FAQs

We take our time with our inspections, as we want to be as thorough as possible.  A typical inspection will take us 3 to 4 hours to complete. This can vary, given the current condition and size of the home, the accessibility of mechanical systems, and so on. As a courtesy to sellers, we recommend that they be informed of the timeframe in a pre-purchase home inspection situation.

Pricing will vary based on a number of factors including the age, size and complexity of the house and whether you choose any additional services such as wood-destroying insect inspections, mold inspections, or thermal imaging analysis. If you are comparing home inspection firms, the fee charged should not be the deciding factor unless the level of service and inspection offered is identical. Remember, you are considering a major purchase and your choice of home inspector should be based on getting the best value, not just the best price. Most home inspector's fees don't vary by more than $50-$100 for similar services. Acuity strives to be competitive in our pricing and will match any written quotation from a licensed home inspection agency in our service territory for comparable services.

Definitely. We encourage you to attend, if desired. The inspection is a valuable learning experience for most homebuyers.  Your inspector will usually go onto the roof of the house, into the attic, and into the crawlspace (if the home has one, and it is accessible) unless when deemed unsafe to do so. We ask that our customers don't attempt to follow us in those areas for reasons of safety.  We will ask that you maintain a safe distance when we are doing things such as opening electrical panels or equipment as well.  

Absolutely! You may want to bring some questions that you have regarding the home. You should also feel free to stop the inspector and ask questions as you go. If the inspector's comments or explanations are not clear, please ask for clarification.

You do receive a written report. It would be unfair to ask you to remember all the things we cover during a home inspection. The report includes a summary of the condition of the home and details on all the major systems of the home. It is delivered within 24 hours after the inspection, at maximum, but usually sooner.

A home inspection is a professional opinion based on less-than-complete information. It's a little like getting a check-up from your doctor. It improves your odds of good health, but there is no guarantee or warranty. Some problems can only be discovered by living in a house; they cannot be discovered during a home inspection. For example, some shower stalls leak when people use the shower but don't leak when you simply turn on the shower. Some roofs and basements only leak when specific weather conditions exist. Some problems will only be discovered when carpets are lifted, furniture is moved or finishes are removed. As such, we cannot and do not offer a warranty on the house. Home warranty programs are available from others. We would be happy to help you contact a warranty company.

I am a Certified Professional Inspector with the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. I am also a member of the Southern Ohio Realtors Association, the Cincinnati MLS/CABR, the Better Business Bureau, the Brown County Chamber of Commerce, the Adams County Chamber of Commerce, and the Ohio Association of Radon Professionals. 

Realtors are licensed professionals who are typically a home buyer's guide through the complicated home purchase process. In Ohio, they are required by law to provide the buyer of a home the name and address of three licensed home inspection agencies.  You can generally count on them to provide trusted referrals to you. Those referrals are often based upon professional relationships they have developed with individual firms in their line of work, and they wouldn't recommend them if they didn't have full confidence in those firms to offer you good service.  That being said, there are often other inspection firms beyond the ones they refer that can offer you exceptional service as well.  Acuity encourages you to consider their recommendation, but you are under no obligation to use one of their referrals. You are free to compare multiple inspection agencies beyond their referrals and evaluate which one represents the best value for you. Make sure that you are comparing equal services offered, that the firm is licensed, insured, reputable, and well reviewed, then make your best choice. Obviously, we would like to be that choice, and your realtor would be more than welcome to reach out to us with any questions as well.