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Inspection Basics

Buying a home? The process can be stressful. A home inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind, but often has the opposite effect. You will be asked to absorb a lot of information in a short time. This often includes a written report, checklist, photographs, environmental reports, and what the inspector himself says during the inspection. All this combined with the seller's disclosure and what you notice yourself makes the experience even more overwhelming. What should you do?

Relax. Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections. These are nice to know about. However, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories:

Major defects. An example of this would be a structural failure.
Things that lead to major defects. A small roof-flashing leak, for example.
Things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy, or insure the home.
Safety hazards, such as an exposed, live buss bar at the electric panel.

Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property (especially in categories 2 and 4).

Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection. Realize that sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the report. No home is perfect. Keep things in perspective. Don't kill your deal over things that don't matter. It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller's disclosure, or nit-picky items.

Before you hire us to do an inspection, here are some items that we hope will give you an overview about home inspections, what to expect, some hazards you may want to ask us to explain in more detail, and some pointers about finding an inspector who will suit your needs.

Inspection Overview

A home inspection is a visual, in-person objective evaluation of the physical structure and systems of a home, and a functional check of all its major systems and appliances.

A home is the biggest investment most people make in their lifetimes. Since there can be serious flaws even in homes that appear to be in beautiful condition, setting up a professional home inspection will save you money, educate you about your home, and provide you some much-needed peace of mind.

If you're buying a home, getting a home inspection means you know about any problems and their solutions before you move in.

If you're selling a home, getting a home inspection means you know you're complying with full disclosure laws, and means you can consider selecting contractors rather than waiting for the buyer to do so.

If you've just done extensive remodeling, a home inspection can help you make certain the contractors did the job correctly.

A home can't fail an inspection, but its systems and structures just might. A professional home inspection means you have an independent opinion about the problems and their solutions, and so you have exactly what you need to make

What to Expect

Depending on the size and condition of the home, a thorough home inspection will take from two to three hours. Ideally, you will accompany your inspector during the consultation.

Your professional home inspector should provide you with both a verbal report as part of a whole house walk-through, and a written report after the inspection is completed. Many home inspectors also provide free telephone consultations for as long as you own your home.

A thorough home inspection will include the following:

Systems

	Heating system
	Central air conditioning system
	Interior plumbing
	Electrical systems

Exterior Structures

	Roof
	Porches
	Decks and patios
	Surface water control
	And all the visible exterior structures of the home

Interior Structures

	Attic
	Visible insulation
	Walls
	Ceilings
	Floors
	Windows and doors
	Foundation
	Basement
	Accessible crawl space
	Fireplaces and chimneys
	And all the visible interior structures of the home

Choosing An Inspector

Ask your friends
If you have friends who have bought or sold a home recently, ask them if their inspector did a good job, and whether or not they'd hire that person again.

Ask your real estate agent
Agents deal with home inspectors every day, so they know who the good ones are.

Check for professional memberships, licenses, and on-going training.

Credentialing varies from state to state, so ask about experience, continuing education, and whether or not your inspector has membership in he National Association of Home Inspectors or the American Society of Home Inspectors, .

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Review the written disclaimers that the home inspector will be using in his report as well as the proposed scope of the inspection. Make certain all areas that are important to you (crawl spaces? the roof? drainage?) will be covered.