Home Inspection: What you should expect

Taking the leap and buying a house is simultaneously exciting and terrifying. Of course, you dream of turning the house into your home, a place where you make memories. 

But buying a house can be nerve-wracking and overwhelming too. It is filled with unknowns. If the house is not brand new, what are the things that might go wrong? What could break or need expensive repair?

One important thing you can do as a home buyer is to protect yourself by getting a home inspection done before the sale is final. This provides you with useful information from a professional who used to studying the secrets of a house. 

Read on to learn about the value of getting a home inspection before the home becomes yours. 

What is a Home Inspection?

You might think you’ve found the perfect home but have you? This is what a home inspection will help you to decide. A home inspection is when you hire a professional to come into the home to look it over from the foundation to the roof and basically everything in between. 

Look to hire a professional home inspector who is a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). This means you will find someone who is not only trained but will uphold professional ethics through the inspection process. 

What Is and Is Not Covered With Home Inspection

A quality home inspector is going to go over the house with a careful eye and great detail. Remember though, even the most trained professional can’t see everything. They can’t tell the things that might be hidden from view. 

What will they look at? Most inspections include a look at:

• Heating system
• Central air conditioning system
• Interior plumbing
• Electrical systems
• The roof, attic, and visible insulation
• Walls, ceilings, floors, windows, and doors
• Foundation, basement and structural components

You should not expect a home inspector to tell you if the house is a smart or bad buy. They should not tell you buy this house or don’t buy it. They can tell you things about the house that can help you decide whether it is the right fit for you. 

The information they provide can help you to understand potential problems. They can also tell you about potential repairs that might be needed in the future. 

Home Inspection Report

It is a great idea if you can be present during the home inspection. The inspector is likely to share useful information with you while they work their way through the house. 

Once they are done, you can also expect a detailed report. This report will have a checklist of items the inspector looked at. They will provide information about the condition, usually noting if the inspected area is in good, fair or poor condition. 

The best reports provide summaries of what the inspector has found. They can also provide estimates for the life remaining on components of the house like a roof or furnace, for example. 

Don’t be afraid, when hiring a home inspector to ask what kind of report you will get upon completion of their inspection and what the report will include. 

Home Inspection Value

Both buyers and sellers benefit from the home inspection. It is a useful part of the home buying experience to provide all involved with important information. 

It doesn’t mean you won’t buy the house (or sell it), it means you know more about what you are about to buy and from an expert. 

To learn more about topics related to buying and selling your home, visit our Real Estate tab today.