What to expect in a Home Inspection

When buying or selling a home, getting the house inspected by a professional is an essential step to ensure the condition of the property.

A home inspection is a comprehensive assessment conducted by a licensed professional to evaluate the overall condition of a property, identifying potential issues that could affect its safety, functionality, and value.

Most often, the inspection is paid for by the potential buyer once you are under contract. Occasionally a seller may be interested in their own report to inform decisions on how or what to improve.

Steps in a Home Inspection

  1. Once under contract, the buyer will schedule a home inspection. This is one step in the process of buying a home and allows you to make an informed decision on the home prior to closing.

    As a buyer’s agent, I will be at the house with the inspector (and the buyer is encouraged to attend as well) to ensure we are evaluating everything and having all questions answered prior to moving forward with the sale.

    Inspections typically last between 2-4 hours depending on the size of the home. I will work with you to find a reputable, insured and licensed home inspector to ensure you have the best possible report.

  2. The inspector examines various aspects of the home:

    1. Structure and foundation

    2. Roof

    3. Electrical systems

    4. Plumbing, heating and cooling

    5. Insulation and ventilation

    6. Exterior

    7. Overall condition including any existing or potential issues that could impact the property's safety, livability, or resale value.

    8. Other items that may be requested:

      1. Radon Testing: Radon is a naturally occurring gas that can pose serious health risks if present in high levels. Most often done in houses with basements.

      2. Methamphetamine Testing: Professionals can provide meth lab residue testing to determine contamination levels that may cause health risks if not eradicated.

      3. Water Testing: Water should be tested to ensure it is void of bacteria or contaminants. This is essential for homes on a water well. Read more here.

      4. Mold Inspection: If the home shows signs of water damage or has a musty smell, a mold inspection can determine if there is a mold problem and what type of mold is present.

      5. Pest Inspection: A pest inspection checks for signs of termites, rodents, and other pests that can cause structural damage to the home.

      6. Asbestos and Lead Paint Testing: For older homes, especially those built before the 1980s, it may be wise to test for asbestos and lead paint, both of which pose significant health hazards.

  3. Report: The inspector sends you the final report, which includes their professional opinion about the home and items listed above with photos and recommendations. Some may be minor issues, so may be major issues with larger repair costs.

  4. Your choice: I will sit down with you, the buyer, to determine what concerns you may have about the house and what you would like to ask the sellers to fix or cover. We will prioritize the high-needs vs the high-wants and determine what is best to fix, repair or inspect further before sending our request to the seller.

  5. Their choice: The seller then has the chance to review your requested items and agree or counter. They may decide to fix all or a portion of your requests by themselves (or with a contractor). They could also provide you a credit, which provides money for you to repair items on your own.

    1. Seller can also provide options such as a home warranty plan for the buyer, which covers any appliance or other malfunction after purchasing the home. They can even provide a home warranty plan to cover any issues between the time of the inspection until closing to help bring peace of mind to the buyer.

  6. Agreed: Once both sides have agreed, the contract is amended based on to-do items or price (or both!).

  7. Final Walk-through: After repairs have been completed (if agreed upon), and just before closing, we will conduct a final walk-through of the property to ensure the house is ready for sale and that the home’s condition has not changed since the inspection. We will go through the inspection report again to make sure everything is good to go.