Business as usual – with a few extra precautions 

We’re taking action to protect buyers and sellers in response to COVID-19

We’re committed to keeping up business as usual, with a few extra precautions in response to COVID-19. 

We know you may be uncertain about the home inspection process at this time, but please know we’re taking steps to make sure everyone involved is safe and comfortable. 

Here’s how:

  • We’re happy to video chat with buyers over FaceTime or Zoom during the inspection. We can also do our end-of-inspection summary over the phone. This allows buyers to skip the inspection without missing a beat.
  • We’ll answer as many phone calls, texts or emails as needed to ensure all questions are answered. 
  • We’ll be wearing gloves throughout the inspection and masks upon request. 
  • All surfaces our team touches will be wiped with disinfectant. 
  • Any inspectors with symptoms (or general flu-like symptoms) will not be working. 
  • Our team will be working from home when not inspecting. 
  • We encourage sellers to stay in their home and will work around them. We can guide ourselves through the home and do not expect them to “host” us. 
  • We will follow rules of social distancing and will ask buyers and agents in attendance to do the same.
  • We will be sending a questionnaire ahead of all inspections asking all parties about their comfort level and potential exposure to the virus. 

For an overview of our approach, take a look at this video:

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Celebrating 100 5-Star Reviews with a $100 Giveaway!

5 Star

5 Star

We’re firm believers that it isn’t our technology or tools that set us apart – it’s our people. We consistently provide West Michigan home buyers with the knowledge needed to feel confident about their purchase – and we do it in a way that’s approachable, educational and easy-to-understand. We believe this has been what’s led us to earn a 5-star rating on Google. As a growing business, we’re very excited to celebrate this milestone!

Help us mark the special occasion by entering to win a $100 Visa Gift Card:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to those who have supported us by taking the time to leave reviews, to those home buyers who have trusted us to help them along their home buying journey and our Realtor partners who refer us regularly.

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Ten Must Have Tools for Every Homeowner

All homes require basic upkeep to ensure their continued livability. Whether you aim to be a seasoned do it yourself-er, or you simply want to hang your own picture frames, you will need the right tools for the job.  

Below is the Grand Home Inspection list of 10 tools every homeowner should have.  There are many specialty tools for specific applications, so this is more of a starter kit than an exhaustive list, but it will get you well on your way to making sure your home is comfortable and looking good!

  1. Framing Hammer or Claw Hammer – Two names for the same tool, a basic hammer for driving and removing nails.  You’ll use this tool for everything from hanging decorations to tearing out those old cupboards.
  2. Screwdriver Set – Screws are all over the place in your home and appliances and will occasionally require your attention.  Make sure you have both phillips and flathead in a variety of sizes.
  3. Box Wrench Set – These are your basic non-adjustable wrenches with closed and open ends to fit specific bolt sizes.  Using the correct wrench for the bolt size will reduce the risk of stripping the bolt.  Get inch and metric versions to make sure you have the right tool for the job!
  4. Adjustable Wrench – Sometimes referred to as a Crescent wrench. This will be your go-to when you have nuts or bolts of unknown sizes, need two wrenches of the same size, or need to get multiple sizes taken care of with one tool.  This wrench is more likely to strip nuts and bolts, so try to use the box wrenches whenever you can.
  5. Bubble Level – Use this tool to confirm the flatness in a variety of applications.  Items can
    fall off of shelves that aren’t level, and nobody likes cooking on a stovetop when everything     in your pan slides to one side.  The bubble level is much more than straight curtain rods and you should have one.
  6. Tape Measure – Whether you’re installing new countertops in the kitchen or feng shui-ing your furniture, a tape measure will help you get it right.
  7. Caulk Gun – Unfortunately sealants in bathrooms, kitchens, and around windows don’t last forever. Water getting where it doesn’t belong is the number one cause of damage, so it’s important to be prepared when caulk fails.
  8. Plunger – Probably the most self explanatory item on the list.  When you need it, you really need it!  
  9. Personal Protective Equipment, aka PPE – Ok, PPE is more than one thing, but you need to be safe during all home projects. Safety glasses, gloves, and a respirator can help keep you safe from flying objects, cuts/scrapes, and hazardous fumes.
  10. Flashlight – Nothing in the above list will do you any good if you can’t see what you’re working on.  A flashlight can help you through low-light projects or when the power goes out.

Some people are more handy than others, but everybody is capable of some basic home projects.  Doing your own work can be very rewarding and these tools will help you along the way.

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