Home Inspection: What to expect in the home inspection process

So you have found a home, got it under contract, and now it’s inspection time. If you have an inspector in mind that you would like to use – great! If not, we can refer you to several home inspectors that we recommend.

What exactly is a Home Inspection?

• The purpose of a home inspection is to have a professional look at the house and identify any potential issues or major problems in the home that can be seen. We recommend that you follow the inspector (if they are ok with it) around the house and ask questions about the working components of the house. If you are a first time home buyer, you should definitely do this. This is the perfect opportunity to get educated about maintaining your investment.
• In addition to the home inspection, we recommend that our buyers have the sewer line scoped, and a radon test performed. Your home inspector can schedule these to coincide with the home inspection for your convenience.

What is the inspection process?

• A home inspector will conduct a visual inspection of the home. Although they can’t see into walls or under floors, they will make recommendations on items they can see. It may be necessary to conduct further inspections if they suspect an issue with the house. For example, if they suspect foundation issues because of a crack in the basement wall, they would recommend further evaluation by a structural engineer.
• The inspection process generally takes between 2-3 hours depending on the size and age of the home.
• At the end of the inspection, your inspector will email you a report that flags any issues found along with photos of the problem. The items are usually marked in the order of importance: acceptable, marginal, or deficient.  

What if we find something wrong with the home?

• We will go through the list of items with you to determine what needs to be fixed by the seller and what you are willing to undertake after possession.
• This is NOT the time to nickel and dime the seller and to ask for cosmetic fixes or nit-picky items like a broken screen. Most home purchases are for a used home. It is important to remember that it won’t be perfect.  
• Sometimes a home inspection does uncover something major with the house. For example, A roof that needs replacing.  At this point, you have options. You can ask the seller to fix it. Take a look at your budget and see if you are willing to undertake it. Opt to renegotiate the purchase price. Last resort would be to walk away if an agreement cannot be reached between you and the seller. We will guide you and negotiate on your behalf. It is a rare occasion when an agreement can’t be reached.

A Home Inspection is a critical part of the home buying process whether you are a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned pro. We will be there to advise you every step of the way.