A home inspection is a great — and valuable — way to discover the true health of the home you want to purchase. It can reveal safety issues, illegal installations, and other maintenance and structural issues that you would want to know about before buying the home. Depending on the inspection findings, you could back out of your offer or it could give you room for more negotiations. Typically, your real estate agent will schedule the inspection for you.
What a Home Inspector Will Look At
During the inspection, you should attend and tour the home with the inspector if possible. If there are certain parts of the house that concern you, make sure to point those out. You can also ask questions about general maintenance and care for various items. The inspector will usually look at:
- Electrical
- Gas
- Plumbing
- Roofing
- Insulation and ventilation
- Heating and cooling systems
- Major appliances like the refrigerator and washer and dryer
- Fireplaces and venting
- Foundation, crawlspaces, and the wall structure
- Exterior features like driveways, deck, and surface grading
- Interior features like stairways, garages, basements, and windows
A standard home inspection will not cover everything. If you suspect one or more of the following, or you want to confirm any of these are not present, you’ll need to hire a specialist to inspect the property in addition to the home inspector.
- Pests
- Radon
- Asbestos
- Mold
- Lead
Questions to ask an inspector
- What needs to be repaired or replaced immediately?
- What might be an issue in the near future, and what are things I can expect to repair/replace in the long term?
- Are there any signs of bigger issues that I should hire a specialist to look at? Can you recommend a specialist?
- Is there anything else I should be concerned about?
This checklist is for educational purposes only. Be sure to communicate with your real estate agent for specifics on home shopping and home inspections.
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