FAQ with local home inspector Glen Champlin
Glen Champlin, owner of Glen’s Home Inspections sat down and answered some frequently asked questions for me! Glen is one of my preferred home inspectors. He is EXTREMELY thorough. He is located in Grantsville, Maryland and is well-known throughout Garrett County and Allegany County!
Glen’s Home Inspections
www.glenshomeinspection.com
MAHI (Maryland Association of Home Inspectors)
MD. License: # 29833ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors)
ASHI ACI: # 261190 Member: Indoor Air Quality Association
Cell: 301-616-8107
Email: gcchamplin@yahoo.com
Why did you decide to become a home inspector?
After years of experience in the actual building industry, I had seen problems with homes family and friends had bought or were buying. My daughter was in real estate at the time and suggested I become a home inspector. I knew I had the knowledge, mechanical insight and the direction on resolving problems within a structure. I went to Home Inspector Training, became Nationally Certified and Maryland State Licensed as a Home Inspector and also Certified as a Mold Inspector as well as a State Certified Water Sampler. Now, 19 years later here I am, still inspecting homes and buildings, and enjoying it. I love what I do, making sure my clients have the information they need to make one of the biggest decisions of their life.
What kind of inspections do you offer?
I offer Structural/Mechanical Home Inspections, Radon Testing, Mold Testing, Water Sample Testing and Septic Field Dye Testing. I also do Commercial Inspections.
As a buyer, what inspections do you recommend getting?
I always recommend my buyer’s to have a structural/mechanical inspection at the least. This inspection will tell a buyer of the integrity of the structure, any electrical issues or plumbing issue that may need addressed either now or any problems that may need addressed in the future. I will inspect the house from foundation to roof. I will inspect the surrounding grounds for drainage. I may also suggest, if they have any type of allergies, asthma or respiratory issues, a mold test. As far as the radon goes, that is something that we can’t see, taste or smell and without testing we can’t tell if it is there. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. So that is something I leave up to the client. If there is a well, I do recommend at least a bacteria test on water as this test will tell if the water is safe to consume. The septic dye test checks the functionality of the septic drain field. If the sellers can’t verify when the septic was last pumped, this test may add a little piece of mind that it is operational.
What are the major things you are looking for in a general Mechanical/Structural inspection?
An inspection will include: structural defects that can be significant problems with the home (foundation, framing, floor heaving, grading issues that can lead to water intrusions), HVAC systems to make sure they are operating properly and as efficiently as possible, try to determine their ages and their remaining life expectancy (these can be a large, expensive appliance to replace), Roof issues such as faulty shingles or flashing and try to give the best estimate on the remaining life of the roof, Electrical issues that can be a safety or fire causes, Plumbing problems that may be a big expense down the road, faulty doors or windows. A Home Inspection will be from Foundation to Roof and everything in between!
As a seller, what can I do beforehand to prepare for a home inspection?
For a seller to prepare for a home inspection they can make things easily accessible such as electric panels, furnaces, attic accesses, water heaters and any other major component to the house that may need to be looked at. Many times a seller will save themselves time and money in negotiations by making small repairs and not covering up problems.
How long do home inspections usually take?
The typical home inspection takes on average three to four hours, depending on size and condition of home. No home inspection is ever done in a rush!
Do you allow buyers to attend the inspection?
By all means I encourage my buyers to be at the inspection to teach them as much as I can about the home. I do digital reporting with pictures if a client can’t attend the inspection. I can then give them a good insight as to how the inspection went, later, with a follow-up phone call. If a client doesn’t want to be there for the whole inspection, they can come towards the end of the inspection and I will spend as much time as necessary with them to go over the findings and answer any questions they might have.
I am an ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) Certified Home Inspector, ASCI ACI. I go through 20 plus hours of continuing education every year to keep up with the latest technologies of homes and to get some refreshers on things that we take for granted after time. There is always something new to learn and ASHI does a great job of keeping us up to date with these things. During my career I have done over 8000 inspections and it never ceases to amaze me what I might find, just when you think you have seen everything…..there is something else! If you are interested in seeing some of my discoveries, I invite you can go to my website and look at the pictures or please ask any questions.
