Home inspection questions, answered

A residential home inspection is a professional visual inspection of the home's readily accessible, installed systems and components, including the structure, electrical system, HVAC system, roof covering, plumbing system, interior, exterior, and site conditions affecting the structure.

The inspection does not include concealed or inaccessible areas, destructive testing, code-compliance certification, warranties, or ancillary services unless separately selected.

Palm View residential inspections start at $290, with pricing based primarily on the home's size. Older homes and homes with crawlspaces require additional inspection time and may cost more.

For example, a home under 1,000 sq. ft. built in 1978 or later starts at $290. At the other end of the published range, a 4,501–5,000 sq. ft. home built in 1949 or earlier with a crawlspace would be $820. Homes over 5,000 sq. ft. receive a custom quote.

See our Pricing page for your property's price and current ancillary-service pricing.

Inspection time depends primarily on the home's size, age, features, and any additional services selected.

As examples, Palm View estimates about 1½ hours for a home under 1,000 sq. ft. and 5 hours for a 4,501–5,000 sq. ft. home. Older homes and crawlspaces may require additional time. Ancillary inspections also vary—for example, a wind mitigation inspection is estimated at about 45 minutes.

No. A home inspection provides a professional assessment of visible conditions at the time of the inspection. It cannot guarantee future condition or performance or identify conditions that are concealed, inaccessible, or not observable during the inspection.

The report documents what was observed and provides recommended next steps when appropriate, but it is not a warranty on the home or its systems.

No. A residential home inspection does not give the home a passing or failing grade. It documents the visible condition of the inspected systems and components so you can better understand the property and make informed decisions.

How individual findings affect your decision will depend on the property, the findings, and your circumstances.

A Palm View home inspection is not a municipal code inspection and does not certify that a home complies with applicable building codes.

Palm View may identify and document visible defects, installation concerns, or conditions that warrant further evaluation. New-construction inspections also do not replace inspections required by the local building authority.

No. A home inspection evaluates the visible condition of readily accessible systems and components and documents observed deficiencies.

An appraisal serves a different purpose: it provides an opinion of the property's value. An appraisal does not replace a home inspection, and a home inspection does not determine the property's market value.

No. When Palm View determines that thermal imaging, a drone, or other inspection technology is appropriate, there is no separate technology-use fee.

The tools used depend on the property, conditions, accessibility, safety, and the inspector's professional judgment. Not every technology is necessary or appropriate for every inspection.

Palm View offers flexible scheduling, including weekend appointments.

For qualifying Residential, New-Construction Final, 11-Month Warranty, and Pre-Drywall inspections, our 48-Hour Availability Guarantee means we'll offer at least one qualifying appointment within 48 hours after receiving the information needed to price and schedule your inspection. If Palm View cannot do so because of our availability, you'll receive a $100 credit toward that inspection.

Yes. Palm View offers online scheduling so you can view available appointments and book without waiting for normal business hours.

Current services, pricing, and available appointment times are displayed through our online scheduling system.

Palm View serves Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, North Sarasota, Pasco, Pinellas, and West Polk counties.

We may provide inspection services outside our normal service area by exception. Call us to confirm availability.

Payment is due before the inspection begins. Palm View accepts credit cards, ACH payments, Venmo, checks, and cash.

Checks must be received and deposited before the inspection begins.

Yes. Veterans, active-duty servicemembers, and eligible surviving military family members receive 10% off all Palm View inspection and testing services through our Military & Surviving Family Discount.

If you qualify for more than one discount, promotional offer, or inspection credit, we'll apply whichever saves you the most; these savings cannot be combined. A package price is not a discount, so an eligible discount applies to the package price. If Palm View misses a covered guarantee, you'll still receive the promised refund or credit. See Combining Guarantees and Benefits.

Yes. Available services may be added when appropriate for the property and your needs. Depending on availability, these may include services such as wind mitigation, four-point, WDO, mold sampling and testing, water quality testing, pool/spa, or other inspections and testing offered by Palm View.

Some services have separate requirements or may involve a qualified third-party provider. Current options and pricing are available on our Services and Pricing pages.

Yes, if your schedule allows. You are welcome to attend, but we recommend giving your inspector space to work rather than following throughout the entire inspection. Frequent interruptions can slow the process and distract from the deliberate, systematic inspection of the home.

If you don't attend the entire inspection, we recommend arriving about 30 minutes before the expected completion time for a final walkthrough with your inspector. This gives you an opportunity to review significant findings at the property and ask questions.

Your real-estate agent or another authorized representative may also attend when appropriate.

If you're the buyer, there usually isn't much physical preparation for you to do. Confirm that the appropriate parties have authorized access and that the home will be ready for inspection.

The seller or current occupant should ensure that utilities are on, accessible areas and components are not blocked, applicable doors or gates are unlocked, and pets are safely secured. Areas or systems that are inaccessible, unsafe, or unavailable may not be fully inspected.

For qualifying inspections, your completed report will be available by 11:59 p.m. the same day as your inspection.

