Home Inspection & Testing
Your home inspector is one of the most important members of your home-buying team. There are many good home inspectors in Madison, but there are only a select few who are able to find certain types of defects that others will miss.
Finding Hidden Moisture
A select few Madison home inspectors use thermal imaging to detect hidden moisture that can otherwise go unseen by the naked eye. The image is a picture from a thermal imaging camera. The dark spots show damp drywall as a result of ice damming, a common problem in the Madison area. Although the moisture is difficult to see with the naked eye, this thermal image clearly exposes the dampness and the underlying cause of the problem. Thermal imaging cameras can also be used to find wiring "hot spots" and insect nests that are hidden behind the walls of a home.
For this and many other reasons, we strongly recommend you hire a home inspector who uses a thermal imaging camera. We also recommend you hire a professional who uses a digital camera to document all defects.
At Mad City Dream Homes, we take our job as your buyer advocate seriously. Helping you hire the right home inspector is one of many ways we work to protect your best interests as you go about the process of buying your Madison area home. Remember, we also attend your home inspection with you. When defects are found, we help you negotiate your desired outcome with the seller.
Looking for a highly recommended home inspector in Madison, Wisconsin? We're happy to recommend several outstanding individuals to you. Contact us for referrals.
Home Inspection FAQs
- How much does an inspection cost? Most home inspections in Madison cost between $300 and $500. Costs can vary depending on the inspector and the type and size of the property. We recommend that you do not choose your inspector based on cost alone. We highly recommend you select the individual who you feel will do the very best job of thoroughly evaluating your future home. Remember, your home is one of the largest investments in your life!
- What is a defect? Your home inspection is focused primarily on the identification of "defects". Legally speaking, a defect is a significant adverse effect that can impact the health and safety of the home's future occupants or the value or life expectancy of the property. When defects are found during the inspection, we negotiate your desired outcome with the seller. This is one of the reasons we attend your home inspection with you. We use our knowledge of the defects found to successfully advocate for your desired remedies.
- Does a home inspection include a radon test? Not by default. In the State of Wisconsin, a radon testing contingency must be written into the offer to purchase as its own separate contingency. We're happy to discuss the radon test and other tests with you (for example lead-based paint, mold and asbestos).
Do you have questions about the home inspection and testing process in Madison, Wisconsin? Give us a call. We'll listen to you and ensure you get all of your questions answered.