Home Inspection
As a salesperson, you want to know what the inspectors will be looking for so that you can prepare for their visit and help everyone go as smoothly as possible. Choose an inspector as early as possible in the home purchase process so that the inspection can be arranged immediately after the seller accepts your offer. Good surveyors are in great demand, especially in the spring when more homes are sold.
You can find an inspector who can perform general house inspections and one or more special inspections, but please make sure that they have the experience and certificates (if applicable) to perform these inspections. The experience, ability, and completeness of inspectors vary, but a good inspector should inspect some components of the household, and then prepare a report containing their findings.
A home inspection is an opportunity to hire an expert to walk you through the house and prepare a report outlining the main components of the home, their current condition, what needs immediate attention and what will need service after you move. If this is your first time buying a home, an inspection can give you a crash course in home maintenance and a list of items that need attention to keep your home as safe and sound as possible. If a homeowner plans to sell their home, a home inspection may give them the opportunity to make repairs that will improve the selling condition of the home. Some sellers choose to inspect their home as they start getting their home ready for the sale so they can fix any issues early and save time in the closing process.
The results of the review can help you decide whether to continue with the purchase or use them as a tool to negotiate with the seller. Knowing what your check covers (and not) can help you navigate the next steps.
For example, if you are thinking of renovating or looking for an old home, you will need an inspector who is familiar with historic homes. You need someone who can give you a complete and honest assessment of your physical condition at home.
Even if the seller offers to share a home inspection report or claims that the home has been pre-inspected, we recommend that you arrange for your own inspection so you can check it yourself. Pest inspectors, unlike inspectors general, traditionally agree to work at the facilities they inspect, so they have a vested interest in finding problems.)
An inspector will check that basic appliances are working, inspect heating and air conditioning systems, inspect plumbing and electrical systems, and may even inspect the attic and basement. The inspector will also carry out a thorough inspection of the interior of the house. Expect this to take at least a couple of hours as an inspector must inspect every part of the house, go up to the roof and check the HVAC system, every electrical outlet, and plumbing.
Accompany the inspector during the exam so you can learn more about home maintenance, ask questions, and get a real sense of which problems are serious and which are relatively minor. More importantly, the inspector will provide an unbiased view of the condition of the home, regardless of the emotional roller coaster you were on during the home buying process. The inspector may think or two about the safety issues of the children in the home, but again, this depends on the experience and knowledge of the inspectors. If the home inspector receives money from someone else or does not receive a salary until closing time, the home inspector may underestimate any problems with the home.
You can ask the seller to make repairs or negotiate a price to accommodate these issues. The seller can agree to a price cut if you do buy the house in its current condition.
Checking the physical condition of the home is an important part of the home buying process and should be included in the purchase agreement as a condition of the transaction. Hire a general contractor or home inspector to inspect all major home systems from top to bottom, including roof, plumbing, electrical and heating systems, foundations, and sewers.
This will take two to three hours and may cost you $300 or more, depending on location, size, age, and type of house. You will most likely arrange an inspection immediately after signing the purchase agreement so that the inspector has enough time to enter the house and submit the report before the deadline. If you can negotiate with the seller for an overhaul and eventually move in, the inspection report can help you make initial repairs to the house.
While all of the inspectors' findings will still be on the report, taking a direct look at the structural or electrical problems in the home will help you determine how serious they are and whether they should be passed on to the salesperson. Doing your homework ahead of time will help you ask detailed questions about the home inspection report so that you understand what condition the home is in and what problems need to be addressed. Each home inspection identifies problems with the property, and the inspector reports the severity of the problems found.
Through the home inspection process, buyers will better understand their future home and allow them to make confident decisions. Many home buyers find that talking to inspectors helps them better understand the condition of the house and how to maintain it. The house inspector describes the condition of the house during the inspection, but does not guarantee the future condition, performance or life expectancy of the system or component. The standard report of the house inspector covers the condition of the house heating system; central air-conditioning system (if temperature permits); internal plumbing; electronic systems; roof, attic and external insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors; and foundations, foundations and Structural components.
While it is impossible to list everything that a surveyor can check, the following home inspection checklist for buyers should give you a general idea of what to expect. You can also test various systems in your home, including plumbing and HVAC. Thermal inspection using an infrared camera can provide inspectors with information on energy losses in a home, heat rise / loss through external walls and roofs, moisture leaks, and abnormal electrical system conditions that are usually not visible to the naked eye.
Some inspectors offer a radon test as an adjunct; some will recommend an asbestos testing service if your home is in danger. The inspector sometimes checks the kitchen appliances that come with the home to make sure they work, but this is not always part of the check. If you think you want to keep them, be sure to ask which ones were missed so you can check them out for yourself.
During this time, the inspector will take notes and photographs and, if you add tags, comment on what they see. The inspector prepares and provides the client with a written report of the results. Buyer inspection takes place after the buyer has placed a bid on the house, but before the sale is closed.