What To Expect From Your Home Inspection

So, the seller has accepted your offer – but before the purchase is complete – you need to hire your own home inspector. To provide enough time for additional inspections or contingency negotiations with the seller, you’ll want to schedule a home inspection as soon as possible once you’re under contract.

A professional home inspection is a visual assessment of a house’s physical structure and mechanical systems, including the roof, exterior, foundation, ceilings, walls, floors, windows, doors, and interior features. Typically, the inspection follows a very detailed checklist of specific items which are checked during the inspection process. Our list uses over 250+ items.

The inspector will check the major installed appliances that are remaining with the home, scrutinize and test the heating and air-conditioning system, examine the roof, chimney & attic, plumbing, electrical system, and foundation.

The objective of a professional home inspection is to uncover issues with the home itself. Home inspectors aren’t hired to tell you if you’re getting a good deal on the home or offer an opinion on the sale price. The home inspector is hired to conduct a detailed inspection, issue a report on the home, and give you the necessary information you need to make a sound investment decision. Is the home a sound investment – or is it a bottomless money pit?

A professional home inspector should take several hours to complete a detailed walk-through of the home you’re looking to buy. During that time, the inspector will be taking notes and pictures, which will go into your home inspection report. Most importantly, the inspector will provide an unbiased objective opinion on the home’s condition, detached from the emotional roller-coaster you’ve been on during the entire home buying process.

While a professional home inspector will focus on the home and its major systems, they should also keep a strong lookout for any potential health & safety issues that might surface during the inspection. After all the home inspector works for you and your family’s health and safety should be their top priority. A home inspector won’t usually address aesthetic issues in a home unless it might suggest a more broad possible issue.

Although professional home inspectors will have a keen eye for detail, no matter how good they are – they won’t be able to detect the unseen – nor can they predict the future performance of the home and its major systems. In short – home inspectors don’t have a crystal ball. That means hidden pests, asbestos, mold or other potentially hazardous substances might go unnoticed. Areas that aren’t readily accessible, like the septic tank, won’t be covered, either. Those sorts of issues can require specialized evaluations.

Remember – a Home Inspection is not an exam. It does not have a “pass or fail score.” No fixes are mandatory after a home inspection, but it can certainly identify known issues and arm you with factual information that you can use during negotiations with the seller(s). Which may in turn, save you thousands of dollars. With a professional home inspection, you will certainly learn much about the home and you will gain confidence in your decision to either purchase the home or keep looking for that dream home.

At Sentry Home Inspections, LLC – We inspect your home as if we were going to move our own family in! We’ve Got Your Back…