What is a Home Inspection?
A home inspection is a professional, objective, visual examination of
the condition of a home. Home buyers now entering the marketplace view
inspections as a way to gain valuable information about the biggest
purchase of their lifetime. It helps them to determine whether there
are any major defects or system inadequacies at the time of purchase.
In most cases, home inspections are performed after a sales contract,
conditional upon a satisfactory home inspection, has been accepted by
the seller. The inspection can usually be arranged immediately to
within a few days. The home buyer is typically encouraged to attend the
inspection, so that he/she can see first hand the workings of the home.
It also represents an excellent opportunity for the prospective buyer
to ask questions about the home or to discuss potential changes.
Home inspections should also highlight the positive aspects of a home.
In fact, many of the home inspector's observations or recommendations
help to dispel home purchaser anxieties, and provide useful repair
suggestions.
The home inspector's service to the purchaser is primarily one of
education. The goal of the inspector is to provide the purchaser with a
better understanding of the physical condition of the home in order
that they can make a well-informed decision. It is also the inspector's
role to keep his findings in perspective for the buyer. After the
inspection is completed, a written report should be prepared for the
home buyer, documenting the results of the inspection, along with an
estimation of repair time frames and costs.
The home inspection should not be confused with an appraisal, a
municipal code inspection, an environmental audit, or a home owner's
warranty.
A complete home inspection should cover all of the major systems of a
house, including structure, exterior, roofing, electrical, heating,
cooling, insulation, plumbing and interior. As a minimum, an inspection
should meet the Standards of Practice of the American Society of Home
Inspectors.
Consumers should be very careful when shopping for a home inspector.
The industry on the whole is unregulated and many unqualified people
offer home inspection services. Home inspection companies that offer to
do repair work, or recommend repair companies, should be avoided.
Click this link to "Schedule an Inspection".
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