Having the entire house inspected by an independent third party licensed home inspector for any structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, HVAC and appliances issues is called Home Inspection. It covers the house from roof to basement, everything in between and around the property.
Home Inspection is done for a number of reasons. Most common are listed below.
Buyer’s Home Inspection:
This is the most common reason for having a home inspection done. It usually takes place after the seller has accepted your offer and before closing the deal. The timing for this inspection is extremely important because based on the findings of the inspection, the buyer makes a decision of whether to close, negotiate or walk away entirely from the deal.
On some occasions, based on the findings of the initial home inspection report the buyer and seller agree on repairs or maintenance. In such an event, a follow up inspection is also carried out.
Pre-Sale Home Inspection:
The inspection a seller has before placing the house on market for sale. Pre-sale inspection is almost equally as important because any last minute discoveries delay or in some cases derail a potential sale. Pre-sale home inspection provides the seller with an opportunity to identify the problems beforehand and have them fixed.
Home maintenance Inspection:
Home Maintenance Inspection is like a regular home inspection which is done as a health checkup of the house with no intention of buying or selling. Building experts recommend that homeowners should have a home maintenance inspection done every 3 to 5 years. It helps identify the problems early which can turn into a disaster later on, potentially costing thousands of dollars.
Renovation Inspection
Usually done for older houses before starting renovation in order to determine how much work is required. Most often, when renovation is started before an inspection, it leads to discovery of hidden problems half way through. A Renovation Inspection carried out by an experienced professional will avoid unpleasant surprises and help you plan ahead.
A follow up inspection is sometimes also required to ensure the completion and quality of the work.
Is Home Inspection Same As Home Appraisal?
Home inspection is carried out by a third party licensed Home Inspector and is focused on property and its components. Inspection evaluates the property for structural, mechanical and construction issues that are currently present or can arise in near future.
Home Appraisal is also carried out by a third party professional and it determines the overall condition and market value of the property. Usually an appraisal is ordered by the financial institution or the lender. Appraisal estimates the value of the property based on location, condition and recent sales trend in the area.
What Is Included In a Home Inspection?
Home inspection is inspecting the house from roof to basement and from interior to exterior and all the electrical, mechanical systems or appliances inside it. A common list of what is included is given below.
Structure
Roof
Attic
Ceiling
Basement
Garage
Exterior Walls
Yard
Doors & Windows
Electrical Systems
HVAC
Plumbing
Appliance
What is not included in a home Inspection?
Home inspectors generally do a visual inspection of what they can access and what they can see. If a thorough and detailed report is required specialized professionals can do that for you, such as structural engineers, plumbers, electricians etc. It is important to know that the seller has to agree to additional inspections. List of things that are not included in a regular home inspection is as follows: Kitchen Appliances Security/Alarm Systems Well Systems Environmental Hazards (Radon or Lead) Sheds
Remember, Home Inspectors are generalists. They do not look behind the walls, inside the sewer lines, behind electrical panels or inside chimneys. If a home inspector has a reason to be suspicious about a problem they will recommend you to have a specialist to look at it.
Some home inspectors offer additional services like Radon Testing and Thermal Imaging, such as Skycity home inspections offer Thermal Imaging free of cost with a regular home inspection.
How Long Does A Home Inspection Take?
A straight forward, averaged sized home will take between 2 and 3 hours. The size, age, construction and extra features can add a considerable amount of time. It also depends upon the thoroughness of the inspector.
How Much Home Inspection Costs?
Home Inspection costs somewhere between $250 to $500. The factors that affect the cost of home inspection are:
Type: House, Townhouse, Condo
Age of the house: Old house would cost more than a newer
Size: A big house will cost more
Location: The distance an inspector has to travel also affects the cost
Extra Features: Additional features and systems installed in the house could also impact the cost of inspection.
Who Pays For Home Inspection?
A common practice is that the buyer pays for the home inspection. Some buyers insist that the seller pays for it but real estate experts recommend that the buyer should hire a reputable and experienced inspector to have a complete peace of mind. Click here to read our tips on “How To Hire a Home Inspector?”
Can I Attend The Home Inspection?
Most inspectors won’t mind if a homeowner asks them to follow along. We recommend that you should. You learn more about our home by following the inspector and asking questions than reading the report.
Inspection Report: All you need to know
Home Inspectors document their findings in a report called the Home Inspection Report. The length of the report could be anywhere between 15 to 50 pages. Inspectors take notes and pictures during the inspection and prepare a formal report usually within a few days of the inspection. Often the reports are emailed in pdf format but homeowners/buyers can discuss the delivery of the report with the home inspector.
Based on the findings of the inspection report homeowners/buyers make decisions. AN inspection report will tell a buyer whether to close the deal, negotiate the price, , request repairs, or completely walk away from the deal depending upon the problems discovered. When a seller has an inspection done, the report helps avoid any unpleasant surprises during the sale.
A good home inspection report is complete, thorough, has pictures and explains everything about every component of the house. It concludes with the summary of major findings so that the reader can easily refer to the areas of concern.
If you would like to learn more about inspection reports please read our “Inspection report, how to read and understand it?”
To see a sample report please click “sample report”
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