Frequently asked questions
Why should I get a Home Inspection?
1. Buying a Home
The obvious and most common reasons to get a home inspection is that you are buying a new home. You have an accepted offer to purchase and are excited to close on your new home. Before you do, you will want an accurate picture of the home you are buying. A home inspector will give you an in depth report on the house detailing any safety and maintenance issues as well as defects that may affect your offer to purchase. A home inspection will not only point out issues but give you a better understanding of the major components and general maintenance needs of your new home.
2. Selling a Home
I highly recommend that people selling their home get a home inspection. It gives them a heads up on issues that are bound to come up when the buyer has a home inspection. It allows you to fix issues before they become a problem for the buyers. You can decide before listing what you are willing to fix pre-sale and adjust your selling price accordingly. Repairs made prior to the contract for sale are often less expensive because you can fix them yourself, hire a friend or contractor of your choice. If you wait, the buyer’s may have control and repairs may be more expensive.
Having a pre-home inspection also allows you to market your home as pre-inspected. The buyer may even choose to use your inspection and forgo doing their own.
3. Thinking about Selling
Even if you’re not selling now but know you will probably sell in the next few years, a home inspection can help you prepare. For the same reasons to get a home inspection stated above, it can give you a heads up on issues or defects that will need to be addressed before you list your home.
4. Potential Savings for a Homeowner
Home inspectors can often uncover potentially expensive issues early. Things that if not cared for now will cost thousands to fix in the future. Early detection and preventative maintenance are key and can save a homeowner thousands.
5. Peace of Mind
Having a periodic home inspection can give a homeowner piece of mind that their home is functioning well and safe for the occupants. Safety is a top priority to home inspectors and they are trained to look for things that can cause harm or injury to you or your guests.
What is radon?
Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. Radon gas is inert, colorless and odorless. Radon is naturally in the atmosphere in trace amounts. Outdoors, radon disperses rapidly and, generally, is not a health issue. Most radon exposure occurs inside homes, schools and workplaces. Radon gas becomes trapped indoors after it enters buildings through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Indoor radon can be controlled and managed with proven, cost-effective techniques. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US.
What is a sewer inspection?
A sewer scope is a video inspection of the lateral sewer line leading from the house at/near the foundation and connecting to the city or HOA tap or septic tank. A lateral sewer line is the privately-owned pipeline connecting the property to the publicly-owned main sewer line, HOA tap, or septic tank. Sewer-scoping the line can reveal blockages, damage to the pipe system, and other problems, which are vital for homeowners and home buyers to be aware of. For example, if there is a damp depression in the lawn above the sewer line, or if there is backflow into the home, or if contaminants have been discovered in the potable water supply, a sewer scope inspection can be critical to identifying and confirming these problems, which must be addressed immediately.
how long does a home inspection take?
Depending on the home's age, size, and location, as well as the home inspector's own work protocols and ethic, your home inspection may take up to three hours. Adding square footage, outbuildings, and/or ancillary services (such as mold or radon testing) will increase that time. It may be necessary for your inspector to bring in a helper for a very large property. If your general home inspection takes significantly less than two to three hours, it may indicate that the inspector was not thorough enough.
At what point in the real estate transaction should I schedule a home inspection?
A home inspection is usually scheduled after an offer has been made and accepted, but before the closing date. That way, the inspector can rule out any major defects that could be dangerous or costly. In rare cases—due to timing or contractual issues—the inspection can be scheduled after the closing date. If this is the case, the home buyer should schedule the inspection for the earliest possible date after closing.