Why a Home Inspection?

When purchasing a home, many home buyers have saved literally thousands of dollars through information provided by the home inspector. People who have owned a home for several years have benefited through the home inspector's knowledge of maintenance, repairs, and experienced eyes to avert potential problems. In many areas where disasters have occurred, homeowners have relied on inspectors to help them identify any damage resulting from storms, earthquakes, etc.

What is a Home Inspection?

The goal of the home inspection is to give the client (seller or buyer) a much better understanding of the physical condition of the structure. To provide this the home inspector conducts a visual inspection of the home and its systems.

A typical home takes approximately 2-3 hours to inspect. When the inspector arrives he often presents a pre-inspection agreement to the client which is to be signed followed by payment. A good inspector then gives the client an overview of the inspection process and invites the client to accompany him.

While the following order may vary, the inspector should at least visually inspect the following:

• drainage systems
• roof
• framing/structure
• foundation
• attic
• basement
• chimney
• garage
• interior (non-cosmetic)
• kitchen / appliances / laundry / bathrooms
• plumbing systems
• electrical system
• heating system
• air conditioning system
  

Upon completion of the inspection the inspector should give the client a summary of what was discovered and an opportunity to ask questions. The client then recieves a signed written report of the findings. The report is the client's property, no other party is entitled to see it.

The inspector's job is to inform the client of the condition of the home. He can describe any problems discovered, explain how and why they occurred, and even make repair recommendations. The inspector should not recommend contractors, estimate repair costs, recommend whether or not the client should purchase the home, comment on its market value, or benefit in any way from the repair or sale of the home.

The inspection is limited to the condition of the house at the time of inspection and what is visually accessible. It is important to understand that an inspection is not a warranty and that it is limited. Due to industry pressures, an inspection is expected to take no more than 2-3 hours. It is impossible for an inspector to inspect every one of the thousands of components that make up a home in this 2-3 hours. He must rely on his experience to optimize the time available and focus on the most important items. No two inspectors will make exactly the same report.

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