Home Inspections

Because the purchase of a home is the single most expensive purchase most of us will ever make, you need to know as much as possible about what you are considering purchasing. The purpose of a home inspection is to give the prospective home buyer an unbiased report on the condition of the property they are considering purchasing. The typical home inspection takes two to three hours with the inspector visually inspecting many areas of the house. The inspector then presents the prospective house purchaser with a written report of his/her findings.

The typical home inspection will have the inspector check the following:

• The homes foundation – the basement, slab or whatever the house is built on.
• The structure itself - the condition of the framing material as well as the external covering (siding, brickwork, stucco whatever was used).
• The roof – the condition of the shingles (if shingled), the slope of the roof and any signs of leakage anywhere.
• The attic - for insulation, ventilation and leaks.
• The condition of the chimney.
• The condition of the plumbing.
• The condition of the electrical system.
• The condition of the heating and/or air conditioning system.
• Any interior (non-cosmic) problems that you should be aware of.

The home inspector may offer additional services that you may wish to purchase. Such as:

• Checking for Termites or other insects.
• Testing for mould.
• Water testing.
• Lead testing.
• Asbestos testing.
• Formaldehyde testing.
• Septic system testing.
• Radon testing.

Cautions:
It is important to remember that the home inspector’s findings are based on visual information only. And that he/she has a lot to look at in the typical two to three hour time period that the inspection process takes.

It also should be noted that the in some states the home inspection industry is unregulated; anyone can claim to be a home inspector. Some states, such as New York, regulate home inspectors but many don’t and you are on your own. There are organizations that are trying to regulate the industry to ensure proper home inspections are done, such as:

• The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)
• The National Association Of Home Inspectors (NAHI)
• California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA)

Keep in mind that at this time membership in these organizations is voluntary so lack of certification is not a sign that a particular home inspector cannot do a thorough home inspection.

Keeping this in mind, ask people you trust if they know of a reliable trustworthy home inspector. Many real-estate agents will refer quality home inspectors for you to use but beware of the possibility of a conflict of interest. If no one you know can refer you to a reliable inspector then ask the one you are considering for several references from past clients for you to get in contact with.

Also remember it is not the job of the home inspector to make repairs to the property or to give you accurate quotes on any repairs that may be required. The home inspector’s job is to give you an honest report on the condition of the property in question.