Testimonials

Home inspections are a vital part of selling and buying a home. They provide you with details to see a house for its real worth and make quick purchase or cancellation decisions. However, when it comes to home inspections, there are a ton of questions clients have but often find answers difficult to come by.

At B & J Real Estate Inspection, we want to arm you with the most accurate information available to help you take advantage of a thorough home inspection and to help you do this, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about getting a home inspection.

1. Do I need to get a home inspected before purchasing?

The short answer is a resounding yes! A home inspection by an experienced and knowledgeable home inspector, can not only save you thousands of dollars in unexpected repair expenses, but it may even put more money in your pocket during negotiations with the seller. At the very least if the home is being sold “as is,” the potential buyer will know exactly what the issues are with the house and can make an educated decision on whether or not to proceed to close or terminate the contract altogether. Also, in case you are searching for the cheapest inspector, please be aware that you may actually be losing more money, than if you hired an experienced and thorough inspector. The latter will find every detail and deficiency with a property, and in turn, put more of your hard earned money back in your pocket through repair negotiations with the seller.

2. How much does a home inspection cost?

Typically a home inspection ranges from $350 and up. It depends on the square footage, the age of the home, optional systems such as swimming pools and irrigation systems, and optional services such as infrared thermal imaging inspections.

3. Should I get a presale home inspection before listing my property on the market?

It is always a great idea to know what the issues are with the home you are about to sell, and what might come up on a potential buyer’s inspection report. It not only puts sellers ahead of the game, but it also gives them an opportunity to use the tradesmen of their choice. This means that they can perform “do it yourself repairs” or hire a family member to do some of the repairs which can save a lot of money in the long run.

4. How long does a home inspection take, and how long will it take to receive the detailed inspection report with photographs?

A typical home inspection these days takes at least three hours at the property, and when you get it done with B & J Real Estate Inspection, we guarantee the inspection report will be emailed to all applicable parties within twenty-four hours.

5. Should I attend the home inspection?

If you can, it is always a good idea to attend at least some part of the inspection. Preferably the latter half of the inspection if not the entire thing. That way, you can shake hands with the inspector, and also ask as many questions as you can think of. Also, the inspector will be able to physically point out and discuss any deficiencies, clarify any confusion, and answer any questions you might have about their findings.

6. Are home inspectors insured?

In the state of Texas, all licensed home inspectors are required to carry a minimum of $100,000 in errors and omissions insurance to be able to perform inspections.

7. Are there standards of practice that all home inspectors must follow?

Yes, there are minimum standards of practice set forth by the Texas Real Estate Commission for all home inspections. Although, at B & J Real Estate Inspection, we strive to exceed the minimum standards of practice, to provide the greatest value and service quality to our clients.

If you have any more questions about getting a home inspection, reach out to the experts at B & J Real Estate Inspection. When it comes to a home and commercial inspection in Sugar Land, TX, we provide the very best. We offer thorough, detailed, and personalized real estate inspections at affordable prices. We also specialize in a variety of inspections like structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing inspections for clients purchasing a home or commercial building. We offer the same services for clients interested in the current issues of a property that they are trying to sell or simply maintain and improve.

To learn more about how we can help you, please click here or contact us by clicking here.

If you’re looking to purchase a new property, it’s vital to get a home inspection organized before you put pen to paper. A home inspector will soon let you know if a building is up to scratch by assessing the structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing aspects, using various inspection tools.

However, some inspection tools that are becoming quite commonplace in our industry may be more “Show than Tell.” The use of Compu Levels or the more common brand name Zip Levels, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, better known as Drones, are becoming common in the industry today.

The big question to ask is if these tools help perform better inspections, or are they just a marketing ploy by inspection companies to compete in a highly competitive industry?

Zip Levels not up the mark

The use of Zip levels in a home inspection has become extensive. There are even some realtors/clients who will only use an inspection company that utilizes Zip levels in their home inspections.

The Zip level’s primary function is to determine the actual level of a foundation at the time of the inspection. However, is it essential to know the exact level of the foundation during a home inspection?

Foundation fundamentals

The two main things we ask during a foundation inspection is how well the foundation is serving its intended purpose, and if the foundation is stable. I can confidently say that a Zip Level cannot answer either one of these two questions more accurately than an experienced inspector, who uses just their eyes.

Also, does one need to know the actual level of the foundation during a home inspection to know whether or not the foundation is performing its intended purpose or is stable? The short answer is NO.

Zip levels will determine the level of the foundation at the time of the inspection, but without a baseline Zip level reading of the foundation, there is no other reading for comparison.

