will have.

Pricing is determined by the age and square footage of the property. Contact our office at 704-900-4377 or click on the Book Today button to get the pricing specific to your property. Please have the age and square footage ready to receive the most accurate quote.

Circa Inspections offers a full range of well and water quality testing. Homes that draw their water supply from a well should have their water quality tested regularly. Homes on municipal water supplies may warrant testing periodically based on surrounding conditions such as construction in the area, alterations to water runoff upstream and any number of noticeable changes in water quality on a property. Samples are gathered from the home and are laboratory tested for complete results. Circa offers a full range of testing options from a basic bacteria test, the standard FHA review (which also includes lead, nitrates and nitrites), to site specific testing for arsenic and  heavy metals such as mercury. Head over to our online scheduling platform to get started and see the full range of testing avaliable. *Water samples must be delivered to our laboratory within 24 hours after collection. For this reason water quality testing can only performed Monday – Thursday.

Well Inspection (Scheduled with a General Home Inspection, no samples.) – $75.00

Water Quality Bacteria Sample (Total Coliform + E Coli), without well inspection.  – $150.00

FHA Water Quality Sample (Total Coliform + E Coli + Lead + Nitrates + Nitrites). – $260.00

Do not hesitate to contact our CIRCA representatives to help determine which inspections are appropiate for your property.

*Water samples must be delivered to our laboratory within 24 hours after collection. For this reason water quality testing can only performed, Monday – Thursday. 

How long do water quality tests typically take?

From the time that the sample is collected to the time that the results are emailed can vary a bit depending on what contaminates the inspector is testing for. A bacterium test typically takes 2-3 days, while testing for lead, nitrates, and nitrites may take up to 5-8 days. If a sample is collected on a Thursday or Friday then the results may take slightly longer as laboratories are closed on the weekends.

How do I interpret the laboratory results?

Your report will list the contaminates and state whether they are “Present” or “Absent” in the homes potable water. The presence or absence is determined by measuring the contaminates in the water samples against the allowable limits established by the Environmental Protection Agency. If the measurement is over the allowable limits then it is classified as “Present” if they are under the allowable limits then it is classified as “Absent”.

How are contaminates removed from well water systems?

The process of removing bacteria from a well water system is called Chlorination and a detailed explanation can be found by clicking on the link below:

https://www.gov.mb.ca/sd/pubs/water/drinking_water/pr_5a_well_water_factsheet_full_shock_chlorination_4.pdf

Lead, nitrates and nitrites can be removed by one of multiple methods of filtration. The Centers for Disease Control has an explanation of Lead in well water which can be found in the link below:

https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/private/wells/disease/lead.html

How do I know that the treatments have worked?

Call your Circa inspector to schedule a retest of the potable water following any remediation efforts.

*Water samples must be delivered to our laboratory within 24 hours after collection. For this reason water quality testing can only performed Monday – Thursday.

Qualifications: In addition to IAC2 certification, your CIRCA Mold Inspector is also an InterNachi (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors) certified Mold Inspector & Indoor Air Quality Consultant. Your CIRCA inspector is a licensed NC/SC Home Inspector with vast experience in documenting moisture intrusion sources for the last 15 years. CIRCA Inspectors complete over 30 hours of continuing education requirements each year to maintain licensing and certifications. 

State of the Art Tools: All CIRCA mold inspectors are equipped with cutting edge, properly calibrated testing equipment. Using a combination of infrared technology, contactless and deep probe moisture detectors, hygrometer humidity meters, self calibrating Breeze ET air sampling pumps, Bio-tape and swab surface sampling equipment, your CIRCA mold inspector conducts a thorough inspection and generates a report complete with images, videos, laboratory results and interpretations designed to to give the client the information that they need to make an informed decision on how to address their specific moisture and mold concerns. 

CIRCA offers three distinct mold inspection services. Each of the three services includes three air samples in accordance with IAC2 standards. Two “control” samples are taken outdoors and one air sample from inside the home, used to determine whether there is amplified or varying types of mold as compared to the outdoor samples. Each of the three services includes one surface sample taken via bio-tape or swab sampling. Determining if additional air or surface samples should be taken is a collaborative decision between the client and inspector during the inspection as any moisture ocurrence is identified and assessed.  The mold inspection is a non-invasive, visual examination of the readily accessible, visible, and installed systems and components as outlined in the IAC2 Mold Inspection “Standards of Practice”. The home inspector will be inspecting and documenting the home for signs of moisture penetration/condensation, moisture damage, and conducive conditions for moisture penetration. The moisture intrusion occurrences, conducive conditions for moisture, and laboratory analysis of the mold samples are compiled in a detailed report that is designed to give the client the information that they need to make an informed decision on how to address their specific moisture and mold concerns.

Per the IAC2 Standards any client seeking a Complete or Limited Mold Inspection service is required to complete the CIRCA Mold Interview Form. This form aids in determining the scope and nature of the client’s concern. Once the form is complete we will contact you within 24 hours to begin the booking process.

Additional Air & Surface Sample Pricing:

Swab Sampling ~ $130

Tape Sampling ~ $130

Air Sampling ~ $130

Base Pricing: 

Add-on Mold Service to a General Home Inspection ~  This service is is being performed during the course of a general home inspection service often as a part of a real estate transaction. Pricing starts at $500 and is then based on the age and square footage of the home. 

Complete Mold Inspection ~ A complete mold inspection of the entire home and its attached parking structure. *Pricing is determined by the age and square footage of the property. Please complete the CIRCA Mold Interview Form to begin the process. Feel free to contact our office at 704-900-4377 for any questions.

