what an inspection is
What is an Inspection?
A typical home inspection is a limited, visual and non-invasive inspection of the property. It is limited in that if I can’t see it I can’t inspect it. Furniture, stored items, carpeting, soil, landscaping, or other items may conceal areas. The inspection will not involve any destructive testing or dismantling of any area or system in the house.
What is an inspector looking for?
What the inspector looks for will fall into one of four areas:
1. Safety - Can the house be occupied safely?
2. Major Defects – Such as structural failure.
3. Potential causes of major defects – Such as small leaks.
4. Basic operation of the mechanical systems.
What an inspection is not:
1. Code compliance inspection – I do not identify violations of codes or ordinances. The house was built to the codes and ordinances in place at the time of construction.
2. A warranty or guarantee – I provide information as to the condition of the house on the day of inspection.
3. An appraisal – A home inspector does not determine the market value of any property.
4. A required list of repairs – Items listed in the inspection report are for informational purposes so the client can make an informed decision about the property. No party is required to repair or replace any item listed in an inspection report.
TYPES OF INSPECTIONS:
Pre-Purchase
Buying a home can be extremely emotional and stressful. In a house you love, this can make it difficult to notice the small things that could lead to major problems down the road. It is important to have the trained eye of a neutral third party inspect the home so you can make an informed decision about the property.
Pre-Listing
Eventually your buyers are going to conduct an inspection. You may as well know what they are going to find by getting there first. Having an inspection performed ahead of time allows you to see the home through the eyes of a critical third-party. It helps you to price the home realistically and it permits you to make repairs ahead of time so that defects will not become negotiating stumbling blocks later.
New Homes
It is important to realize that most new homes do have defects that are not easily spotted. Many builders offer an inspection prior to the closing of the property, but it's their own personnel and not a third party licensed inspector typically performing this inspection. It is usually a quality control inspection concentrating on the aesthetics of the house, not structural defects.
WARRANTY INSPECTIONS
New homes typically have a one-year builder’s warranty when you purchase them. It is important to have an inspection around the tenth month into the warranty period. Defects that were hidden prior to the closing of the property may manifest themselves once the home is exposed to climate changes over the course of a few months.