Homebuyers often find a home inspection to be an eye-opening experience. They can learn a lot about their prospective new home from the inspector’s observations, and they can use the information to negotiate with the seller to either lower the price of the property or ask the seller to make repairs before closing. Although buyers aren’t required to be present during the home inspection, many find it helpful to observe and ask questions as the inspector goes through the property.
To find a good inspector, ask your real estate agent for recommendations or check online reviews. Focus on well-reviewed companies with plenty of experience.
Preparation
The inspector examines the condition of your home’s major systems, such as plumbing, heating and cooling, electrical and the roof. They also check the garage door, attic and crawl space, windows and doors. They’ll inspect for things like leaking faucets and toilets, and make sure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are working.
To prepare for the inspection, you should create a list of any repairs and upgrades you’ve made recently. This will help the inspector pinpoint any areas that may require attention and provides a better understanding of the report’s findings. It’s also helpful to declutter and clear out any areas the inspector will need access to, such as laundry rooms and utility closets. And make sure trash cans and other items aren’t blocking the inspector’s view of the home’s exterior, siding and trim. If they can’t get a good look at these features, it may throw off the entire inspection.
Inspection
Home inspectors carefully examine each room of the house, looking for any signs of problems. They check the foundation to make sure it’s solid; they inspect the roof to look for damage or leaks; and they go inside each of the rooms to make sure everything works how it should.
They pay special attention to the bathrooms, checking to ensure that the toilets flush properly and that there are no cracks in the walls or under sinks. They also test the kitchen appliances to make sure they’re working properly.
Report
Once the inspector completes his examination of the property, he’ll produce a report. The report will detail the condition of the home, highlight safety concerns and cite any issues that need to be addressed immediately.
The report may be broken down into sections by system, such as “ELECTRICAL,” “PLUMBING” and so on. Alternatively, the report may be organized by general area of the house, such as “INTERIOR” and “KITCHEN.”
The inspector will take photos wherever possible to document any issues – rotting shingles, loose railings on indoor stairs, leaking gutters, a crack in a foundation or attic insulation that could be causing wood-destroying organisms (WDO) to appear. Those photographs are then included in the report to give buyers and realtors a visual reference when preparing for negotiations. The report will also include a list of issues that are rated according to their urgency, which can help the buyer or seller prioritize what needs to be done and set a timeline for addressing them.
Closing
Home buyers can ask the seller to fix problems that come up during a home inspection. This is a common practice in real estate transactions. Buyers can also negotiate a lower purchase price for the property if the cost of repairing issues is too high.
However, if problems are found, mortgage lenders may require that certain repairs be made to the house before closing on the property. These kinds of fixes are typically safety related and are a necessary part of the loan process.
Buyers can back out of a sale in the event of a bad home inspection, but that’s a big decision to make in a seller’s market. Buyers must decide how many problems they’re willing to take on and whether they can find another house in their budget that they like as much. A good real estate attorney can help a buyer weigh their options. They can explain the law and regulations that pertain to the situation.