Kross Inspectors Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for considering Kross Inspectors for your Inspection needs! Often clients have questions about inspection procedures and our report delivery procedures. We have created this list of frequently asked questions to assist you and save your valuable time. Of course, if your question is not answered here, please feel free to contact one of our Inspectors:

Toll Free: 1-877-496-4662
Or Simply Fill Out The Easy Form At The Bottom Of This Page!

Q: Does Florida require a Home Inspector to be licensed?

A: Effective 7/1/2010, Florida Statute Chapter 468, Part XV provides for licensure and regulation of Home Inspectors. This law requires that anyone who provides "Home Inspection Services" to be properly educated and licensed to conduct business in Florida. All of our Inspectors at Kross Inspectors have completed the required educational and field experience to be licensed in Florida. However, license applications will not be available until 7/1/2010. Therefore, House Bill 713 has provisions for Home Inspectors to be required to obtain their license by 7/1/2011. Consumers should note that Kross Inspectors has played an instrumental role in decision making for Home Inspector licensing. Our Inspectors are very conscious of their role in protecting the public. Realtors refer to Kross Inspectors in order to ensure professional services that reflect their own high ethical standards.

Q: Although, a Home Inspector can practice while not having a license for one year after the law goes into effect, is there anything else that a consumer should look for to ensure that the Home Inspector is following the law?

A: Yes, although provisions are made for the Home Inspector to apply for licensing, Home Inspectors still must adhere to all other requirements of the law effective 7/1/2010. One of these requirements is that the Home Inspector must deliver to the client a copy of his or her license to practice Home Inspection services in Florida and a written disclosure that contains the scope and any exclusions of the Home Inspection PRIOR TO COMMENCING OR CONTRACTING FOR A HOME INSPECTION. Kross Inspectors has developed an efficient method to deliver these required documents to Clients. Upon scheduling a Home Inspection, Clients receive these required disclosures within minutes.

Q: What is included in your typical home inspection?

A: Our regular home inspections include the following elements: Foundation, Structural, Exterior Grading, Swimming Pool & Equipment, Water Equipment, Exterior Roof, Heating & Cooling, Attic, Insulation & Ventilation, Electrical, Plumbing, and Interior (Including installed appliances & searches for evidence of mold). Of course each inspection also includes a Chinese Drywall Inspection.

Q: Do you inspect for mold?

A: We do include a search for evidence of mold. If we discover water damage, evidence of moisture with our invasive moisture meters, or visual mold growth on surfaces, we will refer you to one of our business partners to conduct a full mold evaluation. The full mold evaluation may include an air quality survey or laboratory testing of mold swabs (additional fees apply).

Q: Do you inspect for Termites?

A: We do not perform termite inspections. The state of Florida requires a specialized license to complete these types of inspections. We have decided to leave this part of the inspection to the experts in that field. If you would like to have a termite inspection, we will refer you to one of our business partners, who typically inspect at the same time that we do. (Additional Fees Apply).

Q: Do you inspect for Chinese Drywall?

A: We include an inspection for defective drywall with all of our home inspections at no additional fee. We also provide inspections that cover only searches for Chinese Drywall.

Q: How reliable are your Chinese Drywall Inspections?

A: Kross Inspectors was the first company in the country to offer Chinese Drywall Inspections. This was only after months of research and controlled experiments. Our proprietary inspection protocol exceeds that of the "Interim Guidance-Identification of Homes with Corrosion from Problem Drywall-Revision 1" issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission on 8/27/2010. After completing thousands of Chinese Drywall inspections throughout Florida, our inspection protocol has proven to be reliable enough for a national insurance company to utilize our process to underwrite a "Chinese Drywall" warranty. Although Kross Inspectors does not sell this warranty, this warranty is available to consumers ONLY with a Kross Inspectors inspection report. To find out more about our Chinese Drywall Inspections, please visit www.krossinspectors.com/chinesedrywallinspection.

Q: How do you inspect for Chinese Drywall?

