Home inspections give buyers the opportunity to evaluate a home’s current condition and the potential for maintenance and repair requirements after move-ins. These inspections are performed by professional contractors who give a full report to the buyer. That begs the question, What do home inspectors look for?
The Importance of Home Inspections
Before delving into the average Home inspection checklist, let’s start at the beginning and answer another important question: why are home inspections even necessary? They’re necessary because the average buyer can’t get an accurate picture of the structural condition of a home without professional help. Buyers pay a few hundred dollars for an inspection, then use the information provided to request repairs or gain leverage during negotiations.
The Essentials
Professional home inspectors already know what to look for, but buyers who have specific needs should also share them with the inspector. Here’s a free inspection checklist of areas of the home that may need unexpected maintenance or repairs:
Foundations
Roofs and gutters
Attics or crawl spaces
Electrical systems
Heating, cooling, and HVAC systems
Plumbing fixtures
Doors and windows
Interior and exterior walls
Ceilings and floors
Exterior add-ons like porches or balconies
Walkways, driveways, and steps
Interior stairs
Basements
Garages
The average contractor will check all of these essential structures and systems over the course of several hours. Some allow buyers to attend the inspection, while others send detailed pictures and videos.
What’s Not Included?
The average checklist for a home inspection includes all of the structure’s physical components. That can include some forms of exterior hardscaping, though it doesn’t always. Home inspectors don’t generally evaluate things like the condition of the landscape and irrigation system, swimming pool equipment, or drainage problems. They’re also unlikely to mention problems with pests like rodents or termites.
It’s also important to note that home inspectors can only include information about what they can see. If there’s snow on a roof, they won’t be able to get a clear idea of its condition. They can’t evaluate the condition of underground utility lines, and they aren’t allowed to move the current occupant’s belongings. It’s always best if the home is vacant during the inspection.
Considering the Cost
The entire purpose of hiring a home inspector is to get a better idea of the true cost of purchasing a property. Unfortunately, while inspectors are great at identifying issues that will require immediate repairs, they don’t usually offer cost breakdowns.
Homeowners who want to get the most accurate possible picture of how much it will cost to get the property back into top shape should seek out an inspector that also estimates repair costs. It’s worth the extra time and hassle.
Home Inspection Costs 