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A licensed TREC home inspection in Houston covers the full structure: foundation and slab performance, roofing and attic, exterior walls and envelope, windows and doors, plumbing systems, electrical systems including the service panel, HVAC equipment and ductwork, insulation, interior ceilings, walls and floors, and all built-in appliances.

Imperial Pro also includes ZIPLEVEL® foundation elevation readings with every inspection at no additional charge — something most inspectors in the Houston market do not include.

Yes — and it's encouraged. You're welcome to be present at every inspection. Nothing is rushed. Every finding is explained on site in plain language so you understand what you're looking at before you read the report. This is especially valuable at phase inspections, where seeing the open structure gives context that photographs alone don't provide.

A standard resale home inspection in Houston typically takes 2.5 to 4 hours depending on property size. Phase 1 pre-pour foundation inspections take approximately 60–90 minutes. Phase 2 pre-drywall and Phase 3 final inspections take 2–3 hours. Foundation-only Level A inspections take approximately 60–90 minutes. Level B elevation surveys run 90–120 minutes. Reports are delivered digitally within 24–48 hours — often the same day.

The Repair Request Builder is an interactive feature in Imperial Pro's digital inspection report that allows you and your agent to select specific findings and generate a formatted repair request to send directly to the seller or builder. It converts inspection findings into actionable documentation — eliminating the step of manually extracting items from a PDF report.

Imperial Pro offers transparent online pricing — you see your exact price before committing. Book online at ruleyourhome.com/Schedule-Inspection.html to see your price instantly. Key starting prices:

Book online at ruleyourhome.com/Schedule-Inspection.html — see your exact price, choose your date, add services at checkout. Confirmation is immediate. No phone calls required. Most inspections are available within 1–3 business days. For commercial inspections or custom scopes, use the contact form or call (281) 715-9755.

Imperial Pro delivers inspection reports digitally within 24–48 hours — often the same day for morning inspections. Reports are interactive digital documents with photographs, findings organized by system, a summary of significant items, and the Repair Request Builder tool. You'll receive a notification when your report is ready.

A Phase 1 inspection evaluates the prepared foundation form before concrete is poured — verifying rebar placement and spacing, post-tension cable chair height, grade beam depth, moisture barrier installation, and form alignment against the engineered plan.

Common Phase 1 findings in Fort Bend County and Greater Houston new construction include: rebar not meeting spacing or coverage requirements (the most common and consequential finding), post-tension cable chairs at incorrect height, grade beam depth insufficient for local PVR clay soils, form boards misaligned from the engineered plan, conduit and plumbing sleeves incorrectly positioned, moisture barrier defects, and departure from the structural engineering plan.

In Houston's high PVR expansive clay soils, the foundation pour is the single most consequential stage of the entire build.

Schedule Phase 1 as soon as you know the foundation pour date — typically 2–5 days in advance. The inspection must happen after the form and rebar are fully set but before concrete is poured. Your builder's superintendent or sales representative can tell you the scheduled pour date. Missing this window means waiting until the next build reaches Phase 1 — the access is permanently gone once the slab is poured.

A Phase 2 inspection evaluates framing, sheathing, MEP rough-ins, and the building envelope before drywall is installed. This is the last opportunity to see and correct what will be permanently sealed inside your home — framing defects, window flashing installations, house wrap deficiencies, structural connections, MEP code violations, and roof sheathing issues.

Houston's humidity makes Phase 2 especially revealing. We have filmed inspections during rainstorms where missing window flashing allowed water to flood into open framing — visible proof of what gets sealed inside if nobody looks.

Builders often say mold on framing is "normal" during construction. Some surface mold from brief moisture exposure can be treated and sealed appropriately. However, excessive mold growth — particularly on a home with a spray foam insulated attic or other tight building enclosure — is a legitimate concern if the framing is not dried and treated before the structure is sealed.

Sealing mold inside a closed wall or spray foam attic system can result in ongoing fungal growth, odors, IAQ concerns, and long-term durability problems. A Phase 2 inspection documents the extent and location of mold growth so you can require appropriate corrective action before drywall installation.

The most consistent Phase 2 finding in Houston new construction is missing or improperly installed window flashing — which allows water intrusion that won't be visible until drywall is complete and the home is occupied. Other common findings: house wrap laps reversed or penetrations untaped, mold on framing from moisture exposure, MEP rough-in code violations, roof sheathing fastener deficiencies, and structural connection issues at rafters, trusses, and wall-to-roof intersections.

