Home Inspections

One of the most expensive and important purchases you will ever make will be your home. Unfortunately, unlike the guarantee a buyer receives with most purchases, there is no money-back guarantee or return policy if you’re not satisfied with your recently purchased home. Once you have full possession of your home, it’s your responsibility to maintain it, repair it, anticipate problems, and pay the bills. Therefore, it’s best to know as much as you can about potential problems before you make the commitment to buy.

What do home and property inspections do?

Hiring a professional home inspector is one of the best ways to understand a home’s condition, habitability and safety.  A properly trained home inspector will examine your home as a system, looking at how one component of the house might affect the operability or lifespan of another. Home inspectors will go through the property and perform a comprehensive visual inspection to assess the condition of the house and all of its systems. Any components that are not performing properly, have an overdue lifespan, or are unsafe will be verified. They will also identify areas where repairs may be needed or where there may have been problems in the past. Home inspections are intended to provide the client with a better understanding of property conditions; as observed during the inspection.

On average, a pre-purchase inspection for a home which is 1800-2200 sq. ft. can take about three hours and costs under $500. Following the inspection, the buyer is presented with a written report, confirming the details of the inspection. The home inspector should be willing to answer any questions a buyer might have to clarify the limitations of the inspection and to avoid any misunderstandings. It is recommended for potential home buyers to accompany the inspector during the inspection as it can be a valuable learning experience.

Check in next week for information regarding the scope of a home inspection!