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Buyers should always get a general home inspection, radon and other inspection types. You may need to get a roof or engineering inspection as well depending on what the seller’s property disclosure or home inspector says. Radon is one of the top three indoor air pollutants which are classified as carcinogenic and can cause lung cancer, heart disease and premature death. If you don’t know a lot about home inspections, you may not realize that you need one. To find out if your home has a septic system, check the county health department. While they could add up in costs and time, specialized home inspections can give you peace of mind in the long run.
Among the requirements for certification from ASHI, for instance, candidates must pass an in-person National Home Inspector Examination and document that they've done at least 250 paid home inspections. InterNACHI's certification requirements include having candidates pass its Online Inspector Examination and submit four mock or simulated inspection reports to the organization. After all, a home inspection is your one opportunity to get a clear-eyed assessment about the true condition of something that, for many, is the most expensive purchase of a lifetime.
What is included in a home inspection?
If you’re purchasing an older home with a wood-burning fireplace, order a chimney inspection. Sometimes older chimneys don’t have flue liners, or the brick could be crumbling inside the structure. Both issues may cause blockage and improper smoke discharge, which poses a serious safety issue.
Sellers may use a pre-listing home inspection as a way to streamline the sale process in hopes of closing faster. This is especially common for sellers who need to use the cash from their home sale as a down payment on a new home. Completing a pre-inspection can indeed shave a few days off your sale process if it leads to buyers being willing to waive their own inspection after seeing your pre-inspection report. Home inspections are very important for most buyers who are not buying a lot of houses.
Fear over losing a buyer to property condition
An inspection allows you to escape a contract if there are serious structural, mechanical, or safety defects discovered about the house. You also can negotiate with the seller about fixing serious deficiencies, or reduce your offer to cover you handling the repairs yourself. Most homebuyers request a general home inspection at least, during which the expert will check basic features. He or she will check the roof, foundation, paint, safety standards, electrical coding, and other items at a rudimentary level in search of glaring problems. A home inspector will look at the house's foundation and note potential issues like drainage problems, nearby tree roots, cracks or other indications of movement.
Electrical distribution or lighting equipment in the home remains the 4th leading cause of home fires, according to the National Fire Prevention Association. An electrical inspection goes so far as to check for ungrounded outlets, exposed wiring, spliced wires, improperly modified electrical panels, and other issues that could pose a risk. If testing detects elevated levels, the buyer can ask the seller to foot the bill for mitigation, which averages about $1,200 nationwide and in Greenblatt’s area costs as high as $2,000.
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A plumber can tell you if galvanized plumbing needs to be replaced. Some galvanized pipes are so clogged that you can barely fit the lead of a pencil through them. Testing the soil is important if you're buying a home on the side of a hill because you don't want the home or any part of the hill sliding away during a severe rainstorm. Be sure to check out the electrical panel and Google the model number to make sure it hasn't been recalled. Elizabeth Weintraub is a nationally recognized expert in real estate, titles, and escrow. She is a licensed Realtor and broker with more than 40 years of experience in titles and escrow.
Most furnaces must be taken apart to determine the source of the malfunction. Most sellers are happy to have their house inspected by a reputable home inspector so long as you give them 30 days to get the report back. At that point you can decide if you want to purchase the home or not. Some inspectors also inspect the roof and foundation as well as the electrical system. Some home inspectors will offer this specialized inspection, or you can search for an oil tank testing and removal company in your area. Add an additional $50 to $250, based on the depth of the tank, if the inspector has to uncover the tank.
I am able to get slightly lower rates because I am a Realtor and there is a chance I might send business to inspectors. Review any seller disclosures you received before inspection day. Be sure to ask your inspector to look at those areas and verify repairs. If you are buying a foreclosed home, there may be no disclosures.
This type of home inspection may even use thermal imaging to locate damp or cold spots behind walls where mold tends to thrive. A pre-listing home inspection costs between $250 and $700, depending on where you live and the size of your home. For some sellers, the upfront cost is worth the benefits of a pre-inspection. Keep in mind that you won’t have to pay for another inspection once you have an offer in hand — that’s the buyer’s responsibility.
The EPA estimates that nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States has elevated radon levels, which can increase the risk of lung cancer. Scientists estimate that 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths nationwide each year are related to radon. You need to be concerned when the radon level in your home registers 4 pCi/L . Consider asking for a roof certification, a document from a roofing professional that identifies the need for any roof repairs and provides an estimate of the roof’s lifespan. Roof certifications are typically valid for 2 to 5 years after inspection.
If you’re buying a home that was built before 1975, there’s a chance asbestos may be present in one or more of its construction materials. An asbestos inspection should be conducted by a certified asbestos removal company. Keep in mind that while asbestos tests take time, the entire home is inspected to ensure no asbestos-containing materials remain in the home you want to purchase. If the inspector recommends a removal, make sure this is addressed before signing off on the contract. To enjoy sunny weather year-round, you can expect to have your air conditioning running day and night, which can easily add to your energy bill. An attic inspection will let you know if there’s sufficient or damaged insulation that needs to be remedied.
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