What to Expect When Inspecting
Your home inspection is a crucial part of the whole home purchase process. From selecting your pro to tagging along during the inspection and negotiating after the fact, there’s no better way to get to know the property and prepare for ownership.
During the inspection, a qualified home inspector will go through the home, attic to crawl, to test the systems, poke, prod, and search for current issues and signs of past problems. They’ll turn on every faucet, run the dishwasher, and scope out the areas around water sources. They’ll pull off the cover to the electrical panel, test all of the outlets, and trip all of the GFCI outlets. They’ll look for wear and tear, list necessary repairs, call out deferred maintenance, and offer recommendations for further review. More than likely, they’ll take the time to answer questions, share photos, explain their findings, and help you get a better understanding of the current condition of the property and maintenance required to keep it in top shape.
After the home inspection, you’ll receive a full inspection report with all the details, recommendations, and photos your inspector has to offer. Don't be alarmed to read nothing but negative comments in the inspection report. That's how they’re designed, so take a deep breath before diving in and have a drink ready. No house, not even a shiny new construction one, withstands a home inspection without negative marks. Think of the inspection report as a maintenance list. Some of the items on the list should be tackled soon, and some are items to be aware of and take care of at your future convenience.
When negotiating to have the sellers to take care of any repairs or maintenance prior to closing, buyers should focus on the urgent items; the items that need to be taken care of right away. Those tend to be items that:
create a safety concern (think cracked heat exchanger, faulty electrical panel)
affect the home's value or habitability (think failed roof, broken furnace, pest infestation)
Items that are under warranty (talk about a win-win situation)
Items to avoid asking for include cosmetic items, inconsequential repairs, and maintenance items that you can easily tackle on your own.
Though the home inspection is a fantastic opportunity to learn about a house, keep in mind that there are limitations. Home inspectors can’t open up walls, pull back carpet, or generally cause damage to the property. So, do your due diligence at every opportunity. Attend your home inspection if at all possible, read the full inspection report, call your home inspector with any questions that you have about items on the report, and do your research on the property and its history. Hopefully, you’ll have a long lasting relationship with the new home, so don’t speed date. Really internet stalk it before committing.