WHAT IS A GENERAL HOME INSPECTION?
Resource After The Inspection You should always have the home inspected before you sign closing papers. Also, ask the sellers Protection for the Seller A home inspection is not a form of an appraisal and does not determine the value of a home. A home inspection is not an alternative for a code inspection. A code inspection verifies that a
A home inspection is a visual inspection of a structure, made by a qualified professional. The
inspector should be trained and have experience in evaluating all the component features in a
house, and be able to give a clear and accurate picture of the condition of these components.
A home inspection should have a distinct two-prong focus. First, the primary goal is to clearly
identify any potential significant defect that will affect your buying/selling decision, and give you
a realistic approximation of repair costs. The second goal is to clearly identify any areas may
need repairing soon, or any components that are reaching the end of their useful life span. Even
though it is secondary, this area provides very useful information that you will need when setting
up a maintenance budget.
A home inspection is separated into three areas:
The Home Inspection
This is when you meet your home inspector and the actual evaluation of the property takes place.
The inspection of a typical home usually takes between one and a half to three hours. It is often
helpful to attend your home inspection so the inspector can explain issues in person and answer
any questions you may have.
The Report & Summary
You will be given the inspection report and summary after the inspection. The condition of the
house will be summarized for you, and any significant defects and repair costs are brought to
your attention.
An inspector should be available to you by phone after the inspection, to clarify or answer any
questions you may have about the inspection and report. If you want a home visit however,
expect a fee to be involved.
HOW CAN A HOME INSPECTION PROTECT ME?
Protection for the Buyer
When preparing to buy a home, a professional home inspection provides you with the knowledge
needed to save money when closing on the home, or the knowledge needed to back away from
the buy. As a buyer, understanding the minor deficiencies and maintenance items of the home
helps you negotiate the price down. It also help you to budget for the maintenance of the home.
Understanding the major deficiencies of the home helps you to negotiate the price to offset the
cost of the major repairs. Some major deficiencies may be justification to back away from the
purchase. In either of these situations the cost of the inspection is minimal compared to the
savings made possible by better knowledge of the home.
to add an inspection contingency to your contract.
As a home owner preparing to sell, you should have your home inspected so you can fully
disclose everything to your buyer. A professional home inspection can provide you with the
knowledge needed to save you money when closing on the sale.
Being aware of the minor deficiencies of the home gives you the option to make the repairs
necessary to maintain the asking price. If major deficiencies are present it is best to know about
them before the buyers’ inspector finds them. Knowing before you put the house on the market
allows you to fix the problem and avoid lowering your asking price by an over inflated amount.
Most buyers’ will want the home inspected, and may even ask for a inspection contingency in the
contract. Already having an inspection report handy may help reduce the time until closing.
WHAT NOT TO EXPECT FROM A HOME INSPECTION
While a home inspection is helpful in determining minor or major repairs to a home, it is not a
protection against future failures. Home inspectors document the condition of a home at the time
it is inspected. Items like air conditioners, heating systems and water heaters can break at any
time. For protection against items failing in the future, sellers and buyers should consider
purchasing a home warranty.
Only a certified residential appraiser can legally appraise a property. A home inspector should
never tell you what price to sell or pay for a home.
structure complies with local building codes. You can request a code inspection from your local
government’s building department. Older homes are not obligated to comply with current code
revisions, although inspectors should report items not under code that present obvious safety
concerns.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Should I attend my home inspection?
It is often helpful to attend your home inspection so the inspector can explain issues in person
and answer any questions you may have. You can be present during the entire inspection, or be
available towards the end so the inspector can give you a verbal report before providing you with
the written report.
How long will the inspection take?
A general home inspection may take as few as one and a half hours, but can take up to four
hours. Any inspection of out buildings will take additional time.
An energy audit initial inspection can take between three to eight hours, depending on several
factors. The final assessment for the energy audit takes considerably less time.