Advanced Inspection Service (AIS) is a highly capable and experienced Texas property inspection company. We focus on residential real estate and commercial buildings in North Texas. Founded in 1983, AIS has more than 30 years of experience in evaluating real properties – and their major structures and systems.
Our trained and certified professionals inspect single-family houses, duplexes, apartment buildings, condos and commercial structures. As our business has grown, we have extended our range from Austin and Dallas to the neighboring communities of Plano, McKinney and Frisco TX.
Call AIS today to talk with Mike Martin, our Lead Property Inspector for Austin (972) 342-9183
Key North Texas Property Inspection Elements
In inspecting your current or future home, we evaluate the soundness and function of your home’s structure and systems. Our typical property inspection in the Dallas area is done in conjunction with the purchase (or seller’s preparation for listing) of the property. However, an increasing portion of our work is inspecting new homes and condos. In general, we recommend that real estate owners have their properties inspected every three years. This enables them to discover any problems that may arise due to damage, malfunctions, weather or normal wear and tear.
During our inspections, we strive to identify any deficiencies or potential problems that could affect the safety or livability of the dwelling. Beginning with the exterior of the house, we examine the grading and drainage. Then we look for any water damage to the foundation, sheathing or other parts of the structure. AIS property inspections in Dallas generally include garages and carports – and their attachment to the house. We also examine driveways and outdoor walkways, primarily to assess their condition from a safety standpoint.
Moving to the interior, we inspect the foundation and slab or crawlspace. We check for cracking or shifting, as well as the state of the home’s framing and finishing – walls, ceilings and floors. The inspector also evaluates the fit and operation of window and doors, and the safety of stairs and handrails. The interior inspection also includes tests of sinks and shower water flow, temperature and drainage.
Texas Real Estate Inspector Qualifications
If you need a property inspection in Texas, there are several factors to consider:
- Experience of the home inspector with local building codes and construction practices
- Ability to schedule, conduct and discuss property inspections promptly to enable you to make or evaluate offers, secure financing, and meet short closing dates
- Training and certification by International, U.S. and Texas home inspection organizations:
TREC – Texas Real Estate Commission
TAREI – Texas Association of Real Estate Inspectors
ASHI – American Society of Home Inspectors
InterNACHI – International Association of Certified Home Inspectors
All real estate inspectors in Texas are licensed by TREC. The better inspectors are active members of TAREI to maintain currency with evolving building codes, materials, home systems and construction practices. Very few Dallas property inspection professionals have achieved the ASHI Certified Home Inspector rating of our Lead Inspector, Ed Martin.
Professional Residential Property Inspections
Major home systems evaluated by our inspections include the electrical system, plumbing, septic system, fireplace, heating and cooling systems, smoke and CO2 detectors. These elements are critical to your comfort and safety. Repairing defects in electrical, plumbing, septic or HVAC systems (or bringing an old system up to current Texas building code) can be very expensive. So we are careful to document any existing or potential problems in the Inspection Reports.
Very few of the homes inspected in Texas have habitable attics or basements. Typically these contain heating and air conditioning equipment and ducting. So we inspect the attic structure while checking out the HVAC systems. It’s important that attics, basements and/or crawl spaces have effective vapor barriers and insulation levels. These comprise key factors in the comfort of your home – as well as the cost of heating and cooling the house. Our Inspection Report will document any deficiencies or issues in the attic, basement, crawlspace or HVAC system. Especially those that could affect the comfort, safety or value of the home.
Although not included in our standard property inspections, AIS offers special tests of swimming pools and spas, sprinkler systems, pier-and-beam foundations and/or termite inspections for an additional fee. Repairs to these systems can be elaborate and expensive. And they may affect other parts of the home. If you are buying (or selling) a home in Central Texas with a pool, spa or pier in beam foundation, these special examinations can reduce risk and increase your peace of mind. All things considered, the cost of a home inspection in the DFW area is very modest. And this is one of the best investments you can make to protect the value of your real estate investment.
Call AIS today to discuss your property inspection needs (972) 342-9183