All About Home Inspection and Purchasing
A home inspection is a non-invasive, visual examination of the state of a property, most often about the sale of the property. Generally, home inspections are performed by an individual home inspector who either has the proper training and credentials to do such checks or by an inspector who claims to have training in this area. In some cases, the home inspector may be a member of an organization recognized for its specific standards of home inspection. In this case, the individual or the organization would be the “inspector,” and the seller or the buyer would be the one who pays. The purpose is to provide the buyer with a report of any noted problems during the inspection. There are three main parts to the home inspection process:
The physical examination of the home
The physical examination is mainly concerned with checking for leaks, floor cracks, other possible sources of water damage, and visible signs of wear. Some of these signs may be red flags for other problems. For example, a puddle leaking onto the carpet or concrete floor can indicate a problem elsewhere in the structure that requires attention.
The review of the plumbing, heating system, and electrical system
These systems are the most common components of the home, and they require scrutiny by the home inspector to make sure that everything is in good working condition. The home inspector may ask questions relating to the serviceability of the faucets or the presence of rust on the exterior of a sink drain. He may want to verify that all plumbing connections are intact, that there are no missing connections, and that the heating system is functioning correctly.
The quality of the wiring in the home
If there are any deficiencies, they must be brought to the attention of the home inspection team. One reason that professional home inspection services will fail is if they fail to spot a potential problem, such as a loose flange or exposed electrical connection. Other reasons that home inspectors fail in their tasks is because they try to be thorough and end up overlooking something important, or they don’t think about the complete picture.
There are some buyers who feel less than comfortable letting a professional home inspector into the home to inspect it, for one reason or another. Whether the reason is the buyer perceives the inspector as overstepping his boundaries or there are problems with the seller not being cooperative, there are some concerns that homebuyers should have about a home inspection process. When a professional inspector is brought into the picture, buyers can rest assured that the inspection report is accurate, comprehensive and completely unbiased.
Buyers should feel confident that major defects or major problems with the home won’t be found in a simple walk-through or through the use of visual equipment. Buyers need to feel confident in the knowledge that a home inspection report will reveal any problems that exist before the home goes on the market. This can be a very scary prospect for many homebuyers. Many buyers fear the unknown. Some sellers might even shy away from allowing a professional home inspector to come into the home to do a basic walk-through or wiring inspection.
If the inspector does uncover a problem, what should a buyer do next? A buyer wants to know exactly what the problem is before making a purchase, so it is important for a homebuyer to make sure that the problem is dealt with. There are two things a buyer can do to help make sure that major repairs or water damage aren’t missed by the seller or cause further damage to the property. One option is to ask for a re-listing discount on the property. Another thing a buyer can do is to request an inspection report from the local government, which could be helpful if there was a subsidence or major leak in the area.
Buyers should know that these inspections don’t have to take forever and often can be completed within a couple of hours. It is wise to book an appointment as soon as possible so that no one else is waiting around to get in through the door. As for what to expect during the inspection? Well, most inspections consist of a walk-through of the home or property, an inventory of the rooms, and the interior of all bathrooms and kitchens. Inspectors also often inspect the roof, basement, and other major locations. The goal of the inspection is to help make sure that the home or property is safe and usable before making a purchase.
