As you approach the crucial step of a home inspection, it's essential to understand what this process entails (and even some of what it doesn't). A home inspection is a vital component of the homebuying journey, ensuring you have a comprehensive understanding of the property's condition. In this blog post, we'll take you through what to expect during a home inspection and offer valuable tips to help you make the most of this critical assessment.
- Scheduling and Choosing and Inspector: Your Hall & Nixon REALTOR® can recommend reputable, licensed home inspectors that serve our area. Choose an inspector with relevant experience, certifications, and a good reputation. The inspector will coordinate with you and your agent to set a suitable date for the inspection. Your agent will correspond with the seller's agent to confirm the appointment. The inspector will often have a service agreement for you to review and sign prior to the inspection. Make sure you review the terms and conditions thoroughly, and that you are prepared to pay for the services no later than the time of the inspection. Most home inspectors will require payment at the time of service and will not allow you to wait until closing to pay. If you negotiated closing cost assistance from the seller when making your offer, you may be able to keep your inspection receipt and be reimbursed at closing for the money you paid up-front (if there are enough concessions remaining after other closing-related items have been paid).
- A Comprehensive Evaluation: A home inspection is a non-invasive examination of the property's visible and accessible areas. This means that an inspector will not disturb the personal belongings of a seller in order to inspect behind or underneath these items. The inspector will assess the home's structural elements, electrical system, plumbing, HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), roof, attic, foundation, and more. The goal is to identify any existing or potential issues that could impact the home's safety, functionality, and overall value. In North Carolina, home inspectors are not required to physically climb onto the roof to inspect - a visual assessment from the ground is considered sufficient by state standards. Your inspector may choose to be more thorough, and may perform a rooftop inspection; however, we just want you to be aware that it is not required in NC. Inspectors often exclude appliances from their inspections, so we recommend that you test the stove, oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, etc. if they are to convey with the sale of the home. Some appliance repair technicians may even be willing to inspect and test appliances for a fee, but that is not common practice in our area. Services of this specialty would need to be researched and coordinated directly with the vendor.
- Buyer's Presence and Questions: As a buyer, it's highly recommended that you attend the home inspection. Being present allows you to observe the process firsthand, ask questions, and gain a better understanding of the property's condition. A knowledgeable inspector will explain their findings and offer maintenance tips to help you care for your future home properly. Although you will receive a written summary report after the inspection, it is always better to see any potential defects in person and have the chance to ask the inspector for further explanation of the findings while at the property.
- Uncovering Issues: A home is RARELY perfect - even new construction homes can have flaws and defects. You should be prepared for a home inspection to reveal some imperfections or maintenance needs, and for the written, detailed report to contain many pages. Home inspectors often write up a paragraph about the condition of each item/feature inspected at a home, even if the item is found to be in good condition. Usually, there will be a summary section that points out all of the potential defects found during the inspection in one, convenient place in the report. Some common issues seen in these summaries include deferred maintenance, electrical problems, plumbing leaks, roof damage, and foundation concerns. Don't be alarmed if issues arise; instead, view it as an opportunity to discuss solutions with your agent and potentially negotiate some repairs with the seller.
- Reviewing the Report: Review the inspection report carefully. If you have any questions or need clarification on any items, consult with your inspector and/or your agent. Extra inspections can often be ordered from specialized vendors to give more information regarding the severity and proper corrective measures for the issues outlined in the inspection report. Once you have all of the details about each issue, consider which items (if any) you would like to address with your agent. Your agent will suggest different courses of action which may include negotiating repairs with the seller, asking for concessions to cover the cost of the repairs, or simply resorting to taking care of the issue yourself after closing.
Remember, a home inspection is the best way to determine the condition of a home, and it will help you make well-informed decisions about whether to proceed with the purchase, or to terminate and find another home. A home inspection is not about finding a perfect home, nor can a home inspector be expected to uncover every single potential defect that may be hidden behind walls or other inaccessible areas. It is better to think of an inspection as a tool to help you understand the property's strengths and areas that may require more attention. Ultimately, a good home inspection helps you move into homeownership with your eyes wide open, and helps you avoid many preventable repair surprises after closing.
