What are 5 very important things that are inspected in a home inspection?

The top five things home inspectors look for

• Foundation. The foundation is the workhorse of a house. ...

• Roof. Roof quality and performance can also make or break a house deal. ...

• Plumbing. Is there anything worse than a leak? ...

• Electrical systems. ...

• HVAC system.

What are the most common problems found in home inspections?

The 8 most-common home inspection problems

• Problem #1: Rundown roofing. Asphalt shingle roofs last 15 to 20 years. ...

• Problem #2: Drainage issues. ...

• Problem #3: Faulty foundation. ...

• Problem #4: Plumbing problems. ...

• Problem #5: Pest infestations. ...

• Problem #6: Hidden mold. ...

• Problem #7: Failing heating systems. ...

• Problem#8: Electrical wiring.

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Is the home inspection included in closing costs?

· The home inspection is usually not included in closing costs and is the optional expense of the home buyer. While a home appraisal issued by your lender is covered in your closing costs, the goal of the inspection is to uncover the home's value, not to produce a comprehensive list of required repairs. Again, we can't emphasize enough the importance of hiring a professional home inspector. The results could change your mind about the purchase or help set up a repair budget.

What are 3 things to inspect on the inside of a house?

According to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), here's the full list of what a certified home inspector will review:

• Heating system.

• Central air conditioning system (temperature permitting)

• Interior plumbing and electrical systems.

• Roof and rain gutters.

• Attic, including visible insulation.

• Walls.

• Ceilings.

How do home inspections work?

A home inspection is the buyer’s last opportunity to discover problems with the house before purchasing. And it’s a chance for the seller to address those problems and negotiate pricing with the buyer.

Here’s what to expect on home inspection day as a home seller or buyer. Learn what the inspector will look for and how you should handle any issues that are turned up in the process.

What do home inspectors look for?

According to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), here’s the full list of what a certified home inspector will review:

1. Heating system

2. Central air conditioning system (temperature permitting)

3. Interior plumbing and electrical systems

4. Roof and rain gutters

5. Attic, including visible insulation

6. Walls

7. Ceilings

8. Floors

9. Windows and doors

10. Foundation

11. Basement

12. Structural components

Clearly, the inspector isn’t going to tear your home apart to inspect piping and wiring. But the more exterior and interior parts of the home an inspector can access, the more complete the final report will be.

Last Chance To Uncover Defects!

As a home buyer, the home inspection is your last chance to uncover defects with the house — and potentially get the seller to pay for them — before sealing the deal.

Additionally, if a professional home inspection reveals serious problems with a property, potential buyers can back out of the home purchase or renegotiate the sale price, provided they have a home inspection contingency in their purchase agreement.

An Inspection Contingency is a common provision in a home purchase contract that gives buyers an opportunity to identify any serious issues before closing on a property.

As a seller, on the other hand, you want to know what the inspector will look for so you can be prepared for their visit and help everything go as smoothly as possible.

Here’s what to expect during a home inspection:

• A home inspector will look at the exterior and interior parts of the home like the foundation, structural components, roof, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems, then provide a written home inspection report with results

• A home inspection generally takes two to four hours, but may take more time depending on the size of the house. After the physical inspection, the home inspector may take a couple of days to send the written report

• Buyers should attend the inspection so they can explore their new home in detail and ask questions during the process. This can give you much more information than the report alone

Don’t be concerned with the number of defects listed on your report — many will be so minor you won’t bother fixing them.

Instead, pay attention to the severity of the home’s issues. Some problems can be deal-breakers.

If serious problems arise, talk to your home inspector and real estate agent about your best ways forward.

What do home inspectors look for?

According to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), here’s the full list of what a certified home inspector will review:

1. Heating system

2. Central air conditioning system (temperature permitting)

3. Interior plumbing and electrical systems

4. Roof and rain gutters

5. Attic, including visible insulation

6. Walls

7. Ceilings

8. Floors

9. Windows and doors

10. Foundation

11. Basement

12. Structural components

Who pays for a home inspection?

The buyer usually pays for a professional home inspection. However, on making an offer, some insist the seller pays. So that’s an item for negotiation.

Sometimes, sellers get their own home inspection before they put their homes on the market. That can reassure potential purchasers. And it can provide the owner with a chance to fix issues ahead of the marketing of the property.

However, not all buyers are willing to accept a report paid for by the seller. In fact, experts recommend that buyers choose their own inspector, someone without ties to either the seller or the seller’s Realtor.

Will there be follow-up costs?

