How to prepare for a home inspection

How to prepare for a home inspection

We recommend that you prepare yourself for the home inspection by making a list of areas of the home you want checked before the inspector arrives. Your checklist should include:

• Foundation
• Roof
• Attic space
• Rain gutters and downspouts
• Exterior stucco or paint
• Electrical panel, light switches, and power outlets
• Thermostats and heating, cooling, and ventilation (HVAC) system
• Plumbing fixtures, faucets, and water heater
• Appliances
• Walls, ceilings, and floors
• Doors and windows
• Stairs, steps, and railings
• Porches and balconies
• Walkways and driveways
• Basement
• Garage

An inspection should take at least a few hours. Try to be present so you can find out as much possible about the home’s condition, take your own notes and photographs, and ask about anything that concerns you.

What a home inspection includes – and what not

While the scope of an inspection can vary, according to The Balance, one thing is consistent: Inspectors are chiefly concerned with a home’s physical components. That covers a lot of systems, but it does not include everything. Components that might be left out include:

• Trees and landscaping
• Lawn sprinklers
• Sewer line
• Swimming pool equipment
• Fireplace and chimney
• Drainage
• Odors
• Internet service
• Floors covered by carpeting
• Roof or outdoor hardscape covered by snow
• Mice, rats, or other rodents
• Wood-destroying pests, such as termites or carpenter ants

Some inspectors will note if they find some of the items on the above list, but not always. Most inspectors’ contracts limit their liability to the fee you paid if they missed a key element. That means a refund is the most you’ll probably get if the inspector makes a mistake. If a problem is costly to remedy, you might have to hire an attorney to try to work out a settlement or file a lawsuit against the inspector.

Inspectors can only report what they can see, not what’s inside walls, behind the seller’s furniture or moving boxes, or buried underground. If the home has an easily-accessible crawl space, the inspector usually will enter and check out the foundation. If the home is full of the seller’s belongings, the inspector won’t be able to inspect as much as if the home is vacant.

Using a home inspection report

If the inspector finds major problems or a longer list of minor issues than you’d expected, you might want to reconsider your decision to purchase that home. If you have questions, discuss them with the inspector.

Inspectors typically won’t estimate repair costs or the remaining useful life of appliances or other systems for you. If you’re concerned about particular items, you might need to get your own repair and replacement bids from local contractors and home improvement stores. There are some occasions, especially in hot markets, where sellers only accept non-contingent offers, meaning, the buyer agrees to buy without any inspections.