90-Day Inspection Guarantee

Order the Ultimate Package and get our exclusive 90-Day Inspection Guarantee.

How does it work?

If our certified inspector performs a full home inspection for you in compliance with our designated standards of practice, and you later find a deficiency that was required to be inspected and is not in the original home inspection report, then OCHI will reimburse you as described below, up to the cost of the inspection fee or a $650 maximum (whichever is less).   All claims subject to review.

The 90-Day Inspection Guarantee are subject to the terms and conditions described below.

How are claims handled?

You must timely submit a claim with all required documentation, as described below in the section entitled “How are claims processed”.  If your claim is approved, the OCHI claims administrator will notify you and send a release for you to sign.  Once you sign and return the release form, a check will be sent to you for the approved claim amount.   Please allow up to 10 business days for processing reimbursement checks.  The amount will be determined as described below in the section entitled “What’s covered”.

Note: The 90-Day Inspection Guarantee covers deficiencies in the inspection that you discover within 90 days after the inspection.  It does NOT cover any item, system or component that fails after the inspection.  This is an inspection guarantee and not a home warranty, insurance product, or service contract and is completely funded by The OCHI Group Inspection Professionals.  If something fails after the inspection and you purchased home warranty, you are advised to file a claim with your home warranty company.

Definitions.

• Deficiency: A defective item, component or system that was not reported (or reported incorrectly) in the inspection report, provided that such item, component or system (a) is within the building’s foundation area, (b) was required to be inspected in accordance with the Designated Standards, (c) was not disclaimed by the inspector either in the inspection agreement, disclaimers or inspection report and (d) is not specifically excluded from coverage in the 90-Day Inspection Guarantee.
• Designated Standards: The standard of practice and care for the inspection designated in our contract, report or marketing materials for full home inspections. It is the client’s responsibility to read the entire SOPs provided via link in our contract or follow this link: https://www.nachi.org/sop.htm
• Residential only: Single family, Condos, Townhomes, Mobile Homes, Manufactured Homes and Multi-family dwellings (4 units or less) are covered. Commercial structures, non-residential structures, out structures and multi-family dwellings over 4 units are excluded from all guarantees.
• Guarantee Period: The period that ends 90 days after the date of the inspection, no exceptions.

OCHI Claims Administrator:  The OCHI claims administrator that manages the claims process for the 90-Day Inspection Guarantee.  There may be multiple administrators dealing with claims.

What’s covered?

Coverage Limit: The 90-Day Inspection Guarantee will pay approved claims for Deficiencies as described below, up to the amount of the home inspection fee, but not to exceed $650 (the “Coverage Limit”). Once the Coverage Limit is exhausted, no further coverage for any discovered Deficiencies will be afforded by the Guarantee.

The coverage amounts per guarantees and systems are:

• Structural & Mechanical Guarantee: Plumbing – $250, Electrical – $250, Built-in Appliances – $250, HVAC – $350, Garage – $150, Structure – $350 – limitations apply to covered items.
• Roof No-Leak Guarantee: $350 per leak occurrence (covers leak repairs only, not replacement of roof areas; limited to visible/accessible roof areas only)
• Mold Free Guarantee: $350 towards treatment or abatement of visible mold not discovered by the Inspector (Note:  this must be visible mold, NOT mold discovered by any sort of deconstruction; wall/ceiling/floor opening, cabinet removal, baseboard removal, etc.  New mold growth is not covered.)

OCHI will make only one payment per system, regardless of the number of Deficiencies in that system. If a claim is approved for Deficiencies in more than one system, OCHI will make a payment for each system (up to the Coverage Limit for the aggregate payment). You may make more than one claim during the Guarantee Period, unless and until a payment has already been made for the applicable system or you have reached the Coverage Limit. For example, if a claim were to be approved for a discovered Deficiency in the HVAC system, OCHI would pay you $350 or the inspection fee (whichever is less), no matter the cost of the repair. If the claim were for more than one Deficiency in the HVAC system, OCHI would still pay $350 (or the inspection fee, if less) for that claim. If one Deficiency were in the roof and another in the structure, the aggregate payment would be the Coverage Limit amount of $650 (or the amount of the inspection fee, if less).

IMPORTANT NOTE:  If the Inspector or Inspection report recommends further evaluation or if a system or component of a system is marked as needing service, then is it up the Claimant to provide physical proof that the advice given by the Inspector or report was followed by the Claimant prior to releasing contingencies.  Further evaluation by a licensed contractor may lead to additional discoveries of defects or deficiencies; note, these further discovered deficiencies are NOT covered by any guarantees.  Furthermore, failure to follow the advice written in the Inspection report will result in immediate denial of the claim.  This is NOT debatable term of these guarantees.  The inspection report is designed to provide you with point in time information and recommendations for further evaluations and service.  Simply and clearly stated:  If you choose not to follow the advice within the report, then you cannot expect to be reimbursed for the inspection fee or any claims against the inspection or guarantees.

How are claims processed?