A Phase 3 final inspection is a comprehensive MEPS evaluation at completion — mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural systems along with roofing, exterior envelope, site drainage and grading, appliances, fixtures, and finishes. It is the last opportunity to document defects the builder is still obligated to correct before closing.

Defects found before closing are the builder's responsibility. Defects found after closing are yours.

Common Phase 3 findings include: roof damage and improper installation on brand new homes, standing water and grading/drainage deficiencies on one side of the property, foundation elevation variance, HVAC commissioning failures, missing or incomplete caulking at penetrations, window and door operation defects, plumbing fixture issues, and the builder's own uncompleted punch-list items.

A builder warranty inspection is a full MEPS inspection conducted before your builder's 1-year warranty expires — typically scheduled in month 10 or 11 after closing. Defects found before the warranty expires are the builder's responsibility. Defects found after expiration are yours. This is one of the highest-ROI inspections any new construction homeowner can schedule.

Without a baseline elevation survey taken at or near occupancy, there is no objective data to compare against. A builder can claim any movement was within tolerance at construction — and if you have no baseline document, you cannot contradict that claim with data.

A Level B elevation survey from Imperial Pro produces a precision ZIPLEVEL measurement of the full foundation footprint at a documented point in time. If movement is suspected later, that baseline is the only document that provides objective comparison data.

If you already have suspected movement, a current Level B inspection quantifies it, locates it, and produces a written report suitable for warranty submission.

Always call an independent inspector first. A foundation repair company sending someone to inspect your foundation is sending a commissioned salesperson — their livelihood depends on finding something to repair. An independent licensed inspector like Imperial Pro has no repairs to sell, no financial relationship with any repair company, and no incentive to recommend work that isn't needed.

The primary driver is Houston's expansive clay soil combined with the seasonal wet-dry cycle. Oak tree roots are the number one cause of adverse foundation movement in Greater Houston — extracting moisture from clay soil, causing differential shrinkage and settlement beneath foundations. Secondary causes include poor drainage routing water toward the slab, plumbing leaks beneath the foundation, and insufficient post-construction moisture maintenance.

Most Houston foundation problems are addressable without expensive pier installation. An independent evaluation identifies the actual cause — which determines the correct solution.

Level A — from $250 — includes a visual assessment of interior and exterior conditions, ZIPLEVEL spot elevation readings at key locations, and a verbal licensed performance opinion with next-step guidance. Appropriate starting point for most homeowners and buyers.

Level B — from $350 — adds a complete precision elevation survey across the full foundation footprint and a professional written report with photos. Recommended for homebuyers, properties with known movement history, new construction baseline documentation, or any situation requiring written documentation for lenders, builders, attorneys, or insurance.

Yes — Fort Bend County's expansive PVR clay soils make foundation evaluation essential due diligence, not optional. A standard home inspection includes a visual assessment of the foundation, but a dedicated foundation evaluation adds ZIPLEVEL precision measurement that reveals differential movement patterns not visible to the eye. For any home with large trees, near drainage channels, or showing any cosmetic distress — a dedicated foundation evaluation is strongly recommended.

A ZIPLEVEL PRO-2000 is a hydraulic differential pressure instrument that measures slab elevation to 1/100th of an inch across the full foundation footprint — around corners, through walls, across any distance. It produces a precision elevation map showing exactly where the foundation sits at a measured point in time.

This baseline is essential for Fort Bend County and Greater Houston properties on expansive PVR clay soils: it documents where the foundation started, quantifies any movement, and provides the only objective data for evaluating whether observed symptoms reflect genuine structural concern or normal seasonal variation.

Yes — ZIPLEVEL® elevation spot readings are included with every Imperial Pro home inspection at no additional charge. This is not standard in the Houston market — most home inspectors provide only a visual foundation assessment. A standalone Level B elevation survey with full footprint mapping and written report is available as an add-on or standalone service from $350.

Yes — Houston's humid Gulf Coast climate makes mold a legitimate risk in both new construction and resale homes. A standard TREC home inspection includes a visual assessment for visible mold, but does not include air sampling. A mold assessment with professional air sampling and certified lab results detects mold conditions not visible to the eye — inside walls, in the attic, and at HVAC components.

Imperial Pro's mold services are tiered based on your needs and situation:

All sampling is submitted to a certified independent laboratory. Book online to see pricing for each tier, or add mold sampling to any home inspection at checkout.

