WHO

Robert L. Thomas has been inspecting houses since 1975. Over 20,000 homes have been inspected. These homes were inspected for appraisals completed under FHA or Fannie Mae guidelines. An FHA appraiser does certify certain aspects of a home. This is not a Home Inspection. FHA trains their appraisers to comply with Federal guidelines concerning safety and health concerns. Since 1980, I have also been buying, renovating and renting homes for a retirement income. Most of the homes have needed renovating and remodeling. I have completed over 75% of the repairs and learned what makes houses run. These two attributes were the beginning of my Home Inspection knowledge. In 1995, I completed a two week intensive course on Home Inspections in Cincinnati, Ohio. We actually did Home Inspections and classroom work each day. This result was a Graduate Home Inspector designation. I have also been certified by the American Association of Home Inspectors. A FHA appraisal is not a Home Inspection. I do not recommend contractors or do repairs on your home; therefore no conflict of interest will exist.

WHAT

A completed Home Inspection takes between 2-4 hours to complete with a written 53 page form report. I do not rush or take short cuts in doing the inspection. I actually climb on roofs, look down chimneys, crawl into crawl spaces and inspect attics. This is a thorough inspection and small items are not ignored. This inspection is not a guarantee. It is a visual observation of current conditions. It will minimize any surprises after you have moved into your home. A clear understanding of the home will be known. Some minor repairs or inadequacies do not need immediate attention. A major repair with the roof, plumbing, or wiring will be made known to my client.

WHERE

We currently are serving Butler, Warren and Preble Counties in Ohio. The inspection will need to have all utilities on and access to the attic and crawl space provided beforehand. The buyer is usually my client and I work for him/her. Inspections are done in all weather conditions with daylight being a necessity.

THE REPORT

We currently are using a 53 page form report from Home Inspection U.S.A. This three carbon copy page report has approximately 250 items to observe and classify. A very detail report with present maintenance and explanations on each page. The home is broken down into 15 categories.

THE INSPECTION

I look at all major and minor concerns of the home buyer. Major items included the following:

THE COST

A complete Home Inspection is all we do. Some inspectors will do a Limited Inspection. Some do charge less and some more. We currently charge approximately $225 to $275 for a typical home. Large Historic homes and condos are priced differently. We can also look at hot tubs and barns for a minimal extra fee. We do not rush the inspection and we are not slow. We are accurate and honest and make good observations. Your Home Inspection report will not pass or fail a home. It only describes the present condition.

E-mail your request for a Home Inspection or Brochure to: thomgroup@ameritech.net