Understanding Home Inspections – Your Complete Guide
As a prospective home buyer, a home inspection is one of the most important parts of the entire process of buying a house. A home inspection allows you to confirm the overall structural integrity, quality, and functionality of the home you’re interested in buying, and get an objective perspective of its overall value.
However, many people – particularly first-time home buyers – do not understand what home inspections actually are, or what is done during a home inspection. In this article, we’ll give you a complete overview of the process, and answer some of the most frequently-asked-questions about home inspections.
What Is A Home Inspection? A Home Inspection Checklist
A home inspection is a complete, objective, visual examination of the overall physical structures and systems of a house, from the roof to the foundation, and the surrounding landscape.
Home inspections are conducted to verify the quality and integrity of the home – and point out potential trouble areas that a new homeowner may have to think about after they purchase a home, or significant structural failures.
A home inspection usually consists of the examination of:
- Foundation – The foundation is checked for integrity, and to make sure that it is free of cracks and damage.
- Lot – The lot is checked to ensure adequate drainage and grading. Quality of walkways/driveways may also be assessed.
- Exterior – Exterior components such as siding, windows, storm windows, doors, and screen doors, and other such components are checked for quality and integrity.
- Roof and attic – The roof and attic are checked to ensure proper insulation, ventilation, and that they are free of leaks.
- Interior – The interior is checked for damage, and interior elements like light fixtures, outlets, switches, doors, and others will be checked for functionality.
- Basement – The basement is checked for water damage, and issues like any mold or leaks that are present may be noted. The gas and plumbing lines may also be examined.
- Plumbing – Basic functionality of plumbing systems will be checked, such as ensuring the operation of all sinks, toilets, taps, and showers, and adequate hot/cold water and water pressure.
- Electrical – Basic electrical elements such as the fuse box, as well as outlets and switches will be examined for any potential faults or code issues.
- Major appliances – Large appliances such as freezers, refrigerators, dishwashers, washers and dryers, and all other such appliances may be examined and tested.
- HVAC systems – A basic inspection of the furnace and air conditioning will be performed, with notes taken about the general condition and age of these systems.
Your home inspection may vary somewhat – and you may have the option for additional inspections for things like mold and radon – but this is a good overview of the general home inspection process
Why Do I Need A Home Inspection?
Simply, because the overall condition of a home is not always apparent with a cursory check and examination. Even a home that looks like it is in great shape can be hiding serious structural faults, or damage that may not be apparent to someone who is not a professional home inspector.
Buying a home is typically the largest single investment that you will ever make. Home inspections are a good chance to ensure that a prospective home is up to code, and does not need significant upgrades or renovations in order to be safe and comfortable.
After the home inspection, you will know just about everything you need to know about the condition of the house. This allows you to make a buying decision with confidence – and could even allow you to negotiate a lower price for the home, should any major issues be found.
In addition, a home inspection clause is usually part of the closing process in any home sale. If any serious flaws or oversights are found by a home oversight, the buyer is typically able to “back out” of the sale without having to pay any fees or penalties – so if serious problems are found, you usually do not have to commit to the purchase of the home.
When Do I Need To Call A Home Inspector?
Usually, home inspectors are hired immediately after you have signed a contract or a purchase agreement for the home that you’re buying. However, you need to make sure that there is a home inspection clause as part of the contract. As mentioned above, this clause ensures that your final purchase of the home is contingent on the findings of the professional home inspection – so you can choose to renegotiate the price or back out of the sale, should serious issues be found.
What Should I Do If An Inspection Reveals Problems?
First, don’t panic! Unless the home you’re buying has been built within the last couple of years, it’s almost certainly going to have a few problems. These are typically minor – an aging HVAC system, a roof that may need replacing in the near future, or minor problems with exterior elements like windows, shutters, or other things that tend to wear out over time.
If your home inspection reveals problems with the house, this doesn’t mean that you should – or shouldn’t – buy the house. It only means that you’ll know in advance what to expect from the house.
For example, you may reconsider buying a home if it has some more serious issues, and you have a very tight budget. But, on the other hand, you may be able to get the current owner to make those repairs before you buy the house, or they could agree to lower the price, based on the home inspector’s findings.
Take a deep breath, and talk to your home inspector. How serious are the issues? How much do they typically cost to repair? What should your next step be? A good home inspector can help you answer these questions, and make the proper decision.
Can A House “Fail” Inspection?
No. There is no such thing as a “pass” or “fail” when it comes to home inspections. A home inspection is a professional, objective view of the home’s overall condition. It’s not an appraisal, which is typically done by a bank to determine the market value of a home. It is also not a municipal inspection, which ensures compliance with local municipal building codes.
Because of this, there is no such thing as a “fail” for home inspections, and the inspector will also not give you an estimate for the overall value of the home – just estimates about how much the repairs may cost, and how serious these problems are.
Do I Have To Be There For A Home Inspection?
Not necessarily. You can simply hire a home inspector to perform an inspection without being present, and some home buyers do this if they are very short on time, and cannot make it to the inspection.
However, we don’t recommend doing this. A home inspection can be a very educational process for a new homeowner, and it will allow you to familiarize yourself with the major systems in the home that you’re interested in buying. In most cases, home inspectors will allow you to follow them along during the process, and they can answer any questions you have about their findings.
This lets you get an inside look at the condition of the home, its condition, and the maintenance that you will likely have to do in the near-future.
How Much Does A Home Inspection Cost?
See our pricing page or request a quote.
What Extra Services Aren’t Included With A Home Inspection?
Some home inspectors may offer additional services, which exceed the scope of a typical home inspection, for an extra charge. Others may not offer these services at all, and refer you to a specialized third-party company.
In most cases, the following services are not included with a home inspection.
- Mold – If you or the home inspector notices black mold during the inspection, a full-scale mold test may be required.
- Radon – Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas which can cause lung cancer.
- Termites – This may be recommended if your home inspector sees tell-tale signs of a termite infestation.
- Asbestos – Asbestos examinations are usually only required for homes built before 1989.
- Lead – Lead was commonly used in both paint and pipes in homes built before 1978. Typically, a lead examination is recommended for these older homes, unless there is documentation proving that lead was not used in the home, or was already removed previously.
- Septic/sewer – Home inspectors do not conduct sewer and septic tank examinations. It’s recommended that you have these systems checked by a plumbing professional, as replacing pipes and septic tanks can be extremely expensive.
In general, your home inspector should be able to help you understand which of these additional services you require. You may not need all of them – but in most cases, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Can I Do A Home Inspection Myself?
No. Even if you are an experienced homeowner, you simply do not have the professional expertise or training of a home inspector. Home inspectors are familiar with all aspects of:
- Home construction
- Proper installation
- Maintenance
- Home safety
- Local code compliance
In addition, it may be very hard for you to stay objective when examining a home you really want to purchase. You may ignore warning signs or minor problems – which can result in serious problems later on.
All in all, this means that a professional home inspector is much more suited to inspecting a home than you are.
It may seem tempting to not hire an inspector to save some money – but the few hundred you save on a home inspection can save you thousands, if it turns out your home has serious structural issues after you have already finalized the purchase.
Hire A Home Inspector – Invest In Your Future!
As you can see, a home inspector has a very important job. Your home inspector is on your side – and their job is to make sure that you understand every aspect of the condition of the home you’re interested in buying.
This helps you avoid making a bad investment – and ensures that you know everything there is to know about the condition of the house before you buy it. So make sure to hire a professional home inspector. You’ll have peace of mind, knowing that there are no nasty, hidden surprises lurking within your home.