Drone and groan

Drones are another tool used more and more today in the home inspection industry. However, I do not believe there is a camera that can observe the condition of the roof better than actually physically getting a closer look with the naked eye.

Yes, a drone can help get a general idea of the overall condition of a roof if climbing on the roof is impossible. My only concern with the use of drones for home inspections is that a home inspector might rely on the use of the drone more as a crutch instead of getting on top of the roof to get a more detailed assessment.

The average consumer may readily perceive the inspection company which uses a drone to perform a quality home inspection, but the truth is that it’s not always the case.

Advantages vs. disadvantages

The advantage of these trends is that these tools are providing information about the current state of both the foundation and the roof which we can all agree are two of the most critical parts of a home inspection.

On the other hand, the information given by the use of these tools cannot replace or give more importance than that of a knowledgeable home inspector.

A proper home inspection takes just three to four hours, even without the use of such tools, and there are a number of things to consider during a single home inspection.

So it’s worth weighing up if the time it takes to utilize these tools the best use of the home inspector’s time? Alternatively, does the time it takes to use these tools detract from being as detailed in other vital areas of a home inspection?

In my opinion, the use of these tools does have a place in the home inspection industry. However, don’t be fooled into thinking that if a home inspector uses these tools, then they are performing a better inspection than an inspector that does not rely on such devices.

With over thirty years of experience, B & J Real Estate Inspection offers exceptional, thorough, detailed, and personalized real estate inspections. Our services include full turnkey home inspections, besides pool inspections, termite inspections, thermal imaging, and build one-year warranty inspections.

Our services are available across Sugar Land, Pasadena, Pearland, Cypress, Missouri City City, Stafford, Richmond, West University, Bellaire, Jersey Village, Sienna, League City, Humble, Spring, Katy, Fulshear, Rosharon, Houston, Rosenberg and the surrounding areas.

If you have any questions about home inspections, please contact us by clicking here. To learn more about the other services we have to offer, please click here.

I’m Jaycee Castro, proud owner of B & J Real Estate Inspection.

I look forward to sharing my story. I hope that you will enjoy getting to know me better.

B & J Real Estate Inspection was started in 1988 by my father Genaro A. Castro (BSME) who had the simple vision and desire to help and educate others in the home and commercial inspection process through his expertise as a QA/QC inspector with major engineering companies locally and overseas over a 15 year career. He used his keen awareness as a QA/QC engineer to point out and document problems in specific systems.

Today, B & J Real Estate Inspection has been taken over by me, his son, Jaycee Castro. With over 20 years of experience as a full time Professional Inspector, I carry out the same simple vision and desire to help and educate others in the home and commercial inspection process through the same care and attention to detail that was lovingly passed down to me.

I aim to provide every client with the same quality and reliable inspection service that all of our past clients have come to know and trust.

B & J Real Estate Inspection has been in business for 32 years, and during this time we have built an excellent reputation for providing thorough, dependable and reliable service to all of our clients at an affordable price. We work as hard for you as you do!

The most rewarding part of my work is knowing that I am helping my clients to make an informed and educated decision about the home or commercial building they are looking to purchase, while simultaneously helping them to in most cases negotiate a better deal with the seller in their favor. Knowing that this may very well be the single greatest investment in their lives, I take great pride and responsibility in helping to make sure that my clients know exactly what they are investing in.

Being awarded best inspector in Sugar Land, TX in 2014 and 2018, and being inducted into the Sugar Land Business Hall of Fame in 2018 by the Sugar Land award program, as well as being recognized and awarded for excellence in customer service by Pulse of the City News in 2017, 2018, and 2019 are some of the proudest moments in my business life.

As a devout Christian, I run my business for the greater honor and glory of God the Father. I attribute my business’s success first and foremost to God. The giver of all good things. Secondly to the hard work, perseverance, passion, persistence and servant attitude that was passed on to me by my father (our founder) and mother who is a loving and caring retired Registered Nurse by trade. Success has also been possible because of all of our friends and family who have shown support, and to the real estate agents who have entrusted us to their precious clients. I have a deep sense of gratitude and thank you all.

When I am not at work, I enjoy playing golf and basketball. I love the outdoors, fishing, biking, and spending quality time with my wife and three kids.

I have enjoyed sharing my story about the things which matter to me and how they influence the way I do business.

If you or someone you know could benefit from our expertise in real estate inspection in the Greater Houston and surrounding areas, I invite you to get in touch. Please visit our website at www.bandjinspections.com.

Sincerely,

Jaycee