Whether you require a home inspection because you suspect damage to your home or you are purchasing a new home. A home inspection will highlight flaws in a home, allowing a buyer to decide whether they can live with these problems and determine the extent of damage in your home. A home inspector can be an excellent resource for those interested in learning more about your home. They can teach a buyer or owner how to perform certain systems in your home, give tips on how to fix something inexpensively, and assist you in better planning for the future.
What is Home Inspection and How is it Different from Home Appraisal?
A home inspection is a non-invasive evaluation of a property’s present conditions and inner workings, usually prior to purchase or suspicion of potential damage. Home inspections are usually performed by a professional property inspector who looks for flaws, necessary repairs, and other issues that must be addressed.
A home inspector generally examines plumbing systems, electrical work, the framework of a home, heating and cooling systems, and other issues that may affect the property’s value or could cause further damage. Most of the time a home inspection is frequently confused with a home appraisal.
Home Appraisal on the other hand includes establishing an estimate of the value of a property in order to determine the amount of mortgage debt. Appraisals are performed by mortgage lenders and focus on the total property’s condition in order to ensure that the property is worth what the mortgage lender is going to lend.
Home Inspection Contingency Clause: What’s in it for you?
For any home buyers, real estate contracts usually include a home inspection contingency clause that specifies that the purchase of the home is contingent on a home inspection. This contingency states if a home inspection exposes significant flaws, you may withdraw your purchase offer without penalty within a specified timeframe.
General Home Inspection: Checklist and its Coverage
Inspectors differ in terms of experience, capacity, and attention to detail, but a good inspector must examine specific home components and then write a report outlining their findings. Usually, the inspection should last two to three hours, and you must be present to hear the inspector’s observations firsthand and, if needed, ask questions.
Furthermore, any issues discovered by the inspector will be more understandable if you’re with them in person rather than relying exclusively on the snapshot photos in the report.
The inspector should take note of these 3 key factors:
- Does it have a safety concern, a major flaw, or a minor flaw?
- What items should be replaced and which ones should be repaired or serviced?
- What are the items that are best suited for the time being but should be monitored closely?
An outstanding inspector will tell every homeowner about regular maintenance that should be performed, especially if you’re a first-time home buyer.
Although it is impossible to cover everything that an inspector could look for, we created a home inspection checklist to give you a good idea of what to expect.
Exterior and Structure Inspection Checklist
The inspector will conduct a complete and thorough inspection of the structure’s exterior. Climbing into any crawlspaces beneath the house and using a ladder to access and examine the roof and other items below will be included.
- Exterior Walls
- Foundation
- Grading
- Garage or Carport
- Roof
Interior Inspection Checklist
The inspector will also perform a thorough evaluation of the home’s interior. From the ceiling to the list below;
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
- Water Heater
- Kitchen Appliances
- Laundry Room
- Fire Safety
- Bathrooms
What’s not included in Home Inspection?
While home inspections cover many areas of our home, there are certain areas that are typically not covered by a general home inspection. Home inspectors do not particularly check for pest damage, mold, site contamination, asbestos, and other specialized issues. If you have any concerns about these areas and your home inspector has reason to worry about them, they will most likely warn you and recommend for you to hire a home inspection specialist to investigate and properly address these concerns.
How much will it cost to do a home inspection?
The cost of hiring a home inspector ranges from $300 to $500, depending on the size of the property.
Moreover, if the general inspection results in the need for more specialized inspectors, that figure can skyrocket. So, better to inquire and plan ahead of time.
In Conclusion:
Home inspections will cost you time and money, but it’s important to remember that you should never, ever waive a home inspection and why you need it.
For homeowners who suspect their homes have been damaged. An inspection will be critical, and the results will help you decide what steps to take next.
For property buyers. A home inspection can help you find problems with the property before closing the deal. This gives you the opportunity to decide whether you still want to buy the house. You can ask the seller to consider taking care of the issues first, or you can negotiate for a price decrease to handle the problems yourself, or if the property has a lot of issues, you can back away from the deal.
It’s always not a bad idea to fully understand the purpose, guide, and steps in a home inspection; it’s the key that you can use to your advantage.