What’s the health of the house you want to buy? Is your current dwelling line-in safe? These are some of the questions a home inspection answers.
Here are some home inspections you should consider if you’re looking to buy, sell, or check the health of your home.
I | Appraisal vs. Inspection: The Differences
A home appraisal specifies the value of a home, while a home inspection determines the home’s physical condition. Both of these evaluations are valuable when buying or selling a house.
However, here are the main differences to bear in mind:
- A lender will order an appraisal as part of the loan application process, but you can choose whether or not to commission a home inspection.
- If you’re hoping to cash in on your home’s equity, an appraisal determines if you qualify for a loan and the amount of money you can borrow against your home’s value. Lenders only consider home inspections if you’re looking to borrow money to buy a house, and the report highlights significant defects.
- Appraisers value your home, accounting for its condition, other comparable properties in the area, property size, and location (school zones, distance from emergency services, crime rate.)
- A home inspector uses devices and expertise to evaluate the state of your home.
In short, an appraisal deals with the monetary value of the house, and a home inspection assesses the property’s physical quality. Reviewing both reports, you can determine if the dwelling is safe and worth the price.
II | Standard Home Inspection
Why do I need a home inspection?
Experts recommend buyers request a standard home inspection. Home inspectors provide a general property report after a visual inspection of the home’s physical structure and essential systems.
Although home inspectors are generalists, they can help reduce buyer’s remorse. Buyer’s remorse often crops up after homebuyers close the deal and discover they bought a home with unexpected and costly maintenance issues and safety defects.
Avoid costly surprises
Home inspectors see things the untrained eye cannot. They know the common issues to watch out for in their area. For example, pest or radon problems. Standard home inspections don’t check for these issues, but they can recommend when additional inspections are necessary. They can also tell you if any components in the home, like an electrical panel, don’t meet city codes.
Homebuyers often include inspection contingencies in their offers. With this “loophole,” you can terminate your purchasing contract or renegotiate the price if the inspector’s report highlights significant issues.
What's included in a standard home inspection?
Standard inspections review the readily accessible interior and exterior areas of the home. The inspection process is usually visual, with no special tools for in-depth analysis. A general inspection will help you make an informed decision on your next steps. Whether you can purchase the house as is or if you require additional advice on potential issues.
Here are some of the evaluations you can expect from a typical home inspection.
Structural Systems
The soundness of your home’s structure is essential for your and your family’s safety. A home inspector will check for major issues with vital components like ceilings, floors, walls, stairs and guardrails, and window alignment.
They’ll check for foundational issues, water drainage, and grading around the house. Your roof, gutters, and a rudimentary evaluation of your chimney and vents are also part of the assessment. An inspector will note any areas in need of repairs.
Essential Systems
An inspector will check your home’s electrical system to ensure all visible wirings and components are up to code. They’ll also check lighting fixtures, fans, and electrical outlets. The evaluation will not be as in-depth as a report from an electrical contractor. But it will let you know if you need specialized assistance fixing any problems.
They’ll check your plumbing system for visible leaks, worn parts, damaged pipes and sinks, bathtubs, showers, and toilets.
For your heating and cooling systems, the inspection checks the condition of your air conditioning, central heating, furnace, water heater, fireplace, wood stoves, and chimney.
Keep in mind these are all cursory examinations. If the inspector notes a buildup of creosote in the chimney, they’ll recommend a chimney inspector for a more thorough evaluation of damages and repairs. The same goes for an air conditioner needing repairs or ungrounded outlets.
Other Interior Checks
- The attic and basements are prime locations for hidden problems. These problems may include water damage and mold. Home inspectors don’t check specifically for mold infestations, but they’ll note it for your follow-up if they see a problem.
- Sufficient insulation and ventilation in areas prone to water damage, like the attic, laundry rooms, kitchen, and bathrooms.
- Checks extend to the safety controls in your home, like the fire and carbon monoxide alarms and fire sprinklers.
- Checks for freestanding and built-in appliances like the refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, stove, etc.
Other External Checks
The general assessment covers exterior inspection of the property’s grounds.
- Driveways and sidewalks
- Fences
- Septic tank
- Exterior walls and siding material
- Decks and porches
The home inspector’s report will list recommendations if you require specialized services. Before speaking with an inspector, create a home inspection checklist with concerns you may have.
