Frequently asked questions
Common questions
Is there a monthly fee?
For realtors and builders, yes — $10/month Platform Access lets you submit and track cases and reach your case team. Homeowners don’t subscribe; you pay the assigned engineering firm directly for PE Screening or a Full Engineering Letter, only when you need engineering work done. Each engineering letter is priced and billed separately based on complexity.
Do I actually need a structural engineer?
Often the honest answer is no. A home inspector flagging a crack isn’t the same as a structural problem, and a licensed engineer is the person qualified to tell you which one you have. Our screening service exists specifically to answer this question without committing you to a full evaluation.
Is this crack cosmetic or serious?
That determination requires a licensed engineer looking at the specific condition in context — the whole load path, not one photo. That’s what the service does. Nothing on this website should be read as an assessment of your particular situation.
Can an engineer really evaluate this from photos and video?
Sometimes. Sometimes not. That’s the engineer’s call, made case by case after seeing the evidence — not a promise we make in advance. If remote review isn’t appropriate for your situation, the engineer will say so and we’ll arrange a live video walkthrough or a site visit.
What if I need a site visit?
The engineer decides that after reviewing your submission. Where we have technician coverage, site visit cases run 3–5 business days, or 2 with rush service when a technician is available. Outside that coverage we’ll quote it case by case and tell you before you pay anything toward it.
Will a lender or building department accept this?
The deliverable is a letter or report signed by a licensed Professional Engineer, sealed when the engineer determines a seal is appropriate for the purpose. Requirements vary by lender and jurisdiction — tell us at intake who needs to accept it, so the engineer can scope it accordingly.
How much does it cost?
Realtors and builders pay a $10/month platform subscription, plus per-case pricing (see Pricing) once they submit. Homeowners don’t subscribe — you pay the assigned engineering firm directly for PE Screening or a Full Engineering Letter, priced by complexity. Screening and full evaluations are priced separately. You approve a scoped quote before any full evaluation work begins.
Do I need to subscribe before I submit a case?
Realtors and builders do — Platform Access is a $10/month Instant Engineer account, sold only to realtors and builders, required to submit and track cases. It carries a 12-month minimum: $120 if billed monthly, or $100 if paid a year up front (two months free). Canceling after one case does not end the year — the 12-month commitment continues. It’s billed by Instant Engineer directly and is separate from your case’s intake fee and any engineering fee. Homeowners don’t see or buy this subscription at all — you start a case and pay the assigned engineering firm directly for PE Screening and Full Engineering Letters.
Who pays — the agent or the client?
Almost always the client. An agent can initiate and follow a case; the payment link goes to whoever is responsible for the cost.
Do you do the repairs too?
No. We have no financial interest in any repair. That independence is the point.
Where do you work?
Remote engineering review across all of North Carolina and Georgia. Site visits where we have technician coverage — check your county on the Where We Work page. We’re expanding coverage continuously.
Is AI writing my engineering report?
No. AI organizes evidence, extracts findings from inspection reports, and drafts sections. A licensed Professional Engineer determines every conclusion, edits the document, and signs it. The software will not release anything to you without that approval.
Who am I actually hiring?
An independent licensed engineering firm. Instant Engineer is the platform that organizes your evidence, coordinates the work, and keeps you informed — we are not an engineering firm. Your letter is issued by the engineer’s firm, on their letterhead, under their seal, and their professional liability coverage stands behind it.