updated 06/15/2020
Castle Home Inspections, LLC is still doing inspections to help keep the real estate industry moving during this unprecedented time. That said, I am taking several precautions to keep everyone as healthy and safe as possible. My wife and I personally know several people who would be at very high risk of complications due to this virus, so we are doing what we can to slow the spread of COVID-19, and keep our loved ones safe - that includes you!
I am following government and health protocols, including physical distancing. The below are the steps I am taking to help keep clients, agents, home occupants, and the inspector as healthy and safe as possible. These guidelines will change as needed to keep current with government and CDC protocols with this outbreak. If a shelter-in-place order is commenced, I will cease doing inspections.
Castle Home Inspections, LLC
COVID-19 INSPECTION GUIDELINES:
Attendance and Scheduling
- If any of the occupants within the inspection property are, or have recently been sick or felt sick within 14-days of the inspection, the inspection will need to be rescheduled - following the CDC/government guidelines for self-containment timelines.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/end-home-isolation.html - The inspector should be the only person present during the inspection time. This means that the home occupants, real estate agents, buyers, and contractors not be in the home at the time of the inspection.
- I am requesting that the owner/occupants be out of the house. That said, I cannot in good conscience ask home owners to leave their home unless they have a safe place to go that won't put themselves, or others at risk of infection. If occupants have no place safe to go during the inspection, they may stay at home. See Sanitary Practices below on how I will work safely in your home.
- If the home buyer would like to attend the inspection, it will only be for the last 30 minutes of the inspection. Inspection attendees are limited to two people and one real estate agent. Access to the interior portion of the property may be restricted if the occupants are home, or if they have given instruction for attendees not to enter the home. Entry into the home will require face covers.
- I will call buyers, choosing not to attend the inspection, after the inspection to review the major deficiencies. After I send them the report, if desired, I can go through the entire report with them over the phone.
Sanitary Practices
- It has always been my practice to wear disposable shoe covers, and will continue to do so while inside properties - these will not be reused.
- I will be washing my hands often (supplying my own soap and hand towel), and may use rubber gloves on occasion but these would be washed and sanitized the same as bare hands would during the inspection - these will not be reused. I also will be avoiding touching my face.
- I will be using hand sanitizer before entering the home. If I leave the home, I will be reapplying sanitizer as I reenter the home and also when washing of hands is not convenient.
- If I feel sick with a fever, cough, or am sneezing, I will reschedule the inspection.
- Disinfecting wipes will be used to clean fixtures that I touch, including kitchen and bathroom fixtures, door knobs and light switches.
- My tools will be disinfected after each inspection.
Again, these measures are to help keep clients, agents, home occupants, and the inspector as healthy and safe as possible. These guidelines will change as needed to keep current with government and CDC protocols with this outbreak.
