Purchasing a home can be one of the largest and most stressful investments many people will ever make. In order to assist buyers in making this investment with the utmost confidence, a home inspection helps identify the items that may need to be repaired. This helps prevent being blindsided by costly repair bills once moved in. Home inspectors can also note items that may need to be maintained, informing buyers of ways to keep the home in good working order for longer.
The home inspection is a non-invasive, visual evaluation of the components of a home. The inspector will review and note observed defects in accessible areas, such as the exterior walls, roof, attic, garage, HVAC units, water heaters, plumbing, electrical panels, pools, pool equipment, appliances, interior rooms, and more. On an average house, inspections can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours to complete.
A common misunderstanding of a home inspection is that a house may pass or fail the inspection. The goal of a home inspection is not to approve the house, but instead to simply give the home buyer a concise, professional opinion of the state of the home, empowering them to make a fully informed decision.
Do I Have To Be At My Inspection?
Buyers are encouraged to attend their inspections to be able to discuss particular concerns with their inspector and for the inspector to be able to show them issues located in person. However, it is not required for a buyer to attend the full duration of the inspection, or even to be there at all. The inspector will fill out a full inspection report, detailing their findings with photos, locations, and descriptions of the issues found. They are always happy to answer any additional questions after the inspection, whether through a call or email, to provide the client a full understanding of the home.