Q. SHOULD YOU HAVE A HOME INSPECTION BEFORE YOU BUY?
An inspection of a home before you purchase it allows you to get to know your future home inside and out. You already know certain dominant features about the home that caused you to like it, but do you really know the condition of the roof or whether the house is energy efficient? A pre-purchase inspection can supplement your knowledge with valuable information.
Q. WHY DO YOU NEED A HOME INSPECTION?
You should know exactly what to expect in terms of repair, maintenance and structural soundness. Water marks in the basement may indicate a chronic seepage problem or may be simply the result of a single incident. A qualified home inspector can interpret these and other clues. He then presents his professional opinion as to the condition of the property before you buy, so you can avoid unpleasant surprises afterwards.
An inspection will also reveal the positive aspects of the home, as well as the type of maintenance that will be necessary to keep it in good shape.
Q. WHAT DOES A HOME INSPECTION INCLUDE?
A complete home inspection includes an examination of the house from rooftop to basement and an examination of the garage and exterior grounds. The inspector takes a careful look at heating, air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems, the roof, foundation, walls, ceilings, fireplaces, doors, windows and multiple other components of the home. You can expect the inspection to last anywhere from 2 to 4 hours.
Q. WHAT KIND OF REPORT DO I RECEIVE?
A formal easy-to-read, written report is issued within 48 hours. Included on the report is an evaluation of all visible home components plus an evaluation of the energy efficiency, security, and maintenance aspects of the home. Some inspectors are providing an secure, online report with photos that is quite easy to use.
Q. IS A PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION EXPENSIVE?
A complete home inspection with a written report will cost approximately $300. to $500. and could save you thousands of dollars as well as help you make a wise and safe investment. Costs vary depending sometimes on the size of the dwelling, multiple living units and additional testing such as radon, mold, etc. It would be a lot more expensive to skip the home inspection, move in and then find out you have thousands of dollars in repairs you did not anticipate.