office (949) 722-7424
fax (949) 646-2525
 CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT - PROJECT MANAGEMENT
CONSTRUCTION PHOTOGRAPHY - CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS
OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE - CONSTRUCTION CONSULTING SERVICES
LICENSED BUILDING INSPECTOR - GENERAL AND MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR

SPECIALISTS IN DESIGN-BUILD, COMMERCIAL, "GREEN", RETAIL, RESTAURANTS,
 BIG BOX, AND CUSTOM PROJECTS FROM THE GROUND UP, and TENANT IMPROVEMENTS

Construction Inspections

RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDING INSPECTIONS

Halverson and Sons has extensive experience in the construction and development industries and conducts inspections of all types of projects and buildings. A buyer closing on either commercial or residential properties must be informed of all building defects. Lending institutions must take the potential costs for repair of these defects into account when deciding whether to release a loan.

Although not yet a requirement of most financial institutions for residential property transactions, incorporating a limited scope environmental inspection into the home inspection report of these properties is both prudent and expedient.

Residential Project Inspections

Over the last decade, home inspection and environmental testing have exploded into the consciousness of our nation's homeowners. With falling interest rates and a booming housing market setting the stage, home inspection quickly assumed immediate importance as a whole new generation of homeowners actively began to look for ways to protect their lifetime's biggest investment. Today, home inspection and related environmental services comprise the fastest growing, most affordable, and most valued segment of real estate related services.

Here are some more interesting facts.
Every year, 1 out of every 7 homes in the U.S. will be bought or sold. This amounts in the sale of over 5 million existing homes. In addition, over 1 million new homes are constructed, and inspected, very year. Over 80% of transacted homes will be inspected by a professional home inspector.

In addition to the ever-increasing value homeowners attach to home inspection, many states consider requiring home inspections as part of a real estate standard operating procedure. These considerations are now pushing the percentage of real estate transactions that include a home inspection to over 90%. It's forecasted that by the year 2010, almost every state will require a home inspection with the purchase of a new home.

In 1994, an article in the Wall Street Journal stated that the home inspection industry grossed $400 million annually. Nine years later, that number is over $1 billion.

The Wall Street Journal has also reported that the number of home inspections performed throughout the U.S. has doubled in each of the last 4 years.

Services Offered

Residential Inspections - We provide a visual inspection of the major mechanical and structural components of the home, from rooftop to foundation. We inspect single family homes and apartments up to 500 units. The inspection includes:

The property site, building exterior, a complete roof inspection, the attic, chimney, fireplace and building interior. We inspect the plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning systems. We go into the crawl space and check the foundation and the structural members.
We will disclose if there is additional construction to the building and verify if that construction is code compliant.
The built-in appliances are tested for proper operation and we include several energy conservation and safety items.
If the home was built prior to 1960 our report will answer the seven seismic disclosure questions that the seller is required to provide the buyer.

We are looking for RED FLAGS, i.e. threats to health and safety, non code complying conditions, areas of deferred maintenance or functional obsolescence.

We produce a typed narrative report that addresses approximately 100 components in or around the building. The completed reports are available the following business day. Reports are delivered via fax, email and US Mail.

The items we specifically do NOT include are:

  • Swimming pools, spas, wells or septic systems.
  • Cosmetic conditions such as worn carpeting, torn wallpaper, broken or missing window screens.
  • Our inspection does not include the examination or disclosure of the presence of any environmentally hazardous materials or the presence of Urea Formaldehyde, Asbestos, Radon or Lead Paint.
  • Our inspection does not include the examination or disclosure of termites, pest infestation, fungus or mold.
  • In some cases, upon request, we will provide competent resources for specific inspections beyond our expertise.

Consumer Information - Do-it-yourself instruction pamphlets for various home maintenance and repair projects. Press releases for health and safety items concerning homeowners. Pamphlets include:

Seismic protection of your water heater
Avoiding Electrical Shock
Proper Site Drainage
Garage Door Spring Protection
How to install a Chimney Spark Arrestor

Commercial Project Inspections

Our inspection services cover all commercial property types, including:
Office Buildings, Retail, Multi-Family Dwellings, Apartment Buildings and Complexes, Hotels, Motels, Restaurants, Industrial, Medical, Special Purpose and Senior Housing.

Buyers and users of just about any type of commercial property can benefit from a project or property inspection.

Even new construction can have physical deficiencies that could eventually require costly repairs. Buildings targeted for renovation or reuse – such as office to residential or warehouse to retail can also benefit from a review to determine if these facilities and systems function properly. The goal of Halverson & Sons is to identify and communicate observable, physical deficiencies of the material systems, components, and equipment within a commercial property. All Halverson & Sons Inspectors adhere to the Standard Guide for Property Condition Assessments as defined by the American Society For Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standards. All H & S Inspectors are ICC Certified.

The Team Approach

Depending on the type of property and the needs of the client, inspections may require specialists, consultants or a TEAM (Technical Experts and Management) approach. The TEAM approach allows specialists or consultants to assist in the commercial inspection by providing their expertise in areas where it is required. Our specialists or consultants that can assist in a property inspection include:

  •  Structural Engineers
  • Environmental Specialists
  • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) Specialists
  • Electrical Specialists
  • Fire Protection Specialists
  • Elevator Specialists
  • Roof Specialists
  • Paving Specialists
  • Wood-Destroying Organism Specialists

A baseline commercial property inspection (referred to as a Property Condition Assessment (PCA) in the ASTM Standards) relies on a walkthrough survey, document review, and interviews to determine the property’s condition. The results of the PCA are reported in a Property Condition Report (PCR). The report includes information obtained from the PCA, as well as opinions on probable cost for suggested remedies.

This information is valuable in helping owners and buyers understand operating and maintenance costs and helps to provide confidence to prospective purchasers that the transaction is solid.

At Halverson & Sons, our professionals work together with clients to determine the scope of inspection services needed, and are committed to providing outstanding client service and satisfaction.

Halverson & Sons is a professional inspection company with the technical experience and knowledge to meet our client's most specific needs. H & S adheres to the ASTM Standards for performing a commercial property inspection.

H & S professionals are experienced in inspecting a variety of commercial properties including:

  •  Office Buildings
  • Industrial Buildings
  • Retail Stores and Shopping Centers
  • Apartment Buildings and Hotels
  • Airport Buildings, Hospitals, Research Centers
  • Medical Buildings
  • Warehouse Buildings
  • Condominiums

The scope of the inspection needed and the specific areas to be inspected are based on various factors. Age, occupancy and type of construction are considered when determining how the property will be inspected and the performance criteria needed to complete the inspection. Inspections can vary from a visual examination of the property to a comprehensive inspection of all technical components of the building.

A baseline commercial property inspection includes:

  • Site Characteristics (Paving, Landscaping and Utilities)
  • Structural Frame and Building Envelope
  • Roof Surface Areas
  • Mechanical and Electrical Systems
  • Plumbing Systems
  • Heating Systems
  • Air Conditioning and Ventilation Systems
  • Vertical Transportation
  • Life Safety/Fire Protection
  • Interior Elements
  • Document Review
  • Opinions of Probable Costs
  • Recommendations

Additional services that may be available include:

  •  Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Assessments
  • Elevator Inspections
  • Fenestration Inspections
  • Fire Safety Inspections
  • Lead-Based Paint Inspections
  • Wood-Destroying Organism Inspections
  • Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
  • Sewage and Treatment Systems Inspections
  • Asbestos Inspections
  • Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Assessments
  • Radon Inspections