If Palm View misses the Same-Day Report Guarantee for reasons within our control, we'll refund $50 of your inspection fee. The guarantee applies to qualifying Residential, New-Construction Final, and 11-Month Warranty inspections that begin before 3:00 p.m. and meet the guarantee requirements.

Your report documents the visible condition of the home's major systems and components, including the structure, roof, exterior, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, interior, installed appliances, insulation and ventilation, and site conditions that may affect the structure.

Observed deficiencies are documented with straightforward descriptions, relevant photographs, and recommended next steps. Significant findings are brought together in an easy-to-use summary, and video may be included when it helps explain a condition more clearly.

Yes. Your relationship with Palm View doesn't end when the report arrives.

You may schedule an optional 15-minute follow-up with your inspector within 48 hours of report delivery. We can meet by Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or a similar video platform to visually walk through the report and answer your questions.

After that, you may continue to contact your inspector with reasonable questions about your inspection report.

Contact Palm View. We independently archive your inspection report and can provide another copy in the future.

To help us locate it, provide the inspection address, client name, and at least the month and year of the inspection.

Significant findings will be clearly identified in your inspection report and discussed during your final walkthrough when appropriate.

Depending on the condition, Palm View may recommend correction, monitoring, or further evaluation by a qualified specialist. Your inspector can help you understand what was observed and why additional evaluation may be appropriate.

No. The decision to purchase a home is yours.

Palm View provides objective information about the property's visible condition so you can make an informed decision. Your inspector can explain the findings and their significance, but will not tell you whether to purchase the property, renegotiate the transaction, or walk away.

No. Palm View does not provide repair-cost estimates or contractor bids.

When appropriate, your report may recommend further evaluation or correction by a qualified contractor, licensed trade professional, engineer, or other specialist who can determine the appropriate repair and provide pricing.

Yes. Qualifying Residential, New-Construction Final, and 11-Month Warranty inspections include one focused reinspection of up to 10 agreed-upon repairs identified in your original Palm View report.

The reinspection must occur within 60 days of the original inspection. It is free in Hillsborough County and $25 in our other service-area counties.

The reinspection is limited to the specified repairs. Palm View documents their observable condition at the time of the return visit but does not guarantee workmanship, code compliance, durability, or future performance.

If you decide not to purchase a home after a qualifying paid Palm View Residential Home Inspection, you'll receive a $100 credit toward your next Palm View Residential Home Inspection when it occurs within 90 days.

You don't need to explain why you decided not to purchase the first property or provide transaction documents. The credit applies to the same client and a property within Palm View's service area and cannot be combined with another discount or promotional credit.

New homes can have defects, incomplete work, and installation concerns just like existing homes. Palm View offers inspections at several important stages:

A Pre-Drywall Inspection examines visible framing and rough electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems before insulation and drywall conceal them.

A New-Construction Final Inspection examines the substantially completed home before your final walkthrough or closing.

An 11-Month Warranty Inspection documents visible defects and performance concerns near the end of the builder's initial warranty period.

These inspections are independent assessments of visible conditions. They do not replace municipal inspections, certify code compliance, determine warranty coverage, or guarantee that the home is defect-free.

They document different information for your insurance company.

A four-point inspection documents the condition and characteristics of four major systems: roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. Insurers commonly use this information for underwriting decisions.

A wind mitigation inspection documents specific construction features that may help a home resist wind damage, such as the roof covering, roof-deck attachment, roof-to-wall connection, roof shape, secondary water resistance, and opening protection. Your insurer determines whether those features qualify you for premium credits.

Neither inspection is a substitute for a full residential home inspection.

A four-point inspection documents the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems for insurance underwriting purposes. Palm View records the systems' visible characteristics and conditions and completes the applicable insurance documentation.

Four-point reports are typically accepted for up to 12 months, but requirements vary by insurance company. If you already have a four-point report, check with your insurer to determine whether it remains acceptable before ordering another inspection.

A four-point inspection can be added to a Palm View Residential Home Inspection or scheduled as a stand-alone service.

A wind mitigation inspection documents construction features that may help your home resist wind damage and may qualify you for insurance premium credits.

Palm View completes Florida's Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form based on the observable features and available documentation. The form is valid for up to five years, provided no material changes have been made to the structure and no inaccuracies are found.

Your insurance company—not Palm View—determines the premium credits you receive. A wind mitigation inspection can be scheduled as a stand-alone service or added to another qualifying inspection.

Yes. A Wood-Destroying Organism (WDO) inspection can be added to your Palm View Residential Home Inspection and coordinated for the same appointment.

The WDO inspection is performed through Palm View's licensed pest-control partner and examines accessible areas for visible evidence of wood-destroying organisms, related damage, and other reportable evidence. You receive Florida's official WDO inspection report documenting the findings. WDO inspections provided by Termite Depot.

The inspection does not include treatment or repairs and cannot guarantee that wood-destroying organisms or hidden damage are absent.