Questions you should ask during a Home Inspection
Your agent has been helping you for many months, and now you have finally found the house that suits your needs. Acceptance of the offer has been received, and the loan application has been directly submitted. Congratulations! What’s next? Closing?
A home inspection is an essential step in buying a house. Although almost all my clients do it (maybe because I tell them they will), buyers sometimes skip them. It’s an excellent opportunity to spend a few hours “under the skin” looking at the condition of the house that you are buying.
If you are a first-time home buyer, you might need a home inspection on speed dial. It’s okay – I do (true story). Because they do such an excellent job for clients, I have several home inspectors I use regularly. If you are going to sign a contract, please call the home inspector and ask them three critical questions about your home inspection.
- What will the inspection cover? When can I expect to receive my report? IN A HOME INSPECTION, ARE WE LOOKING TO SEE IF SYSTEMS ARE IN SAFE AND WORKING ORDER, THAT THE ROOF DOES NOT LEAK, AND THAT THE HOUSE IS STRUCTURALLY SOUND? It is not an indictment of the fascia WALLPAPER or SHAG CARPETING. (Could those be unsafe from an aesthetic perspective? Once the inspection is complete, you’ll likely receive the full report within 24 hours and, often, right there on-site.
- CAN I GET A COPY OF THE REPORT YOU WILL PRINT AFTER A HOME INSPECTION? A QUALITY HOME INSPECTION REPORT MUST BE A MINIMUM OF 15 PAGES. A HOME INSPECTION REPORT OF THIS SIZE WILL NOT BE COMPLETED DURING A HOME INSPECTION. It should detail the systems that were inspected and their condition at the inspection time. PICTURES ARE ALSO IMPORTANT.
- HOW DO YOU KEEP CURRENT WITH INDUSTRY STANDARDS? The BUILDING INDUSTRY is constantly changing. New practices and standards are being added regularly. A HOME INSPECTION IS NOT DESIGNED TO BRING A HOUSE UP TO CODE. A GOOD INSPECTOR SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THE INSPECTION VALUE ADDED TO THE ACCEPTED BUILDING PRICES IN PLACE AT THE TIME THE HOUSE WAS BUILT. They should also be able to provide a consistent, documented history of continuing education in the inspection field.
Notice that I did not include "how much will it cost?" The home inspection is not something you should cut corners on. The average cost of a review is between $275 and $1,000. But it's important to factor this cost into your budget, and it's well worth every penny.
However, the questions are still ongoing.
Participate in your inspection. Ask lots of questions. I wouldn't recommend inspectors who don't like to be asked questions. You'll learn a lot. Here's a list to help you get started if you need help
deciding what questions to ask.
- WHERE IS THE MAIN WATER SHUT-OFF VALVE TO THE HOUSE?
- WHAT IS THE TYPICAL LIFE SPAN FOR A ROOF, WHICH IS LIKE WHAT’S ON THIS
HOME? Is there any special maintenance that needs to be done? - HOW DOES THE ATTIC LOOK IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO IT? I.E., IS IT A USABLE SPACE? A PLACE FOR UNUSED BOXES OR THINGS TO BE STORED?
- Is THE ELECTRICAL PANEL FULL, OR IS THERE SPACE FOR expansion?
- WHAT IS THE DRAINAGE ABROAD IN THE HOUSE?
Ask questions and listen to the inspector. Home inspectors who say “I don’t know” aren’t wrong. They’re doing you a favor by not making incorrect statements or jumping to conclusions. Participate in the process, and you will be closer to purchasing the perfect home.
Providing Attention to detail
One Home at a Time
Providing Attention to detail
