From the moment you schedule your inspection with First Look Home Inspections, our goal is to make the process easy to understand from start to finish. As a veteran owned and operated home inspection company serving Rapid City and the surrounding areas, we bring the same discipline and attention to detail to every appointment that shaped our careers in the military.
We follow the Standards of Practice set by InterNACHI, a respected name across the home inspection industry. During your inspection, we walk through every major system in the home, from the roof down to the foundation, and flag anything that needs a closer look.
Once the walkthrough wraps up, we’ll go over the biggest takeaways with you and your real estate agent in plain language, no jargon required. You’ll receive a full report built in Spectora, complete with photos and clear descriptions of everything we covered, so you have a lasting record of the property’s condition long after closing day.
During your inspection, we evaluate the home’s major systems and components, including the roof, foundation, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. Depending on the size of the property, a typical home inspection takes around two to three hours to complete.
Clear access to areas like the attic, crawlspace, electrical panel, and water heater ahead of time. If pets will be home, keep them secured so our inspectors can move through the property safely and thoroughly.
Every home is different, but older properties or homes with mature landscaping often benefit from a sewer scope inspection, and radon testing is worth considering no matter the age of the home since radon levels vary by property, not by construction date. We’re happy to talk through what makes sense for your specific situation before your inspection.
A home inspection isn’t a pass or fail test. It’s an honest look at the current condition of the property, and any concerns we note on the report are there to inform your decision, not to grade the house.
Your report will point out what we found, but the choice of what to repair, replace, or negotiate is entirely yours. We’re here to give you the information. What you do with it, and who you hire to do the work, is always your call.
You can legally skip one in most cases, but doing so means moving forward without knowing what’s really going on behind the walls, under the house, or on the roof. For most buyers, the cost of an inspection is small compared to the cost of an unexpected repair.
We get your report to you quickly once the appointment wraps up, so you’re not left waiting around while other deadlines in your contract keep moving. Sewer scope and radon results are included in the same report whenever those services are part of your visit.
A clear report gives buyers real leverage to negotiate price or ask for repairs, and gives sellers the chance to fix issues ahead of time and stand behind their asking price.
We flag safety concerns like exposed wiring, gas leaks, and carbon monoxide risks so you know about hazards before you're living with them, not after.
When we spot a furnace, water heater, or roof nearing the end of its life, we'll tell you, so you can budget for it instead of getting blindsided a year down the road.
A pre-listing inspection shows buyers you have nothing to hide, which can speed up offers and keep negotiations friendly on both sides.
Knowing exactly what you're buying, right down to the sewer line and radon levels, means fewer surprises after you sign on the dotted line.
Roof coverings, gutters, downspouts, vents, flashing, skylights, chimney, roof penetrations and the general structure of the roof.
Insulation and ventilation of unfinished spaces, including attics, crawl spaces, foundation areas and exhaust systems.
Siding, windows, exterior doors, flashing & trim, walkways, driveways, stairs, patios & decks, and drainage.
Foundation movement, cracks, structural concerns, and indication of water penetration.
Cooling system, location of thermostat, energy source and cooling method.
Heating system, location of thermostat, energy source and heating method.
Visible portions of the fireplace & chimneys, lintels, damper doors, and cleanout doors & frames.
Main water & fuel supply shut-off valves, water heater, interior water supply, toilets, sinks, tubs, showers, drain, waste and vent systems.
Service drop, overhead service conductors, service head & mast, main service disconnect, panelboards, grounding, switches, light fixtures, receptacles deemed to be AFCI & GFCI, and the presence of smoke alarms & carbon monoxide detectors.
Dishwasher, disposal, range, oven, microwave, refrigerator, exhaust, bathroom heater, garage door, doorbell, and dryer vent
Representative number of doors & windows, floors, walls, ceilings, stairs, railings, garage door and openers.