III | What a Basic Inspection Doesn't Cover
Here is a list of specialized types of assessments your home inspector might recommend depending on your location, the age of the home, and issues they encounter during their walkthrough.
Radon Testing
Radon is a radioactive natural gas formed from the breakdown of radioactive elements in the environment.
Radon gas is inert, colorless, and odorless, and according to the EPA, it’s the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.
Statistics gathered by the EPA show about 21,000 lung cancer deaths result from radon exposure every year. This makes radon the second leading cause of lung cancer in America, behind smoking.
A smoker exposed to radon faces an increased risk of lung cancer.
You can use a DIY kit to test the radon level in your home, but a professional radon inspector is your best option. Ask your home inspector if radon exposure is a concern in the area. Ask the seller about previous radon tests if you’re buying a home.
For help finding a mitigation contractor, you can contact the National Radon Safety Board or the National Radon Proficiency Program.
Asbestos Inspection
Asbestos is a leftover threat found in older buildings. Prolonged exposure causes shortness of breath, abdominal pains, and other long-term health conditions.
Building materials containing asbestos become harmful when they’re disturbed. Disturbance can happen by chance during a home improvement project.
If the general inspector, on their preliminary check, suspects the presence of asbestos-like materials, contact an asbestos abatement company. Testing will prove if this is the case or not. Doing the test yourself is dangerous; never use an unlicensed asbestos removal company.
Lead-Based Paint Inspection
Lead-based paint is another leftover of old-time construction. The federal government banned lead-based paint years ago, but there are still traces in older homes dating back to before the 1978 ban.
Prolonged exposure to this toxic metal causes blood cell, kidney, and brain damage. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to health issues posed by lead paint. If you live in an old house or looking to buy one, invest in a lead-based paint inspection.
Contact a certified lead abatement contractor to handle the safe removal.
Termite Inspection
Termites are tiny disasters waiting to happen. They make their home in the wooden elements of your home and eat away at them until they crumble. Often they go undetected until a stair or floorboard collapses.
The home inspector might run into apparent signs of infestation, like sagging rooves or walls, buckled paint, mud tubes, or shed termite wings. But, for the most part, it could be a hidden problem. You won’t know until you get a thorough assessment from a pest inspector or pest management company.
Mold Inspection
Mold growth is another often undetected problem. Prolonged exposure damages your home and triggers health threats like respiratory issues (runny nose, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing) and allergic reactions.
A mold inspector will test for water intrusion and humidity levels in drywall, insulation, and other building materials. Sample testing of surfaces and the air will determine the type of mold involved if there is an active infestation.
Some mold inspectors use thermal imaging to detect concealed damp or cold spots in hard-to-reach areas. Once they complete their assessment, they’ll explain the extent of the damages and recommend how best to remedy the situation.
IV | What to Do After a Home Inspection
Specialized inspectors are more expensive, but sometimes they are necessary. Read your inspector’s report and consider your options.
If the house receives a poor grade on the report, you can move on to other prospects. The cost of repairs and additional inspections might not be worth the time or effort. Otherwise, renegotiate the asking price to factor in repairs.
V | Is a Home Inspection Worth the Investment?
Once you understand it isn’t always a failsafe, a home inspection is worth the investment. It can’t predict the future of your home, but it will highlight its present condition.
Sellers
It’ll give you an idea of the problems you may face in selling your home. Remember, the buyer will most likely request a home inspection. It’s not necessary for financing, but it’s a wise choice. Fixing the glaring problems before putting up the “for sale” sign increases your chances of sealing the deal on the asking price.
Presenting a safe home for the future owner will also safeguard your reputation. Dissatisfied buyers might spread bad reviews online.
Buyers
Home inspections provide peace of mind. An inspection lets you know if you’re buying a money pit and if the property’s safe for you and your family.
There’s nothing wrong with a starter home or “fixer-upper,” but it’s best to know what you’re in for up front. If the home inspection report highlights a significant problem, use this to renegotiate the asking price.
Sellers don’t need to fix all of the issues. But, depending on the severity, you may not receive financing from a lender. Problems that affect your chances for funding include:
- Structural issues
- Electrical and plumbing problems
- Damaged roofing
- Pest and mold infestation
- Defective HVAC system
If any of these problems arise, getting quotes for the required services can help your broker negotiate the selling price if you’re willing to make repairs yourself.
Conclusion
The additional cost of a home inspection can spare you disappointment in the long run. Ask the inspector about issues common in the area.