This is the process for making a claim under the 90-Day Inspection Guarantee:

1. You must submit all claims for alleged Deficiencies before the expiration of the Guarantee Period, which is 90 days from the date of the home inspection.
2. You can submit a claim by calling the office at 714-478-3324 or by following this link: https://ochomeinspect.com/customer-support/
3. You must provide a summary of the alleged Deficiency, including specific identification of the alleged Deficiency and its location in the home. You must be able to demonstrate to OCHI that the alleged Deficiency was required to be inspected and have a professional provide such proof. Your documentation should include photographs of the alleged Deficiency and any reports or other documents prepared by a third-party contractor that addresses the item or system involved.
4. Claims will only be processed after all necessary information has been received by OCHI from the Client.  All required documentation must be received within sixty (60) days (“Documentation Period”) following the submission of the claim. Failing to submit the claim before the end of the Guarantee or failing to provide the required information within the Documentation Period will result in denial of your claim.
5. If a claim is approved for coverage, in order to receive the payment you will be required to execute a release form that releases OCHI and the inspector from all liability. 7. Once you sign and return the release, OCHI will send you a check for the approved claim amount. Please allow 10 days for processing all reimbursement checks.  Inspection fee refunds to credit cards used to pay for the inspection will required 48 hours to process.

Excluded Items:

The 90-Day Inspection Guarantee does not cover the following:

• Commercial properties; multi-family dwellings (over 4 units), Common Areas as defined under California Civil Code Sections 1351 et seq., and any dwelling unit systems or components located in common areas;
• Deficiencies related to items, systems and components that were excluded from the home inspection, as identified in the Designated Standards, the inspection report, inspection disclaimers or the inspection agreement;
• Any item, system or component that was not readily available or not accessible to be inspected by the inspector; (for example, because the item, system or component needed to be operating in order to be inspected and it was shut down or otherwise inoperable at the time of the inspection, or because connecting piping, wiring and/or components were not readily accessible and visible at the time of the inspection);
• Any systems, areas, equipment or components of systems where the Inspector marked the area as having limited access or limited visibility of said system, equipment or component (example 1: tile roofs, second story roofs, high roof areas, wet roofs may receive a limited to no view at all of these areas and must be further evaluated by a licensed roofer for full disclosure)(example 2:  internal areas of heaters, water heaters, gas thermocouple devices, gas leaks of any kind in any location, any and all supply valves, etc. are not viewed or tested during the inspection) claims Deficiencies in these areas will be denied if there is no proof of further evaluation after the home inspection and prior to release of inspection contingencies.
• Any defects or deficiencies found behind the finished wall/ceiling/floor materials that was not readily visible during the inspection. Shower pan leaks, internal wall/ceiling/floor/slab leaks are not covered.  Wiring or wire connections concealed within walls, floors, ceilings or otherwise hidden by items such as insulation, etc. are not covered;
• Any system or component installed or method utilized to control or remove suspected hazardous substances; Public or private waste disposal systems; Stoppage of water regardless of the reason;
• Any consequential or incidental damages; water damage and drywall replacement is NOT covered in any way, shape or form. This includes new mold growth or the discovery of mold within walls, behind baseboards, etc.;
• Any alleged Deficiency that is presented for coverage because it relates to a system or component that is not in compliance with codes, regulations, ordinances and/or manufacturer installation specifications; Simply and clearly stated; The Inspector does not inspect items for building code compliance, municipal codes/requirements and does not verify installation to manufacturer specifications.
• Failure of items, systems or components after the inspection is performed;
• Any claims that do not meet the deadlines for claims processing described above;
• Any additional services such radon tests, mold tests, or any other service provided by the inspector in addition to the home inspection (or any fees for such services).
• Anything caused by natural acts or disasters such as (but not limited to): floods, landslides, excessive or abnormal rain/hail/sleet/snow, excessive or abnormal wind, earthquakes, sinkholes, etc.
• Anything related to Asbestos, Lead based paint, wood destroying organisms (including, mildew, mold, fungus growth, poria, etc.). Mold growth in ventilated spaces (ie. Attics and/or foundation crawlspaces) is not covered.
• Anything caused by recalled equipment or materials affected by any class action lawsuit.

Not an Insurance Policy, Service Contract or Home Warranty and is fully funded by OCHI Services: The intent and purpose of the 90-Day Inspection Guarantee is not to provide insurance coverage of any kind. It is not a contract where one undertakes to indemnify another or pay a specified amount upon determinable contingencies. It is not a contract or agreement by which OCHI or the OCHI Claims Administrator, for consideration or not, promises to pay the Client upon the failure, destruction, loss or injury of something in which the Client has a pecuniary interest, or in consideration of a price paid, adequate to the risk, becomes security to the Client against loss by certain specified risks or to grant indemnity or security against loss for a consideration. Coverage is not predicated on the happening of any fortuitous event, any contemplated future occurrence or event, or any agreement by OCHI or the OCHI Claims Administrator to indemnify the Client against loss or damage to any system or component of the inspected property. The 90-Day Inspection Guarantee is not insurance of the risk that any inspected system or component will remain free from defect for any period of time. Claim Assistance: 1-714-478-3324  or to file a claim online go to https://ochomeinspect.com/customer-support/