Home Buyers or Sellers...ones alerted to potential problems by the inspector — may want to add any additional services not included on a regular home inspection. Further home inspection reports concerning the possible presence of:

• Radon

• Termite infestations

• Asbestos

• Lead piping or paint

• Mold

• Water damage

• Other safety issues

Speaking of safety issues, lead and asbestos were commonly used in the construction of older homes but are banned from recently built homes.

Potential buyers may also require an inspection of the plumbing system, including sewer lines, using a camera service.

Some certified home inspectors offer additional services such as radon testing and will recommend asbestos testing for homes that are suspected to be at risk.

How long does a home inspection take?

An average home inspection generally takes between two and four hours, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

The duration of an inspection can vary depending on:

• Home size

• Number of defects

• Thoroughness of the inspector

• The helpfulness of the owner when preparing for the inspection

Should buyers attend an inspection?

Why not? Ask your inspector if they’d mind you coming along. Few inspectors object.

You’ll have a chance to explore your new home further and ask your inspector questions as you go.

Seeing the home inspection process can be much more informative than reading the report on its own. And it can give you some perspective on how major or minor each issue is.

What should sellers expect

from a home inspection?

It’s in your best interest to provide quick and easy access to the Inspector...everything on that home inspection date. Here are some ways you can help:

• Leave keys (for instance, for your electrical panel), and label where the inspector can find them

• Make sure all pilot lights are on for fireplaces and furnaces, even in summer, so the inspector can check the heating and other appliances

• Tidy your basement. There needs to be an unobstructed path down the steps and through to your furnace/HVAC unit/water heater and anything else that needs inspecting

• Tidy your attic same as your basement

• Clean up key areas in your yard so the inspector can easily access your crawl space, drainage access points, or septic tank

• If the home is vacant and the utilities have been shut off, have them reconnected

Being helpful won’t necessarily buy you a better report, but even professionals appreciate thoughtfulness.

Should sellers make repairs before the inspection?

A home inspection checklist can be a valuable tool when you’re selling a property. If you know what an inspector’s going to be looking for, you can sort out minor issues in advance.

Of course, nobody’s expecting perfection. It’s very rare to see a blemish-free home inspection report. And it maybe you’ve already negotiated over some known issues and they’ve been reflected in the price.

However, cherry-picking small problems that are quick, easy, and inexpensive to fix can drastically shorten the list of defects a report turns up. And the shorter that list, the better the chances of your sale closing without quibbles.

How to get a better home inspection report

Certified home inspectors are people, too. And just like everyone else, they associate a clean, sweet-smelling house with homeowners who care for their property. It will do you no harm if the inspection starts off from that perspective.

Home inspection vs. home appraisal

Mortgage lenders will need a home appraisal to assess the value of the home you’re buying. An appraisal is part of the borrowing process just like checking your credit score or debt-to-income ratio.

But this appraisal will not reveal specific details about the condition of the home. A home appraisal will be more concerned with the home’s location, size, and general condition.

Unlike a home inspector, the appraiser will not crawl around in the basement or climb onto the roof searching for problems.

Buying or selling a home?

Regardless if you’re a first-time home buyer or seller, a Professional Home inspection should be your very first priority and most important "first investment" way before making that final decision on whether to buy or reject...either way you will save time, headaches and above all money!

Cost Per Inspection

How are inspection fees calculated?

Home inspections cost as little as $200 for an area of less than 1,000 square feet (a tiny home or condo, for example).

...

Home Inspection Cost Per Square Foot.

Home Size

Inspection Cost

1,000 square feet

$300 - $395

1,500 square feet

$395 - $500

2,000 square feet

$495 - $595

>2,000 square feet

$500+

you can expect to pay $350 or more. If you include radon, mold, or asbestos testing, expect to pay $100 to $300 more per additional services. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the cost of a home inspection normally ranges from $300 to $500.

The estimated cost of a home inspection varies. In the New York City area, the starting cost for a company ranges from $395 - $600, which hangs not too far from the national average. However, that can span to over $1,000, and paying close to that isn't all that unusual

l. Most buyers pay around $250 to $500 for a condo inspection, with the final cost depending on the condo's square footage and age. A one-bedroom condo in a new unit may take less time to inspect than a three-bedroom penthouse in a historic building

between $595 and $1,000

A full inspection includes an examination of the inside of the septic tank to check the water levels. The tank is pumped and the inspector monitors the drain field for backflow. A septic inspection cost also depends on whether the inspector has to open the tank. Generally, the price is between $400 and $1,000.