Congratulations you have put an offer on the home of your dreams! Now you need to get a home inspection. What does that entail and why do you need a home inspection before buying your home? I’m so glad you asked! A home inspection is the first step in negotiating to get the best of your new home as possible. Your awesome real estate agent will be there to assist you and will use the home inspection reports findings to know how to proceed. A home inspection will also help you know more about your new home and give you a clear picture of the condition of your home. Giving you peace of mind to navigate this home buying like a boss!
What does a home inspection look like?
You can view a sample report on most home inspectors’ websites.
What is inspected?
- Exterior
- Interior
- Foundation
- Roof
- Attic
- Window and Doors
- Plumbing
- Electrical system
- HVAC systems
- Fireplace
- Crawlspace or Basement(if one is present)
What is not inspected in a normal home inspection? The following are a few things:
- Courtyard walls
- Inside walls
- Landscaping
- Play equipment
- Fountains
- Irrigation systems
- Mold
- Radon
- Sewer lines
- Pools/spas
- Termites
Add on services?
Some home inspectors will charge an extra fee for these items if they include them as part of their services.
- Mold inspection
- Radon testing
- Termite inspection
- Sewer line inspection
- Four point inspection
- Wind meditation
- Pool/spa inspection
- Irrigation system inspection
Do I need a home inspection? What is its purpose?
You’ve taken the first step and are doing your research. Let’s be honest buying a home is a big decision and we want you to walk in with your eyes open and the lights on! Home inspectors are there to help you do just that. You have a team of professionals and the home inspector is an important member of that team! It is the inspectors job to help you understand your home. That way you can make the decisions based on what they find. Home inspectors are sometimes put into the negative light because they let you, the home buyer know the defective items or items that need maintenance. That is a good thing! They are there to make sure you have peace of mind walking into your new home. No home is perfect but, your home inspector helps you know how to handle those situations and which professionals can help you along the way!
How much does a home inspection cost?
If you do a quick search on the internet it will tell you it is between $350-$400 for a home inspection. This can be misleading as most home inspections may be more depending on the homes age, size and if you need add on inspections such as mold or wind mitigation. Calling home inspection companies and getting quotes is the best way to find out what they offer and what inspection types they perform.
You can’t put a price on yours and your family’s safety.
How long will the inspection take?
A home inspection takes 2.5-3 hours depending on the home. It could be longer when adding other inspection types or if it is an older or larger home. Your inspector will be going through the home inspecting all the accessible and available systems in the home. They will be taking pictures and reporting on their findings. Once the inspection is completed the inspector will give a review of their findings and then will email the full report.
Conclusion:
A home inspector is a highly trained professional and will give you his expert advice on the condition of the home at time of inspection. Their reports will help you decide what to ask your realtor to negotiate and how to move forward in the transaction.