The Ins and Outs of a Home Inspection.
The Ins and Outs of a Home Inspection.
What should you expect from a home inspection?
Many people find themselves, at some point in their lives, involved with purchasing a home. It's one of the most expensive and biggest investments you'll ever make. For this reason, it is extremely important to know as much about your new house as possible. Buying a home is such a big decision that sometimes we forget about the little things.
These little things can add up to big expenses to fix and that's where a home inspection comes in.
So what does a home inspector do?
A home inspector is a certified individual who goes through the house you're buying, top to bottom, and checks for any damage or problems that may have been previously overlooked.
The inspector will look for not only visible signs of trouble but also hidden ones. The most common areas inspected are the roof, attic, basement, doors & windows, electrical systems, floors, insulation & ventilation, heating & cooling systems, plumbing and the foundation.
Once you go through your new house with an inspector they will give you a report of all the items that may be causing problems or need fixing. The list will include both major and minor problems.
After your report is issued you can make a decision whether or not to move forward with the purchase of the house as-is or ask for repairs that need immediate attention. Unless the house is listed as a fixer-upper in some way or another, most items on the list will be minor and those issues can wait until after you've moved in.
Remember, no matter how good a house looks, don't skip the home inspection. Purchasing a house is one of the biggest financial decisions you can make in your life, so don't be rushed into it or let anyone pressure you into making a decision until after your inspection.
Is an inspection the same as a home appraisal?
No, an inspection is different than the appraisal process. The purpose of the inspecting stage is to identify visible issues in the home that are not readily apparent during a basic walk-through. An inspector will analyze these problems to determine if they need to be fixed before purchase or what kind of impact that item may have on its value.
A home appraisal is a process of determining the home's fair market value. Its determination is commonly based on the location of the home and its condition. This appraisal process is the final formality before the closing of a home sale.
The purpose of the inspection in evaluating the condition of a house before purchasing it in order to identify structural problems that an ordinary walk-through might not catch. The appraisal is when an appraiser calculates the fair market value of a property at present.
The inspection looks deeper into how items work because they want to make sure there are no major issues with them or any danger lurking around for whoever moves into the home later.
What does the term "structurally sound" mean when it comes to a home inspection report?
When a home inspector says the structure is "sound", they are referring to how well the building's foundation, walls, floors, and ceilings are holding up. This can be thought of as the framework for your house. The implication is that there are no serious defects in any of these areas.
The foundation is one of the most important parts of the structure. It is literally the foundation upon which the rest is built, so it needs to be in good shape. If it were cracked, sunken, or uneven then that would be a source of concern. Similarly, if there are large cracks in any of the walls or ceilings that house important plumbing fixtures like sinks and toilets, this could cause problems as well.
Another part of structural soundness is the roof and its attachment to the rest of the house. A damaged, loose, or flat roof should be inspected and repaired before it becomes a serious problem that creates leaks and other damage inside your home.
What are some things professional home inspectors will warn you about?
Home inspections are usually requested by the buyers' real estate agents but they can be done by the seller as a pre-listing inspection. A thorough inspection, complete with a written report, will let the seller know all the things that could come up when a buyer does their own home inspection.
It allows them to make necessary repairs long before a purchase agreement becomes a reality. Home inspection services are usually best sought after talking to a real estate agent that can give advice on which inspector to hire.
A full inspection will go over safety issues, sewer lines, sufficient insulation, the HVAC system, electrical outlets, the electrical panel. Many home inspectors will go over minor issues to glean all the valuable information possible. Potential problems like water damage that can affect the home in the long term by causing structural issues in the long term will be high on the list.
Serious issues when it comes to important purchases in a stressful process like the home buying process will have lasting repercussions. A new home will cost a lot more if the water heater needs replacing in a couple of months after the buyers move in. A qualified home inspector will relay the most important facts but it's important to get a thorough breakdown of issues pertaining to home maintenance.
Questions to ask your inspector.
If you have chronic health conditions, like asthma for example, your own inspector can look for issues with the air conditioning systems more thoroughly. If you need easy access to the home because of a mobility issue, then your inspector can put a greater emphasis on certain key structures.
If there are any circumstances that set you apart from the average buyer when it comes to how you use a house the inspection should reflect that.
One key thing people neglect is the roof, if you're worried about how the home reacts to inclement weather, especially for a lot of places in British Columbia, then ask your inspector to move that item to the top of the home inspection checklist.
Potential buyers, especially when they are enamoured with a house, see the inspection as a formality but a home inspection can save home buyers tens of thousands in terms of repairs and far too many headaches when it comes to things like plumbing and electrical work.
It's important to review the home inspection report before moving forward with a purchase. As your home inspector will pay special attention to the home, a buyer should pay the same intense attention to the potential issues that come with their new home.
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