Home Inspection Basics
A home is probably one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make in your lifetime. It’s important that before you sign the dotted line, your new home undergoes a home inspection. This will go a long way towards preventing costly home expenses after the actual purchase. For this, you’ll need some professional help from a home inspector.
You may have your own checklist for home inspection. That’s fine. While home inspection requirements vary state to state, the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) stipulates a minimum set of standard of areas of inspection.
Here’s what professional home inspectors inspect:
- Basic Home Structure: Evidence of sagging, leaning or bowing of the structure and alignments of windows.
- Grounds: Septic tank leakages, driveway, drainage, garden walls, fences and sidewalks.
- Roof: Any repairs or patches. Overall condition of shingles, chimney, gutters, and vents.
- Exterior Condition: Painting, siding, lighting, and other electrical.
- Attic: Any sign of water, fire or termite damage, quality of ventilation, and insulation.
- Plumbing: No pipe leaks or damages. Functioning toilets, bathtubs, showers and free-flowing sinks. Proper hot water temperature.
- Electrical systems: Proper functioning of outlets, lighting fixtures, fans and circuit breakers. Wiring should meet city code.
- Appliances: All properly functioning (dishwasher, stove, microwave, refrigerator, washing machine and dryer and all other appliances).
- HVAC: Air conditioning system, furnace condition, chimney, water heater, and fireplace.
- Basement: Foundation, floor and wall cracks, any sign of water damage or leaks.
- Garage: solid foundation, ceiling, frames and roof, windows, garage door opening and closing properly, electrical system up to code and outlets functioning well.
How long does a home inspection take?
With the proper home inspection tools, the process would usually cover several hundred items from the house’s foundation to the roof and depending on the property’s age and size. The entire process can take up to four hours. However, the final report is typically completed after the onsite inspection and can cover nearly 400 items.
How much do home inspections cost?
A typical home inspection may cost from $400 – $600. Regard it as an investment because, at the end of the day, it’ll help you save costs of repair and can provide excellent contract negotiation topics!