A WDI (Wood-Destroying Insect) inspection evaluates a property for evidence of termite activity, other wood-destroying insects, and related damage. Texas is one of the highest-risk termite states in the country. A WDI inspection from Imperial Pro produces an official Texas SPCS/T-5 report and HUD NPMA-33 form. Required for VA and FHA loans — and recommended for all buyers in Fort Bend County and Greater Houston.

Yes. New construction homes in Houston and Fort Bend County are not exempt from termite risk — in fact, wood-framed homes in active construction zones are particularly vulnerable during and shortly after the build period. Soil disturbance during construction, fresh wood framing, and proximity to active termite colonies in adjacent properties all elevate risk. A WDI inspection before closing on any new construction home is recommended and required for VA and FHA financing.

Yes — and the stakes are considerably higher than residential. Foundation repair on a commercial building can range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. For buyers, a pre-purchase independent foundation inspection quantifies this exposure before any contractual obligation. For tenants signing multi-year leases, a pre-lease evaluation documents existing conditions before you assume liability for them.

Imperial Pro performs commercial foundation inspections across Greater Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and DFW — the full Texas Triangle.

A Property Condition Assessment (PCA) following ASTM E2018 standards is a comprehensive evaluation of a commercial building's condition — covering structure, roofing, MEP systems, site, and envelope. It is the standard due diligence document required by lenders, investors, and sophisticated buyers for commercial real estate transactions.

Imperial Pro performs commercial PCAs across the Texas Triangle — Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas-Fort Worth — for retail centers, office buildings, warehouses, multi-family properties, and industrial assets. Contact us for custom scope and pricing.

Commercial inspection pricing is custom-scoped per property — there is no standard list price because the scope, deliverables, and time required vary significantly by property type, size, age, and transaction requirements. A single-tenant retail building in Katy has different requirements than a 200,000 SF industrial campus in DFW.

A Property Condition Assessment following ASTM E2018 standards is the institutional standard for commercial real estate due diligence — used by lenders, investors, and asset managers. It covers:

Imperial Pro PCAs are custom — not boilerplate. Most commercial inspection companies apply residential SOPs to commercial buildings and use generic national cost databases. Our cost-to-cure estimates are developed from current Texas market data and the specific conditions found at your asset.

A cost-to-cure report translates PCA findings into dollar amounts — what it will actually cost to repair or replace each deficient component at your property, priced to current Texas market rates. This is the deliverable that drives price negotiation, repair escrow decisions, and underwriting adjustments.

Most commercial inspectors either don't offer cost-to-cure estimates or use generic national databases that don't reflect actual Texas contractor pricing. Imperial Pro's cost-to-cure reports are custom-developed per property using current local market data. This is one of the most valuable commercial inspection deliverables available — and one of the least commonly done well.

A CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) projection estimates the cost of major system replacements over a defined future period — typically 5, 10, or 15 years — based on the current age and condition of each building system. It converts a PCA snapshot into a forward-looking financial planning tool.

ERUL (Effective Remaining Useful Life) is the assessment of how much useful life remains in each major system. Together, CAPEX + ERUL give lenders and investors a complete picture: not just what's broken today, but what will need replacement on what timeline — and what reserve capital is appropriate.

These deliverables are standard for institutional acquisitions and lender-required PCAs. Available from Imperial Pro as a standalone deliverable or bundled with a full PCA.

The majority of commercial inspections in Texas are performed by residential home inspectors moonlighting on commercial jobs. Their reports look the same as a home inspection report, their cost estimates come from generic national databases, and their scope follows a residential playbook regardless of what's actually being purchased.

Imperial Pro inspects all commercial property types across the Texaplex — Greater Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio:

Commercial mold inspection pricing is custom-scoped based on building size, number of sampling locations, and scope of assessment required. Unlike residential mold assessments with a standard price point, commercial properties — a 20,000 SF office building vs. a 200-unit apartment complex — require fundamentally different sampling strategies and documentation levels.

Imperial Pro's commercial mold assessments are TDLR licensed (#MAT1401) and can be scoped as sampling-only, visual-only, or full written assessment. Multi-building portfolios and phased assessments available. Contact us for a custom scope and quote.

Commercial foundation inspections are custom-quoted based on building size, slab footprint, number of structures, and deliverable requirements. A ZIPLEVEL® elevation survey on a commercial slab produces a full precision map of the entire footprint — the scope and time required scales with property size.

Foundation repair on a commercial building can range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. An independent pre-purchase foundation inspection costs a fraction of that exposure and is the only document that quantifies the risk before you sign anything. Contact us to discuss your property and receive a custom quote.