A home inspection is a detailed review and analysis of a property which is conducted by a home inspector. This professional inspects the home and evaluates the condition of the home.
The home inspector then prepares a report based on their findings. The report will outline any improvements, repairs, or safety issues that may need to be corrected in the home.
In most cases, a home inspection is conducted when a party is considering purchasing the property. A home inspection report will assist an individual in deciding whether a property is worth purchasing.
It may also influence an individual’s decision to negotiate on the price of the home. It is also important for an individual to conduct their own independent walk through of a home they are considering purchasing.
This will assist a potential buyer with the home, its condition, and any necessary repairs that must be made. By conducting a home inspection, an individual can avoid instances of fraud by a home inspector in the event that they fail to disclose any defects that they may have noticed while inspecting the home on the purchaser’s behalf.
Below is a checklist that individuals can use for conducting their own inspections. This checklist is not a substitute for hiring a professional.
What Questions Should be Asked?
There are several main sections to every home, each with important issues to review. The following questions can help an individual review the condition of a home:
- Yard:
- Do the driveway or sidewalks have any cracks, potholes, or other defects?;
- Are the bushes, trees, and other plants well-cared for and in good condition?;
- Are porches, patios, decks, stairs, and steps in good repair without any security issues?;
- Does the yard have any water drainage issues?; and
- Does the pool have cracks, algae, or other issues?;
- Exterior:
- Are there any holes or cracks on the exterior walls of the home?;
- Do the steps, porches, doors, windows, or roof appear to sag?;
- Is the exterior paint in good condition?;
- Are any windows cracked or missing screens?;
- Is the trim around the doors and windows cracked, decayed or showing any signs of leaks?; and
- Are there any shingles cracked or missing on the roof?;
- Kitchen:
- Are all the appliances in good working order?;
- Does the kitchen sink drain properly or leak?;
- Do the electrical outlets work?; and
- Are the kitchen cabinets properly level, and do they show any signs of excessive wear and tear?;
- Bedrooms and Living Room:
- Is the interior paint in good condition?;
- Are there any issues with the floor, ceiling, or walls, such as holes, cracks, or stains?;
- Do windows and doors open and shut properly?; and
- Do electrical outlets and light switches work?;
- Bathrooms:
- Is there any evidence of mold?;
- Do the sink, toilet, bathtub, or shower leak?;
- Does the fan work properly?; and
- Are there any issues with cracked tiles?;
- HVAC:
- Does the heating and cooling system work properly?; and
- Does it appear to have been serviced recently?;
- Attic and Basement:
- Is there any evidence of a leak or flooding?; and
- Is there any evidence of an animal or insect infestation?; and
- Garage:
- Does the garage door function properly?.
What Does a Home Inspector Do?
A home inspector looks for issues with various components of the home, which may include:
- Whether toxic mold is present in a basement;
- Whether a furnace is working;
- Whether the home has an infestation, such as termites or rodents;
- Whether the heating and air conditioning units are properly functioning; and
- Whether the home is equipped with operating carbon monoxide detectors.
A home inspector will inspect numerous systems an areas of the home to determine if there are any structural issues, including the:
- Plumbing;
- Walls;
- Ceiling;
- Fences;
- Foundation;
- Staircases;
- Roof; and
- Chimney.
The inspector will notate if any issues exist in these areas. The inspector will then prepare an inspection report and deliver the results to the party who hired the inspector, usually the buyer or seller.
An inspection report may contain recommendations for remediating issues which were found, for example, replacing the A/C filter. The report usually does not provide an estimate of the value of the home.
Instead, the value of a home is determined by a home appraiser. An appraiser reviews several factors to determine the value of a home, including:
- The home’s condition;
- Local crime rates;
- School quality; and
- Values of similar homes in the area.
Due to the fact that not all home inspectors are required to be licensed or certified, some inspectors have more expertise than others. For example, a home inspector who does not have a certification in mold detection and remediation may conclude the house has a mold issue.
A homeowner can then hire a professional who is certified in that field to evaluate if a mold problem is present.
How Extensive is a Home Inspection?
An inspector will typically be looking for non-trivial issues. In other words, they do not notate every single flaw in the appearance or system of a home.
Instead, the inspector looks for problems that a reasonable, average homebuyer might consider to be significant when they are deciding whether or not to purchase the home. An inspector will also look for problems which may constitute a violation of housing codes, which may require, for example, that certain alarms be installed.
In general, the more thorough a home inspection, the more it costs. The cost of the inspection will also depend upon how old the home is as well as its size.
What is the Importance of a Home Inspection?
A home inspection allows a buyer and a seller to complete a sale armed with the relevant information regarding the condition of the home. A buyer will want to review any inspection reports prior to purchasing a home.
If the inspection report reveals there is an issue, a buyer is legally permitted to insist on having that issue resolved before purchasing the home. In many cases, a buyer will include a provision in the purchase contract which makes conducting an inspection a condition of the sale.
This provision may require that if any repairs are needed, they must be paid for by the seller prior to the purchase. The provision may also provide the buyer with the right to not go through with the sale if the seller does not make the necessary repairs.
A home inspection is also an important tool for an individual to use when negotiating the purchase price of a home. If, after an inspection is complete, there are significant issues, for example, needing a new roof, the purchaser may be able to deduct the cost of fixing that issue from their purchase price or require the seller to fix that issue prior to completing the purchase.
In some cases, a buyer may prefer that the cost of fixing the issue be deducted off of the purchase price so that they are free to choose who conducts the repairs as well as what materials are used.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Home Inspection?
If you are considering purchasing a home, it can be very helpful to consult with a real estate lawyer regarding all of the steps you must complete to make the purchase. Your lawyer can advise you regarding having a home inspection clause in your purchase contract and the consequences of the inspector finding any issues with the home.
Your lawyer can also assist you in evaluating how to proceed, whether you should move forward with the purchase, and whether to litigate any issues. There are numerous steps in addition to a home inspection that must be completed for you to purchase a home, and your lawyer can assist you through all of them.
