You’ve gone through the house-hunting process, spending countless hours poring over listings, and have probably numerous trips to see different properties. And now you’ve finally found what seems to be the right home for you. But to make sure that this truly the right step for you, it’s time to do the due diligence and get a professional home inspection. Whether you’ve gone through this process before or this is your first time, you may be wondering, what can you expect from your home inspection? In this article we’ll break down what you can expect from this crucial stage in the home-buying process, and how you can take advantage of this opportunity and play an active role.
What is a home inspection? What isn’t it?
To set the right expectations, it’s important right off the bat that we establish what a home inspection is and what it isn’t. This inspection can’t find everything that might be wrong or could go wrong in your new home. There are things that exist beneath the surface, behind walls or well under the floor, that could go undetected by even the most experienced and proficient home inspector out there. When hiring a home inspector, you’re not getting a structural engineer or scientist, but rather someone who is well-versed in what to look for in a solid home – and what should stand out as a flag to be dealt with. We’re here to uncover potential issues, and to give an overall assessment of the condition of the home. How you choose to proceed with the results is, of course, up to you, but we’re happy to discuss the issues and possible strategies (along with your realtor).
Should you be present for the inspection?
Absolutely! We recommend that you be there and play an active role. After all, this is probably the biggest purchase you’ve ever made! Bring a notepad, audio/video recorder or other device that will help you keep track of what we find. You’re encouraged to observe how we go about the inspection, and to ask questions along the way. This way, you’ll have a much clearer picture of what it is that you’re buying and moving into.
What are we looking for?
In general, we’re looking for a home that’s weathered the years well, one that’s been given TLC and looked after in good order. We’ll go through every level, room by room, and turn back / lift up what we can to see what might send up a flag. We’ll look at the big things (furnace, air conditioner, hot water heater, etc.) as well as seemingly smaller items that might give clues. We operate off of a set list, one of course that we can modify according to a given property as well as to other criteria you may have in mind. At the end of the day (or end of our inspection, as it were), we hopefully won’t have encountered any red flags or major issues. Every home, even new homes and homes fetching millions, has some kind of imperfection. There’s always something that can be improved. We want you to know what you’re acquiring, and we’ll do our best to help you make an informed decision.
Finally…
Once the inspection is complete, you’ll receive a written report from us. We’re happy to answer any and all your questions, either on site or later on. We want you to be confident and comfortable with this purchase and investment. To set up an inspection or ask questions about the process, we invite you to contact us.