Home Inspection is a very vital part in buying and selling a home. Through home inspection, home sellers prepare their homes for sale while home buyers avoid expensive repairs and renovations later on. It is also recommended to have regular home inspections every few years as it also provide homeowners with valuable information on how to maintain their investment and improve their home value. In this article, you will learn all you need to know about standard home inspection and what you should expect from a home inspector.
What Is a Home Inspection?
According to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), Home Inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a house, from the roof to the foundation. It is a limited, non-invasive examination of the various components of the home usually done in respect to the sale of the home. Home inspections are usually performed by trained and certified personnel called home inspectors.
What Does Home Inspection Entail?
During a home inspection, a certified home inspector will examine all components in the home, from the foundation to the roof. These components include:
- Foundation
- Attic Space
- Rain gutters
- Roof
- Electrical panel, power outlets and light switches
- Doors and windows
- Walls, ceilings and floors
- Basement
- Garage
- Driveways and walkways
- Plumbing
- Heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) systems
When Does A Home Inspection Happen?
Home inspection usually happens when the sale of a property is about to take place. In a home sale or purchase, there are two types of home inspections: a seller’s inspection and a buyer’s inspection.
A seller’s inspection (sometimes called pre-listing inspection) happens before the home is listed for sale. Some sellers get their home inspected in order to discover and fix potential issues beforehand as this saves time in the closing process.
A buyer’s inspection occurs after the buyer has made an offer for the property, just before closing the sale. After the home inspection, the buyer may request for a renegotiation or repairs if certain issues were discovered during the inspection.
When Might You Have Your Home Inspected?
There are quite a few instances when you might have your home inspected. One instance is when you are looking to sell your home. The kind of inspection carried out is called prelisting inspection. You can have your home inspected before listing your home for sale. This allows you to discover any potential problem you might have when negotiating with your buyers.
A huge advantage of having your home inspected before listing it for sale is that you can decide whether you want to make repairs before putting it for sale or leave it to the buyers. Having a home inspection before putting your home out for sale will give you greater insight into your home’s condition and an idea of what repair requests your potential buyers will put in.
The other instance when you might choose to have a home inspected is just before you buy a home. It is highly recommended that you enlist the services of a certified home inspector to examine the house before signing paperwork. Home inspection will help you to discover what is wrong with some components in the house, what section needs repair and what areas need renovation. If there are issues found, you can renegotiate with the seller.
Home Inspection Vs Home Appraisal
Home inspection is usually confused with home appraisal. Home appraisal is a process used to determine the estimated market value of a home. Home appraisals are required for mortgage loans. A home inspector only determines the condition of a home while an appraiser determines the value of a property.
Why Do Homebuyers Need a Home Inspection?
Buying a home is considered a huge investment, perhaps the largest one the homebuyer will ever make. In order to minimize unexpected difficulties and unpleasant surprises, it is best practice to learn as much as possible about the house before buying it. Home inspections will help to identify areas that need major repairs, renovations and maintenance.
How Can I Hire a Competent Home Inspector?
As a home buyer, you will need to hire a home inspector. Even if the seller claims that the house has been inspected or offers to share their home inspection report, you will want to arrange your home inspection in order to verify the inspection yourself. Picking the right home inspector is very vital. There are some pointers to consider when hiring a home inspector.
A good place to start is to seek recommendations from friends and colleagues. You can also search the databases of professional associations, such as the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors and the American Society of Home Inspectors. These organizations usually require its members to complete continuing education, pass an examination and honor a code of ethics. You should also check with your local bureau to see if the home inspector has any previous record of complaints.
In your search for a home inspector, look for a company that is insured and bonded. You should also verify that the company only specializes in inspections and not home renovations or repairs. This is because there might be a bias while filing the home inspection reports. In addition, find out what home inspection includes and how long it takes.
It is considered best practice to interview potential home inspectors about their areas of expertise, work experience and training. This could be important if you want to get a property that is uncommon. You should see if you can find a home inspector with experience in the kind of home you wan to buy.
You can ask for references from prior clients to determine if any issues that occurred during inspection were not properly documented. You can also request for samples of prior reports to determine if they are comprehensive reviews or just simple checklists. This way, you will know if you are paying for detailed information or a quick report.
How Much Does It Cost to Carry Out a Home Inspection?
There is no fixed price for a home inspection; it varies from place to place and time to time. Different factors could determine the price of a home inspection; the location, the size of the house to be inspected, how old the house is, the cost of living and other additional but optional services the inspector may be involved in, such as well, septic or radon testing and inspection are few factors that could determine the cost.
However, the price of home inspections should not deter your interest in home inspections as it would prove necessary in the long run. It would be worth paying more for a good and excellent inspection than to go for a lower cost and less qualified one that could prove more expensive later due to future expenses. You could also ask people to provide you with estimates before engaging their services.
Can a Home Ever Fail a Home Inspection?
It is worthy to note that a home cannot pass or fail a home inspection. An home inspector only examines the present condition of the house and documents his findings in a report. When the report has been prepared, it is sent to the party involved and it is up to them to determine the next line of action.
What Happens When Issues Are Discovered During Home Inspection?
When the report is received, your agent will also review the report and make some suggestions based on the findings. The home buyer will work alongside the home seller and the agent to address any issue before the expiration of the agreement deradline. The home seller may want to make necessary repairs or provide credit to the buyers to make the repairs.
You should note that while the inspection report will thoroughly discuss any issue, it will not provide esimates for fixing any issue.
How Long Does It Take To Carry Out a Home Inspection?
The duration of a home inspection depends largely on the size of the house. Generally, home inspection takes at least 3-4 hours.
Depending on the conditions of the home and the scope of the inspection, the home inspector may utilize different pieces of equipment. These equipment could include moisture meters, ladders, ekectrical testers and carbon monoxide detectors. The home inspector may also use a camera to capture pictures of the home to document in his report.
Will A Home Inspector Make Repairs?
A highly trained, certified and reputable will not offer to make any repairs as it is considered a conflict of interest. When looking to hire a home inspector, it is paramount to ensure that the company does not involve itself in other services aside from inspection.
Conclusion
Home Inspection is very vital and necessary in the process of home-buying. It is not recommended to skip home inspection. Homes are integral parts of our lives, and getting a good place to stay is very important. Home inspection assists you with this cause by helping evaluate the state of accessible parts of your house as a buyer or a seller.
As a home seller, do your part to cooperate with the home inspector during the inspection process. Be kind and thoughtful and do not hide any defects. As a home buyer, keep an open mind when it comes to home inspections. Always ask questions on things you are unclear about and do not be afraid to get the answers you deserve.
