"How much do you charge?" When most people call to inquire about a home inspection, this is the generally the first and only question on their minds. They mistakenly believe that they are buying the same service from each inspector and that if they can save a couple of bucks by finding someone $25.00 cheaper, they have been a smart shopper. This couldn't be further from the truth. Certainly if you were seeking a doctor for a heart bypass this is not the approach that you would use to find the best qualified physician for the job. 

 

Red River Inspections is Shreveport and Bossier City's most respected home inspection company. Let us show you why.

Ask how long the inspection takes. Like any industry, inspectors must be competitively priced to stay in business. While some inspectors charge a little less they make up for it by performing up to five inspections per day. Red River Inspections is not a volume inspection company. We spend an average of two to three hours at the home being inspected. We then take the information gathered at the inspection to our office to analyze and prepare a professional, in-depth report. This takes time and it is the primary reason we perform a maximum of three inspections per day. 

Let's do the Math! If your still not convinced that it price matters lets do the math. Let's say another inspector quotes you $250.00 for an inspection. This inspector allots two hours for the most important investment you’ve made to date. This means that you’re paying Joe Inspector $125.00 per hour. Red River Inspections never performs a two hour inspection; in fact the average time we spend on an inspection is 4.25 hours. This computes to $64.70 per hour. For you to pay Red River inspections the same as Joe Inspector... we would have to charge a little over $530.00 for our inspection! We all want to save money... but save money on commodities- things such as macaroni and cheese and bathroom tissue. Don’t let something as insignificant as a $20 dollar bill protect your family from potential hazardous living conditions. 

For many people buying a home is the single most important investment that they will make. Why trust this to a volume home inspection company just because they are cheaper? The reality is that a home inspection generally pays for itself many times over in the savings gained from renegotiation based on the findings of the inspection report. If an inexperienced or worse yet an inspector who "works for the Realtor" overlooks or minimizes important conditions, the buyer has saved nothing by purchasing a low ball inspection.

There are different methods used by inspectors to calculate the inspection fee. Some charge by square footage of the house others base their fees on the price of the home. There may be add-on charges for components such as multiple furnaces, air conditioners, outbuildings, crawl spaces, or appliances. Many times the age and complexity of the home play a role in the fee. Ultimately the best way to understand the fee is to realize that the fee should reflect the complexity and time spent at the house.

If price were all that mattered we'd all be driving Yugos. The 2005 ASHI Business Operations Study lists the average inspection fee for full time inspectors in 2004 at $321.00. The truth is if you are being quoted a low ball price you should seriously ask yourself what's missing. 

We are thorough and objective. When you hire us for an inspection your will get an independent, objective evaluation of your home based on 20 years of home construction and inspection experience from an MBA. Our reports are not some cheap checklist, unreadable because of chicken scratch writing. Our report is professional and includes photos documenting conditions so that you can better negotiate for repairs. We do not minimize defects and tell it like it is. We have no vested interest in whether you purchase the house or not. We give you a truly unbiased evaluation of the home so that you have the information you need to make a sound buying decision. 

Call us to schedule your inspection at 318-294-4444. We will ask you several questions such as: the square footage, age and we want to know if there are any special concerns. Generally inspections begin at $275.00. Optional services are available.