Frequently Asked Home Inspection Questions

When buying a home, you will likely hear a lot about the importance of getting it inspected. It’s key to knowing if there are any issues with the home before you purchase, saving you potential repair costs. Getting a home inspection done has numerous benefits, and will help you know the property you’re looking for is in good condition. However, you may have a number of questions before choosing an inspector. This blog will help provide answers and give you a better sense of the inspection process.

Why is an Inspection Needed?

Whether you are buying a new home or selling an old one, it’s recommended that you get an inspection scheduled. By doing so, you get complete details on the home’s condition. This also can be helpful in gaining new negotiating power during the buying process. For example, if there are any issues found during the inspection, it’s not necessarily a deal-breaker that halts the sale of a house. It gives buyers a chance to potentially negotiate a lower sale price.

What is Usually Looked At in a Home Inspection?

While it may vary depending on the inspector, the core inspection will focus on the home’s structure and systems. This includes HVAC units, water heaters, drainage systems, framing and foundations, and much more. In addition, some inspectors will test for radon or use technology to look at a home’s roof.

How Much and Who Pays?

In the majority of instances, the cost of the inspection will go to the home buyer. Since the inspection protects them, the buyer bears the main costs. From a pricing standpoint, it depends on the size of the property being looked at. Other variables are considered as well, such as the home’s age and location. But the average cost for an inspection is between $300 and $500. If additional elements such as radon testing and roof inspections are asked for, the price will increase.

Do I Need to Be There?

It’s not entirely necessary to be present during an inspection, but many inspectors recommend that you appear. The reason for this is that inspectors can point out potential problems as well as discrepancies with their reports. In addition, some inspectors will allow you the accompany them during the inspection itself. By being there for the inspection, you get a great look at every detail of your new home.

Can I Do a Home Inspection Myself?

There are some homeowners who feel that an inspection is something they can handle on their own. However, this is often not the case. Even if you’re an experienced home seller or buyer, you likely don’t have the training and expertise that a home inspector has. Using a certified home inspector means hiring someone with knowledge of construction elements and how they are installed and maintained. In addition, the majority of sales and purchase contracts require using a Licensed, Qualified, or Certified Inspector to handle the actual inspection.

Can a Home Fail an Inspection?

A professional home inspection serves as a thorough overview of a home’s condition. It doesn’t serve as an appraisal of its value or as a municipal inspection for code compliance. This means that a home can’t technically fail an inspection. An inspector will objectively and accurately describe the current state of the house, as well as indicate potential problems and concerns. From there, it’s up to the home buyer to decide if they want to purchase.

A home inspection is an integral part of the home buying process. While it may seem overwhelming, having a certified inspector handing it will make it painless. In addition, they can save potential homeowners money in the long run.

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Home Inspections vs Home Appraisals

If you are a home buyer, there are a number of steps that need to happen before closing. Two of the biggest are home inspections and appraisals. While there are some similarities between the two, there are also key differences. Both of these steps are important when it comes to the overall home buying process. Here is what to know about the difference between home inspections and appraisals.

What a Home Inspection Covers

Before you decide to schedule a home inspection or appraisal, it helps to know what you’re getting with both. With a home inspection, a certified inspector goes through a list of items associated with your home to ensure it’s in working order before the sale. This includes everything from major components like an HVAC unit to smaller details like doorknobs. They will also look at a home’s plumbing and electrical systems to verify they are working properly. In addition, there may be secondary inspections for things like mold, termites, and to check pools and basements.

From a standpoint of length, a typical home inspection takes around three to four hours, though this can depend on the size of the home inspected or other factors. Once the inspection is finished, a detailed report is provided listing any issues with the home. A buyer uses this report to negotiate a sale price based on the data in the report. For sellers, it gives a list of items that need to be fixed before a sale.

How Home Appraisals Differ

While a home inspection covers the majority of elements inside your home, an appraisal is dedicated to things that may affect the cost of a home. There are a number of factors looked at during an appraisal. For starters, the home’s square footage is looked at. In typical appraisals, the more usable square footage there is, the higher the value of the property. Other items reviewed include the home’s floor plan, amenities, and luxury items such as swimming pools and outdoor kitchens. The location of the house is checked as well, as its value can modify based on the proximity to schools, groceries, and large cities.

There are additional types of appraisals that have developed in recent years. Hybrid appraisals incorporate information from a third-party source to do an appraisal without needing to visit the house. A desktop appraisal is similar to the hybrid version but without the use of a third party.

The appraisal process takes longer than a home inspection, with an appraisal lasting seven to ten days. The majority of this time is creating the appraisal report, as the actual inspection of the property takes a few hours. An appraisal has a cost range of $300-$500, though this depends on a home’s size, condition, and location. In addition, unlike an inspection, an appraisal is usually required during the home sale process.

Are Home Appraisals or Inspections Better to Get First?

Now that you know what separates home inspections and appraisals, you may wonder which you should get first when buying a home. Experts say that the home inspection should be done first. The reason for this is relatively simple. If an inspection returns indicating a home needs major, expensive repairs, you may not want to proceed with purchasing. By getting the inspection done first, you may be able to save money on an appraisal for a home you have no intention of buying.

Schedule a Home Inspection With Us

Both home inspections and appraisals can be tricky to understand for people when buying a home. However, they both are key parts of the buying process. Knowing what each of these covers and when they are needed is beneficial and can save you significant costs in the long run. Contact us today to have us complete your home inspection.

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