Home Inspection Basic Guide

Almost all home buyers know they need to get a home inspection before actually buying a house, and real estate agents advise them to do so. But what does a home inspection really imply?

Besides knowing they need home inspection reports, home buyers are often clueless about home construction and its components, so deciphering such reports may turn out to be quite a challenge. When looking at home inspection reports, it can be difficult to figure out which types of defects are serious, and even whether their home inspector checked all the essentials. If you don’t really know what that’s about, all you’re left with are some reports that may or may not have the positive information you need.

Home Inspection Checklists - Standards of Practice

All home inspections are different and are performed differently, and there can be dramatic variations from state to state, as well as across counties and cities. Much of it really depends on the home inspector and which association, if any, the qualified home inspector belongs to. The standards of practice are established by the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI), and all home inspections must be in accordance. The NACHI guidelines include:

Home Inspection Checklist of Items Not Inspected

In many states home inspectors are not licensed, so their inspection does not include some aspects which require a license to inspect and identify. Such items not inspected include asbestos, radon, methane, radiation and formaldehyde, mold, mildew and fungi, rodents, lead, and other general home inspection checklist items.

Home inspection involves checking and evaluating:

• structural elements - the construction of walls, ceilings, roof, foundation and floors
• exterior evaluations - landscaping, wall covering, grading, drainage, elevation, driveways, fences, sidewalks, trim, windows, fascia, doors, lights and exterior receptacles
• roof and attic - ventilation, framing, type of construction, flashing and gutters, but does not include a guarantee of roof condition nor a roof certification
• plumbing - identifying pipe materials used for potable, drain, waste and vent pipes, evaluating their condition, checking toilets, showers, faucets, sinks and traps; it does not include a sewer inspection
• systems and components - water heaters, air conditioning, furnaces, duct work, fireplace, chimney, sprinklers
• electrical - main panel, types of wiring, circuit breakers, grounding, exhaust fans, ceiling fans, receptacles, light fixtures
• appliances - garbage disposal, range and oven, dishwasher, built-in microwaves, smoke detectors
• garage - walls, ceiling, slab, vents, firewall, entry, garage door, openers, lights, receptacles, exterior, window, roof

Which Home Inspection Checklist Items Need Service?

Home inspection reports may not describe the condition of every component if its functionality is excellent, however they should note every single item that is defective or needing service. When considering to buy a house, the most serious problems are:

• health and safety issues
• roofs with a short life expectancy
• foundation deficiencies
• furnace/ A/C malfunctions
• moisture or drainage issues

Home Inspections Checklist Items to be Fixed by the Sellers

If possible, it is advisable that you hire your own contractors to supervise repairs. Sellers need inspections to find buyers, but when it comes to fixing things they tend to hire the cheapest contractor and replace appliances with the cheapest brands possible. In many cases home inspectors refuse to disclose repair costs, but you can call a contractor to determine the scope and expense to fix minor problems yourself. After all, no house is perfect and even new ones will have some issues on a home inspection.

Some buyers find a home inspection to be unnecessary, especially if the construction is new, but while a leaking faucet or a light switch that doesn’t work are easy to identify, other more serious issues such as code violations, a failing chimney or a furnace that leaks monoxide carbon can be identified by a qualified home inspector.

Advantages of a Home Inspection

Home inspections are conducted by professional home inspection companies or qualified home inspectors who have seen it all, and they and help you buy or sell your home with confidence. More specifically, home owners can identify problems before they buy and take preventive measures to avoid costly repairs, while sellers can understand conditions the buyer’s inspector points out and make repairs, thus putting the property in better selling condition.

Buyers’ Inspection

Whether it’s about new or older homes, the best way to make sure you are well aware about a property’s strengths and weaknesses is to get a professional home inspection. You pay for the inspection, but you get a qualified home inspector, trained to identify problem areas, either small or large, that may have been overlooked by the previous owners.

Sellers’ Inspection

Whether you are using a real estate professional or selling your home on your own, it is recommended to have a professional home inspection to know exactly what’s in your favor and what is not. All homes have strengths and weaknesses, even new ones. A qualified home inspector will help determine how serious the problems are, which issues must be addressed immediately, which ones can wait. Knowledge is power, and the more you know about your home, the more prepared you will be for negotiation.

Phase Construction and New Construction Inspections

Unfortunately, the quality of construction in new homes is often not what it used to be, so many buyers have independent home inspection reports during various stages of the construction process, including frame, slab and final inspection. The price you pay for the inspection is relatively small, and it protects your purchase, prevents unpleasant surprises and ensures you get the quality home you want.

Warranty Inspection

For new construction, most builders provide a one-year warranty. During this period of time, the buyer generally develops a list of problems or corrections for the contractor to repair under the warranty coverage. Again, to the untrained eye some defects will not be obvious, but a society of home inspectors will provide you with a list of items that will most likely be repaired by your builder without requiring you to pay anything.

Financing and Home Inspection Types

There should be two or three separate inspections on the home you want to purchase, depending on the type of financing you choose. Your own basic inspection counts as the first one, but the second should be a professional whole-house inspection conducted by a professional. If you choose a government loan - FHA or VA - the third inspection should be conducted at the time of the appraisal. However, do not rely on this appraisal as your only inspection of the property.

Start Searching for a Qualified Home Inspector

Building inspections are extremely important, so start searching for a qualified home inspector before you place an offer on a house. The contract will state a time limit designating when the inspection must be completed - generally between 7 and 14 days - and if you start searching for a home inspector at that point, you may not find a good one to schedule in that time frame. Contracting an underqualified home inspector or running past the deadline for the inspection will void any chance of having the seller take care of repairs.