Limited Mold Inspection ~ The “Limited” mold inspection does not include a visual examination of the entire building but is limited to a specific area of the building identified and defined by the inspector, (Ex: crawlspace, specific room, attic or distribution ductwork).  *Pricing is determined by the age and square footage of the property.  Please complete the CIRCA Mold Interview Form to begin the process. Feel free to contact our office at 704-900-4377 for any questions.

A Wood Destroying Insect Inspection investigates if there is active and/or previous evidence of wood destroying insects.  Your inspector will also document any conditions conducive for infestations, the moisture levels of the floor structure in the crawl space and any indications of past treatment.   Common wood destroying insects in our area include termites, powder post beetles, old house borers, carpenter ants and carpenter bees. The evidence gathered during this inspection results are compiled in a WDIR (Wood Destroying Insect Report) commonly requested by lenders and buyers during a real estate transaction.

$90.00 when scheduled with a general home inspection.

What is a WDIR?

A WDIR is an acronym that stands “Wood Destroying Insect Report”. Your Circa inspector will be inspecting the property for all types of wood destroying insects, termites, powder post beetles, old house borers, and carpenter bees. The report will document any evidence of wood destroying insects including the type of insect, location of intrusion, and whether or not the infestation is “active” or not. A WDIR will also document areas in the home that were difficult to inspect or were obstructed, and will document any areas of the home which may have conditions conducive for wood destroying insects.  

Radon(Rn) is a colorless, odorless, radio active gas. Identified by the Surgeon General as the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Our continious monitor testing samples the air every hour for a minimum of forty eight hours. Additionally our monitors report on the testing conditions to ensure that the monitors have not been tampered with during the testing period. Homes found to have Radon levels of 4.0pci (Pico Curries) may require radon mitigation measures. This is likely pertinent information that a home buyer would want to have prior to closing. Have a look at the official EPA informational document for additional information. 

$189.00 if scheduled with a home inspection.

$225.00 if scheduled alone.

The EPA has a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions and answers which can be found by clicking on their link below.

https://www.epa.gov/radon/radon-frequentlyaskedquestions

How long does a radon test take?

Your radon test will take a minimum of 48 hours. The reports are generated on the same day that the monitors are collected.

How can I be sure that the radon monitors used for my test are up-to-date on their required maintenance? 

Calibration occurs annually. We use multiple mechanisms to ensure that all monitors are 100% in compliance. Please feel free to contact us for the calibration documentation for the specific unit used on your home.  CIRCA Inspectors use state of the art AIRThings radon monitoring equipment that tracks the temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric pressure during the test, resulting in comprehensive radon results. The technical information is collected and formatted into a detailed report that can be generated and delivered rapidly using remote uploading software.

The construction of a new home provides a great opportunity to inspect your investment at a crucial point in the building process that would otherwise be sealed away with the insulation and wall sheathing. The Circa Pre-Drywall Inspection examines the framing, electrical wiring and plumbing components, ductwork, drainage conditions and roofing installations. The resulting list of defects are compiled in a concise report that the home buyer can deliver to the builder for repair. Framing inspections save you and the builder time and effort from having to make more costly and invasive repairs post construction. Schedule your framing inspection today.

0 – 2,000 Sq. Ft. – $350

2,001 – 3,000 Sq. Ft. – $400

3,001 – 4,000 Sq. Ft. – $500

4,001 – 5,000 Sq. Ft. – $550

5,001 – 6,000 Sq. Ft. – $650

6,001 – 7,000 Sq. Ft. – $750

When should the framing inspection be performed?

Framing inspections should be scheduled just before insulation is installed in the home. This can be a short time frame so be sure that you let the builder know your intentions to have a framing inspection performed before the walls and ceilings are covered up. Weather can delay the builders initial time frame so it’s common for the framing inspections to be delayed. If this happens just let us know and we will move the inspection on our calendar.   

How will I know if the builder has made repairs to the defects listed in the report?

Due to the short time frame it may be difficult to schedule a re-inspection of the repairs. If a re-inspection cannot be scheduled in time, then we recommended that the client ask to the builder to provide verification of the completed repairs.

Is this a code inspection?

This is not a code inspection. While your Circa inspector is trained to identify defects to the construction home, they will not be citing specific code. Code inspections are performed by the local county inspectors and documentation of their findings are typically posted in the home or can be shared with you directly from the builder. 

You have reviewed your Circa General Home Inspection Report and now you have a list of agreed upon repairs for the property. Once you have word that the sellers contractors are finished, let us take a look at the repairs to ensure that the punch list is complete and correct. A Circa Re-inspection sends your Circa Home Inspector back out to the property, post repairs to verify that the defects discovered on your original inspection report have been professionally corrected and are now functioning for the purpose intended. The unfortunate truth is that the seller repairs may have been performed in a less than professional manner or not repaired at all! Let us be your advocate in this important step of the home purchase process.

The base fee for a re-inspection is $350. The re-inspection fee may increase or decrease depending on the size of the home and the number of items needed to be re-inspected. Re-inspections are scheduled directly thru our office at 704-900-4377.

Should I tell the sellers that I am going to have the repairs re-inspected?

Yes, Letting the sellers know that your inspector will be re-visiting the home to inspect the negotiated repairs makes it more likely that the repairs will be completed in a professional manner. 

How is the re-inspection performed?

Your Circa inspector will use your list of negotiated repairs and the original inspection report. They will inspect every negotiated repair and document its condition by taking photos, and providing a written explanations of each item. They will then compile them in a new inspection report that lists the original defect, the conditions of the defect at the time of re-inspection, and before and after photos. If an item was not “fixed” then it will fall under a neatly compiled summary list that the client can send to the seller for completion. A re-inspection report is usually completed and emailed to our clients within 10 hours of the re-inspection.