Able Home Inspection, Inc.
How Much Do MA Home Inspectors Charge?
Serving Eastern MA, Southern NH & Southeast Maine Since 1982
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About The Inspector / Inspection & Fees:
Page Content:
Background / Qualifications
About The Inspection & Fees
Seminars Completed
More About Fees
Background / Qualifications:
Dennis R. Robitaille Licensed MA Home Inspector # 007, over 6,500 inspections completed.
Environmental Data Resources certified
Past member American Society of Home Inspectors (1986-2003)
Past member ASHI National Council of Representatives.
Past member Board of Directors ASHI New England Chapter.
Past Member Building Committee Town of Saugus, MA.
Appointed to Saugus Affordable Housing Trust Board of Trustees
Current Director Independent Home Inspectors Of North America.
(Only home inspector organization whose members do not solicit real estate agents for client leads)
Helped to get homebuyer protection into the MA Home Inspector Licensing Law.
Retained by MA State Licensing Board to serve as expert witness
F.H.A. & V.A. wood boring insect reports.
Certified Title 5 System Inspector
Owner operated (not a franchise.) - No sub-contractors, personalized service.
Not owned or controlled or influenced by any real estate companies.
About The Inspection:
Single family home inspections of around 2000 Sq. Ft. require 2 to 3 hours on site, the report and photo editing compiled back at the office requires another 3 to 4 hours to complete. (Travel time also has to be figured in and this is in most cases why only one home inspection can be booked in a day.)
The report and color photos (which help document conditions) are e-mailed in .pdf format usually within 5 hours after the inspection. A copy of the report and photos can be sent by U.S mail upon request. Observed conditions are plainly stated and the report is customized for each property inspected. The objective is to assist with your real estate transaction by providing accurate information obtained from a non-bias property inspection, as well as insight gained from over 26 years of experience in the field.
Fees are based on house size, style, age, location, type of structure & optional services requested. An inspection done to the MA Standards of Practice for most homes around 2000 Sq. Ft. of living area is $650, larger homes or antique homes a little more, condos, smaller homes usually less. An additional fee may apply for travel. Remember, you are not just paying for time, but for knowledge. Home inspectors know the value of their service and charge accordingly. In reality, over the long term, my fee will be less expensive. Aside from 26 years of home inspection experience, I spend time and money improving my inspection skills on a regular basis. This translates into your benefit. The following link is the itinerary of a typical all day educational seminar. Unlike some inspectors who do 2 or 3 inspections a day, I spend my day doing just one inspection and one report. Sample report.
Optional services include: Neighborhood Environmental Reports, termite, and FHA wood boring insect reports. Asbestos, carbon monoxide, radon gas & water quality testing.
Some Of The Educational Seminars Completed By Dennis R. Robitaille:
Electrical: 11-21-96
Pest Control: 5-24-04
Gas Heating: 3-24-94
All About Roofs: 11-16-00
Basement Issues: 10-4-04
Structure Seminar 10-26-06
Sick House Syndrome: 11-19-92
Wheel Of Inspections: 19-19-06
Inspecting Older Homes: 9-27-01
Central Heating Systems: 10-27-05
Central Cooling Training: 5-23-00
Residential Water Systems: 6-23-93
Structural Issues Seminar: 03-24-05
Electrical Issues Workshop: 1-13-05
Update On Building Codes: 5-27-99
Building Materials Seminar: 3-28-02
Pests, Bees And Termite Control: 6-22-00
Structural Investigation & Repair: 11-20-97
Home Inspector Regulations Seminar: 4-18-07
Professional Techniques And Procedures: 3-3-01
Report Writing & Electrical Seminar: 9-24-03
Wood Framing & Vinyl Siding Seminar: 3-27-03
ASHI Fall Conference - Sturbridge Village 9-24-07
Mold, Mildew, Moisture / Home Inspection: 11-13-04
Building Failures Due To Moisture Problems: 11-18-93
Public Health, Ground Water & Water Wells: 1-30-07
Condensation Control & Mold In Buildings: 6-22-06
Massachusetts Home Inspection Regulations: 4-24-03
Legal Case Studies & Practices / Home Inspection: 11-6-04
Problems & Solutions In Light Frame Construction: 5-26-94
Inspection Of Wood, Slate & Asphalt Roof Coverings: 9-28-95
Air Conditioning / Heat Pumps & Oil Burning Equipment: 3-28-96
Structural Inspections Of Single & Multi-Family Dwellings: 3-26-92
American Ground Water Trust Public Health, Wells Seminar: 1-30-07
Home Inspector's Seminar-Strawbery Banke (Antique Homes): 9-9-96 and 9-10-96
Preventing Conflicts Between Humans, Structures & Subterranean Termites: 3-8-02
The New MA Standards of Practice Seminar: 11-29-07
Dennis Has Attended Five (3 Day) ASHI National Educational Conferences.
More About Fees:
People Often Ask, "Why Don't You Have A Set Fee?"
The answer is simple, in home inspection, one size does not fit all. After inspecting over 6,500 homes, I know I can inspect some homes or condos in around 2 hours but some can take over 3 1/2 hours. I also know it takes me around 3 hours to complete a report on some homes or condos and over 4 hours on others.
Money: Let's put things in perspective: If you're buying a $500,000 house and the inspection costs $695, that's less than 0.014% of the cost of the house! Most real estate agencies charge around 5.00% to sell a home, that would be $25,000 for a $500,000 house! The cost of a home inspection is a bargain compared to the real estate agent's commission. Aside from the time invested, the value of the inspection and report can be measured by its usefulness. Examples of such value can be found at: Client Comments.
If the inspection finds serious problems, your $695 could end up saving you many thousands. If a real estate agent tells you that you can get an inspector for $350 or less, ask them if that is the inspector they would use for their own home purchase! (FYI, in Massachusetts, if a real estate agent, other than a true buyers agent, recommends or steers you to a particular home inspector, they are violating the real estate licensing law and should be reported.) If the inspection turns up little wrong with the house, you've bought some relatively inexpensive peace of mind.
Please fill out the Inspection Quote / Appointment Request Form and submit it for a quote or appointment request.