A: Our Chinese Drywall inspections are very comprehensive and specialized. We incorporate both visual and invasive (yet non destructive) techniques to determine the presence of defective drywall. These techniques include inspection of all visible copper & brass plumbing components, inspection of the air conditioning system, inspection of copper wiring at various locations throughout the home, and a visual inspection of unfinished drywall between walls with specialized equipment. Of course, all of our Inspectors have been exposed to homes with defective drywall installed, therefore they are all familiar with the distinctive odor emitted by the drywall (typically, this is the first warning sign recognized by our Inspectors). For homes that display positive symptoms of defective drywall, further destructive analyzing techniques are available at the Client's discretion.

Q: How many Chinese Drywall Inspections have you performed?

A: Kross Inspectors has performed over 6,000 Chinese Drywall Inspections since 2008.

Q: Do you offer a warranty, certification , or guarantee with your Chinese Drywall Inspections?

A: No, we do not. However, a national insurance company has decided to utilize our inspection report as an underwriting tool for a Chinese Drywall Warranty. This warranty is only available for homes inspected by Kross Inspectors. The warranty provides coverage for the costs of a FULL remediation of the insured property. The warranty is available for homes that we determine are negative for the presence of defective drywall and also for homes that did have defective drywall, but were remediated with our company providing third party documentation and inspections for the process.

Q: How long does a typical home inspection take?

A: The typical home inspection takes between 2 and 3 hours on site. However, some of our Inspectors take the team approach, which shortens the site inspection time. If you are pressed for time and would like a team to inspect your home, please request this when booking your appointment (no additional charge for team inspections). With either approach, we DO NOT take shortcuts. You can rest assured that you will receive a thorough inspection of the home.

Q: How far in advance do I need to request an appointment?

A: With our full staff of Inspectors, we can book your appointment with 24 hours notice. Due to the nature of a typical Real Estate Transaction today, cancelations and postponements also provide us with availability for same day appointments. Please call our office at (877) 496-4662 if you need to schedule a rush appointment.

Q: How soon after the inspection will I receive my completed report?

A: Our typical turnaround time is 24 hours after the inspection. With our advanced technology, we deliver our reports electronically. This speeds up the delivery process and allows you to review your completed report and make informed decisions without having to wait for a paper copy. However, we do provide paper copies at no additional charge upon request. We will also deliver via courier to save time.

Q: How do I obtain a copy of my report?

A: Your report will be delivered via email and also uploaded to our secure website and available for your download. Upon request, we will print and mail copies of the report at no additional charge. Copies may be picked up at our office or satellite locations with 2 hour notice.

Q: How can I pay for my inspection?

A: We accept cash, check, and all major credit cards. You may pay the Inspector on site, pay online with a major credit card, pay over the phone with a major credit card, or you may mail in a check for the invoice (keep in mind that completed reports are not available until payment is received). Please also note that if you are paying online you must log into our web site with a unique username and password. This will be emailed to you the same day that you order your inspection. Please DO NOT create your own username and password if you have ordered your inspection over the phone. If you do not receive your username and password (and it is not in your “junk mail” or “spam” folders), please call our office to obtain this information.

Q: Do I need a Termite Inspection?

A: Although the majority of our conventional construction in this area is concrete block, we encourage clients to obtain a termite inspection. You should consider that many components of your home are still wood construction (roof trusses, window frames, door frames, etc.). We partner with a local pest control company that will typically be on site at the same time as our Inspectors, saving multiple trips for buyers and Realtors.

Q: Do I need a Four Point Insurance Inspection?

A: A Four Point Insurance Inspection may be required by some insurance companies for older homes. This is a basic verification of the condition of four elements of the home (Roof, Electrical, Plumbing, & Heating/Cooling). We do provide these inspections, however we ask that you confirm with your insurance agent first that you will need one.

Q: Do I need a Wind Mitigation Verification Report?

A: The Uniform Wind Mitigation Verification Report is required by some insurance companies to extend discounts on your homeowner’s windstorm coverage. The purpose of the inspection is to verify that the structure’s roof is built under hurricane code and to verify installed hurricane protection (storm panels, shutters, and/or impact resistant glass). The insurance savings can be significant. Please ask your Insurance Agent if this would benefit you. We do have qualified Wind Mitigation Inspectors on staff.