Home Inspection Overview

Q. What is a home inspection?
    A. home inspection is a visual inspection of the structure and components of a home to find items that are not performing correctly or items that are unsafe. If a problem or a symptom of a problem is found the home inspector will include a description of the problem in a written report and may recommend further evaluation


Q. Who needs a home inspection?
     A. Buyers and sellers. If you're buying a home, pre-owned or new, an inspection tells you the condition of the property. That way, there are no surprises after you close on the home.

If you purchased a new home and it still has a warranty from the builder, it's a good idea to have a home inspection before it expires. It's a rare case that even a new home doesn't have some problems that were overlooked by the builder. Those repairs or corrections can easily exceed the cost of an inspection. If you catch them prior to warranty expiration, your warranty should cover them.

Sellers benefit by knowing the condition of their home before they place it on the market. Then, any needed repairs can be made prior to listing. A seller's inspection can also be used as a comparison to what the buyer's inspector finds.

    A. Anywhere from two to four hours depending on the condition of the property, is depends on the number of services you've requested and the size of the home. It takes time to perform a thorough inspection of the entire property and to pay attention to the details.


    A. You could receive your report in a few different ways. Usually  via e-mail as a .pdf file which you can read on screen or print, on site, or hand delivered. Usually the inspector provides digital photos of any areas that need extra clarification and  includes them in the report. Every item inspected on the property should be  addressed in the report.

    A. Yes. Your Realtor can assist you in determining if any items in the report are significant enough to warrant re-negotiation with the seller. Having your Realtor review the report also insures that you both are "on the same page" at the closing.

    A.Yes, it's encouraged that you to plan to attend the entire inspection. There are always items in the inspection that can best be explained on-site. They will be included  in the report of course, but your presence at the property always makes it easier for you to understand important information about the property.

    A. Absolutely. A professional inspection of a new home is important. That way a inspector can spot potential problems early, while they are still easy to correct. It’s especially valuable to arrange an inspection before the interior walls are finished. They may find problem areas where the builder has taken shortcuts or not done quality work.


Q. Why can’t I do the inspection myself?   
   A. Chances are that even if you are very familiar with home construction, you still don’t have the knowledge, training and experience of a Certified Home Inspector. Not only should the inspector be familiar with all the systems of a home-and how they work and need to be maintained-but  they also know what to look for to determine if they're about to fail. Also consider this-when you are involved in buying or selling a house, it’s impossible for you to remain completely unemotional about the house, and this may cloud your judgment. They provide an objective, unbiased view of the property.

    A. No. The code of ethics of a reputable organization or state licensing should prohibit its members from soliciting repair work on properties they inspect. This assures that there will never be any conflict of interest on the part of the inspector.