A house is more than what it looks like on the outside. It has a lot of complicated parts, like structural framing, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, and physical parts. When looking at a house to buy, you might be able to live with a few small cosmetic fixes, but you need to make sure everything else is in good shape. This is why it is important and helpful to have a thorough home inspection.

What Does A Home Inspection Mean?

A professional does a pre-purchase home inspection, which is a visual check of the easily accessible parts of a home to get a good idea of its condition at the time of the inspection. Home inspections are meant to find problems with the house that could make it unsafe, make it hard to live in, or lower its resale value. They are not meant to show flaws on the outside. The buyer gets a full report of the evaluation so that they know everything about the home’s condition before they buy it.

1. How Do I Choose A Company To Inspect My Home?

Investing in the right home is a smart way to plan for your future. To choose the right home inspection company, you should look at how long the inspector has been in the business. Ask people you know, people you work with, and your real estate agent for suggestions. You can also look in the phone book or online. A qualified home inspector knows how homes are built and how they work. He or she also knows a lot about real estate in general and is a member of reputable home inspection groups like the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).

Tip: Key Things To Look For In A Professional Home Inspector

• How much experience the inspector has. How long have they been in business, and how many checks do they do every year?
• Being the only one. Choose a person who does nothing but home inspections.
• Contractors who do house inspections “on the side” should be avoided.
• Reporting. Find out if the report will be written, read out loud, or both.
• Certifications. Are they certified by the ASHI?
• Insurance. Does the inspector have insurance to cover the mistakes that they make? This can help protect you in case the inspector misses something.

1. How Much Does It Cost To Have A Home Inspected?

A home inspection can cost anywhere from $200 to $500, depending on where the house is, who does it, how big it is, and what kind of report is made. Before you choose an inspector, it’s a good idea to get bids from several of them.

Q: How Soon Should I Have The House Checked Out?

As soon as you can, finish your home inspection. Usually, it happens seven to fourteen days after the contract has been accepted. You should have started looking for a home inspector before now, though. If you look for an inspector after making an offer on the house, you might not be able to find a good one, or you might miss the deadline for the inspection.

Q: Do I Need To Be There For The Inspection?

Yes. This inspection will give you a better idea of how good or bad the house is. It’s best to plan it for when it’s light outside. And you are encouraged to ask questions. This way, you’ll know everything there is to know about the house and feel good about your choices. Also, make sure that your home inspection report has both a written report and a list of things to check. A checklist on its own might not give you all the information you need or be too vague.

1. What Happens If My Inspection Report Shows Problems I Didn’t Know About, But I Still Want To Buy The House? What Do I Need To Do?

Find out first how much fixing the problems will cost. Compare the good things to the bad things. If you have time, you could talk to some licensed contractors about how much it would cost to fix the house.

Then you can choose between a few things to do. You could talk to the seller about getting rid of the inspection condition if they pay for it and make the specific repairs that were estimated. In the past, the seller has always been responsible for some problems, like structural issues and termite infestations. You can also offer to fix the problems yourself in exchange for a lower contract price.

Lastly, you can suggest that you and the seller split the cost of repairs. Just keep in mind that every deal is different and can be negotiated and that a lot depends on how the real estate market is doing at the time.

1. What Should Be Part Of A Professional Home Inspection?

Your professional home inspection should look at:

• The structure and foundation
• The general construction
• The plumbing
• The electricity
• The heating and cooling system
• The roof
• The windows and doors
• The kitchen and bathroom
• The appliances
• The interior walls and ceiling
• The air conditioning
• The basement
• Ventilation and drainage
• The gutters and downspouts
• The garages and carports
• The patios and decks
• The walks and driveways
• The lawn sprinklers
• The pools and spas