What to Expect from Value Home Inspections

In 2018, Emerald Sawyer purchased her first home. Like many new homeowners, she got a home inspection to better understand her new property. She believed that the inspection would bring to light the areas in her home that needed improvement. With this knowledge, she would then be able to reassess her property and make the necessary changes. Instead, she was left blindsided by unexpected costs and issues.

“There were a lot of items that the inspector did not inspect,” Sawyer says. “He didn’t document why he didn’t inspect those things. My report for recommendations wasn’t as thorough and helpful. So, I guess I was just left with a lot of unexpected financial burdens and just a lot of unknown variables.”

Feeling confused and troubled by the results of the inspection, Sawyer decided she wanted to do her own research into the proper way to conduct an inspection. Having both a bachelor’s degree and her master’s in business administration, she decided to found her own home inspection business. Not only did she want to learn how to do proper inspections, but she also wanted to make sure others did not end up in the same situation she had.

“I didn’t know much about the actual inspection, but after doing a little bit more research and investigating, I realized that the overall inspection was not up to standard. So, I wasn’t really educated on my home,” Sawyer says. “So, I just figured I would kind of take matters into my own hands and create my own business, but also center education.”

Sawyer spent time training with experienced professionals. She would follow in their footsteps and observe the steps they took. Then, using her knowledge gained from continued education and these shadowings, she would participate in imitation inspections. Once she had demonstrated her skills to excellent proficiency, she was certified and she soon started her business.

Finishing the paperwork in the fall of 2020, Sawyer’s business, Value Home Inspections, was open to consumers by spring 2021. During this time, interest rates were low, so more people were buying and selling. As a result, Sawyer’s business became steady soon after starting. This fast-paced journey allowed herself the experience to find a rhythm and system that works well.

With her education, Sawyer had the necessary knowledge to look back on the inspection that was made on her own home back in 2018. She soon realized a few clear areas that were not covered in her inspection due to not being considered “necessities.”

“After doing training and referring back to my own report, I noticed certain things that, for the training, they have things that are exceeding expectations and actual, like, minimum requirements,” Sawyer says. “For example, I do have electrical issues, and for inspectors, they technically don’t have to open up the electrical panel. That would be exceeding expectations. I found out … that my inspector did not … Technically, that was okay, but had he opened up the panel, he would have seen that I had a lot of double tap breakers, which is two wires going into one breaker, and usually, it should just be one wire per breaker.”

Understanding the importance of sharing as much information as possible, Sawyer built her business to exceed the minimum standard. Value Home Inspection customers can expect a thorough explanation that details both the process and the findings of the inspection.

“I will go in a few hours beforehand and inspect everything that I can from the roof to the foundation, the exterior and then everything inside,” Sawyer says. “So, I’ll take a look at your HVAC appliances, regular appliances, look inside the electrical panel, check all the plumbing, floors, doors, walls, attic if there is access. So, when you come … we will do a walk-through … we’ll go room by room. You’ll be aware of every defect that I found, and then you will get a report later on that evening.”

While education is a core value of Value Home Inspections, approachability and communication are also strong priorities of the company. Sawyer takes the time to make sure that any questions or concerns are being fully addressed. If there is a particular concern the buyer would like inspected, she will inform them afterward what her findings are.

“They might say … ‘I’m a little nervous about this,’ and then I’ll just reassure them like, ‘This is not a big deal … I’ll let you know what is a concern of mine and what I would want done within the first year of moving in versus something that’s on your to-do list that I would just want you to get done,” Sawyer says. “So, reassuring them and letting them know that things will be okay, but if it’s not, I will definitely let them know in a way that is not fear-mongering … I’m just being honest and up-front.”

Not only are there education, communication and empathy woven into the foundation of the company, but there is also passion.

“I feel like I’m living my best life, one inspection at a time,” Sawyer says.

Value Home Inspections works to allow every individual from any background to better understand their home. Each step of the process is explained to the homeowner until everything is clearly understood. For more information, please visit the website valueinspectionsllc.com.