WHAT IS A HOME INSPECTION AND WHY DO I NEED ONE

What is a Home Inspection

A Home Inspection is a visual assessment of the condition of a home’s major components such its structure, roof, exterior, electrical, heating, plumbing, cooling, insulation and interior. The inspection is essentially intended to increase your level of knowledge about the home. Much of the information gained is positive, however, no home is perfect. Problems may be revealed that require corrective measures to be taken. Our Inspection Report and the Home Reference Book are comprehensive evaluations of a home and note repairs and replacements, if any, to be undertaken. Our inspection covers 350+ items related to a home’s assessment.

Generally home inspectors follow Standards of Practice as to what is included in their scope of inspection work and what they do not inspect. Homebuyers should be aware that a home inspection covers the non-destructive assessment of items that are expected to cost $1,000 or more to repair or replace. While an inspector makes note of minor deficiencies or defects, he/she does not guarantee that all such minor defects / deficiencies will be found. Weather at the time of the inspection may limit the extent of the inspection of some elements of the home; for example, a heavy snow may prohibit adequately reviewing the roof or the adequacy of the land drainage away from the house.

Why Have a Home Inspection

An inspection provides you with the peace of mind knowing the major problems, if any, with a home and reduces the major surprises you may otherwise have after taking possession of the home. The inspection moves you from a level of limited knowledge about the home to comfort level of knowing what is good or bad about its major components or what is in need of replacement or repair. Perhaps not all the valuable information gained is positive but at least you will know the major expenditures you may incur to rectify a situation. Just as importantly, you will learn how the home’s major components function and how to operate and maintain them. A home purchase is the largest single purchase most people will make in a lifetime, it makes sense to spend a few hundred dollars on an inspection. The cost is a very minor component of the purchase price. Would you buy a used car without having it inspected by a mechanic?