Buyer’s Home Inspection

Congratulations, your offer was accepted and you’re going to be a homeowner! After you’ve made all your phone calls to share the big news and sipped on a glass or two of celebratory wine, it’s time to move on to the next step in the home buying process: the home inspection.

At first glance, property inspections can seem daunting, especially if you’ve never been through the process. That’s where we come in.

During a home inspection, we will take a look at the property. We look for any potential problems with the home that you might need to deal with later. As the buyer, you’re free to attend the home inspection. After we finish touring the property, we will write a report that contains everything we find during the visit.

No home is perfect. Your inspection results give you a closer look at the real condition of your property. No one wants to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a home just to find that it has irreparable structural issues. Be sure to schedule your home inspection before you close on your loan. This leaves time to contact the seller and adjust the sale if the inspection reveals major issues.

Your home inspector will take a look at all of the home’s major structures and features. With a buyer’s home inspection there are some specific areas where we will look for problems, these areas include:

• The home’s basic structure: Your home inspector will look for structural issues such as damage to the home’s foundation and support.
• Roof and Attic System: We’ll look at the exterior of the roof and search for signs of damage. This includes things like missing shingles or a sinking roof. We’ll also look at your gutters and rain guards to make sure water flows away from your property. We’ll look in your attic for signs of leaks, structural damage, or insulation issues as well as damage to your fireplace if you have a chimney.
• Basement/Crawlspaces/ Slab: We’ll look for water damages in areas that are especially vulnerable to water infiltration which can quickly lead to major issues.
• Plumbing System: We’ll look at your plumbing system, making sure that toilets and water flow, shut off and turn back on at the right times. We’ll also look for leaks and test your water heater.
• Electrical System: As Your inspector, we will first check to make sure that your electrical system is properly grounded. Grounding helps avoid overheating and fires and can be an expensive issue to correct. We’ll review your circuit breaker, wiring, ceiling fans, and outlets to make sure they’re working.
• Appliances: We will check to make sure that large appliances (like your oven and dishwasher) are in working order as well as check to make sure they are safe to use.
• Garage: We’ll test your garage door opener and components, but also look for damage to the garage door, walls, ceiling, and floor.
• HVAC Systems: We will make sure that your home’s heating and cooling system are running properly.

Home inspections aren’t comprehensive. You may need to schedule a separate inspection for the following systems because they require special equipment or training. Here are some areas that may require another professional:

• Chimney & Fireplace inspection
• Well and septic system inspection 
• Pest or termite inspections
• Asbestos testing 
• Mold inspection
• Lead paint inspection

Just because something isn’t covered in a home inspection, don’t think that it can’t be inspected. You may simply have to look into other sources. If there is an aspect of your new property that is giving you pause, do some research. Ask your realtor about the possibility of getting it checked out so that you can go through the rest of the transaction with confidence.

Book Your Buyer’s Home Inspection Today!