Buying a house might be the biggest purchase that most people ever make in their lives, and having a home inspection is always an important step of the process of buying a home. Having a home inspection will help you realize exactly what you’re investing in, and whether or not it’s the best idea. While some little quirks here and there may be nothing to worry about, there could be more serious problems that only a certified home inspector can see.
What Home Inspectors Check
Home inspectors perform an in-depth walk-through of the home that you’re looking to buy and take notes, pictures, and other information. The following areas of the home are inspected in a general home inspection:
General Physical Structure
Usually, the first thing that an inspector does is examine the entire physical structure of the home, including the ceilings, roof, floors, walls, doors, windows, and other basic structural elements of the house, to ensure that they are free of major issues.
Major Appliances
Home inspectors check all major appliances and built-in appliances such as HVAC systems, furnaces, water heaters, and solar panels or other such items, if applicable, will be tested and examined for basic functionality.
Attics And Crawl Spaces
Home inspectors will typically inspect attics, and may also inspect crawl spaces, though they may need to use specialized cameras or other tools if the space is not physically accessible
Plumbing And Electrical Systems
A home inspector will test and perform an inspection on each faucet and plumbing fixture in your home, as well as visible pipes and other elements of your plumbing system.
Electrical systems will be checked, including fuse boxes, circuit breakers, light switches, power outlets, and more.
Basements
Home inspectors always check basements because of potential issues like water damage, pest infestations, and other issues that are common with poorly maintained basements.
What Home Inspectors Don’t Do
It’s a common misconception that home inspectors are expected to examine the home for issues like mold, pests, parasites, interior structural issues, asbestos, lead, and other potentially hidden issues.
This is not the case. To use a medical analogy, think of a home inspection as a “general check-up” – not a comprehensive, x-ray exam. The home you’re buying or selling will be assessed thoroughly – but specialized issues like mold or termites will require specialist inspectors.
Inspectors also won’t necessarily be looking to see if a home complies with local building codes, and they won’t tell you things like whether or not you’re getting a good deal on your home, or give you an opinion on the value of a home.
What to Expect from Your Inspection
If you’re using Redbud Home Inspections to inspect your home, at the end of your inspection I will personally explain the general condition of the home and systems with you and your agent, talking you through any major issues that need to be addressed sooner rather than later. I will also mention the items that you will want to keep an eye on for deferred maintenance. All of this will be detailed in my easy-to-read Spectora report, that will be delivered in HTML and/or PDF format. From that report, you’ll be able to see the items we discussed, with images for reference.
Know What To Expect During Home Inspections!
Home inspections may seem complicated, but they don’t have to be! Just make sure to hire the right inspector, listen to their advice, and do your due diligence before you decide to purchase a home.
