INSPECTIONS ARE NOT REQUIRED, BUT THEY ARE WORTH IT
Getting a professional home inspection before buying a house is strongly encouraged. As an experienced guide, a certified and experienced home inspector is able to provide valuable insight, guidance and recommendations which usually results in thousands of dollars in findings and suggestions, making them an excellent Return on Investment.
- Are Home Inspections Required for a Mortgage Loan?
The short answer is, “No.” Home Inspections are not required. However, nearly 75% of all contracts with the seller include a “Contingency Clause.” This contingency provides that if significant defects are revealed by a home inspection, you can back out of your purchase offer, free of penalty, within a certain time-frame.
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- What is a Home Inspection?
Most states require a Home Inspector to be licensed and or certified. However, California is one of nearly two dozen states which does not require a license. So it’s important to do your research when choosing a Qualified Home Inspector. You want the Best Home Inspection Service, from an experienced and qualified inspector, covering the broadest topics and you also want a thorough list of details to review with a clear explanation of any possible material defects.
What is a material defect?
A material defect is a specific issue with a system or component of a residential property that may have a significant, adverse impact on the value of the property, or that poses an unreasonable risk to people.
Of course Home Inspectors vary in experience, ability, and thoroughness, but a top home inspector should examine certain components of the home and then produce a report covering his or her findings.
In the process of closing a home sale, the buyer typically hires a home inspector to come to the house and perform a visual observation. In accordance with the state’s standards, the home inspector identifies health, safety, or major mechanical issues. The typical inspection lasts two to three hours and it’s wise to be present for the inspection to get a firsthand explanation of the inspector’s findings and, if necessary, ask questions.
Seeing any problems the Home Inspector uncovers will make more sense if you see them in person. This is always preferable, instead of relying solely on the snapshot photos in the report.
The inspector should note:
Whether each problem is a safety issue, major defect, or minor defect
Which items need replacement and which should be repaired or serviced
Items that are suitable for now but that should be monitored closely
A really good inspector will even tell you about routine maintenance that should be performed, which can be a great help if you are a first-time homebuyer.
(see. Top Tips for first-time home buyers)
While it is impossible to list everything an inspector could possibly check for, the following list will give you a general idea of what to expect.
- What a Home Inspection Covers
The home inspector will inspect the exterior and the interior of the house to record any broken, defected, or hazardous issues with the house and the area surrounding the house.
A home inspection is a visual examination of the home’s major structure, systems and components that are visible and safely accessible. The inspector should substantially adhere to a standards of practice that outlines what should be covered during a general home inspection, as well as what is excluded. Some inspectors may strictly follow the standards of practice, while others may exceed the standards and inspect other items, or perform a more detailed inspection. Whatever the inspector includes in his or her inspection should be discussed prior to the inspection – this is known as the scope of work.
The inspector should provide you with a written report, which may include photos and/or recommendations, of his or her findings of the inspection. Read InterNACHI’s Standards of Practice to find out what is typically included and excluded in a home inspection.
What elements of a home are inspected during an inspection?
Home Inspections look at many things, from the top to the bottom, outside and inside. Below is an overview of the many items and components which are looked at, tested and inspected during a home inspection.
Roof
Exterior
Basement, Foundation, Crawlspace & Structure
Heating
Cooling
Plumbing
Electrical
Fireplace
Attic, Insulation &
Ventilation
Doors, Windows &
Interior
Of the above items, there are seven major things that home inspectors look for:
Water Damage
Structural Issues
Old/Damaged Roof
Damaged Electrical System
Plumbing Problems
Insect and Pest Infestation
Issues with the HVAC System
Roof Inspections
There are many signs to look for when it comes to a roof inspection. When a professional home inspector sees one or several of these signs present, depending on the specific issue, it could be the sign of potential costly repairs.
Symptoms of a failing or, defective roof, may be signs of water intrusion such as stains, water present during an inspection, molds, compromised insulation or wood destroying organisms. This type of damage could be reviewed as simply water damage in need of monitoring, or, structural damage, in need of correction. It depends on the unique conditions and an experienced inspector can advise the best course of action.
While there is no such thing as “The Perfect House,” an urgent roof repair could be a concern worth further evaluation. Furthermore, no roof lasts forever. The average life expectancy of a quality rook is usually somewhere between 15-30 years, but this may vary greatly by the area in which the house is located. Often times, a qualified home inspector should be able to tell you how many years of life are left in your roof. If it’s less than three to five years, it may be something that’s negotiated with the seller.
Depending on the size of the house and the type of roof you want, a new roof can range in price from $15,000 to $150,000.
Roofs can be expensive, and viewing it from the curb or outside only, it would be tough to truly assess the condition of the roof and it’s supports.
Exterior Inspections
The exterior of the house often shows signs of items that many need further review once inside. The exterior offers the first layer of protections to not only the structure, but systems that create the comfort as well.
Often times when reviewing the exterior, an inspector looks for areas of weakness, such as again paint, poor fastening, air and water intrusion opportunities, grading concerns that could affect the flow of water or the ability for rot to occur. Perimeter shrubs and trees are often inspected and may cause concern of they are too close to the surface or if the roots appear to be growing in a direct that could result in future damage to the property.
Fences, which are expected to provide security and safety, are reviewed to establish effectiveness and functionality. For example, in California, pools are required to have extra security fences and latches that are self closing. This is a major safety issues if their are ever children or pets present.
There are literally hundreds of things to look for in an exterior inspection which can affect the structure itself or the safety of the environment. A qualified home inspector looks for these and more, before even entering the home structure itself.
Basement, Foundation, Crawlspace & Structure Inspections
The foundations, crawlspaces and basements of homes are often some of the most important areas of interest which can tell a lot about the condition of the house. Many of the items contained in these areas will show signs of strength or weakness, and in a normal walk-through of a home, these area or not paid much attention by the untrained investor.
To the untrained eye, these signs will often go unnoticed or completely undetected. It’s important to have an experienced home inspector look into and specifically at these areas to better understand the condition of the home and potentially highlight any areas which may create future concerns.
Heating and Cooling / HVAC Inspections
A new furnace will usually cost between $3,000 and $6,000. If a furnace is broken beyond repair, or approaching the end of it’s life expectancy, it would be wise to know this before entering into negotiations for a home purchase.
Often times, when a certified home inspector sees signs of decay, weak performance or any other signs of concern, they may suggest a more In-Depth Inspection or evaluation from a specialist. This could be as simple as hiring an HVAC company to do a simple service and inspection. Usually these are a small cost to incur to better understand a vital piece of your homes comfort creating system. In many parts of the country, the furnace is a vital part of the homes safety and as such, needs to be reviewed for performance and usability.
Plumbing Inspections
It goes without saying that the plumbing system is one of the most important systems of a home. A functioning system, with proper flow and drainage is a minimum requirement for a good review.
But what about the toilet attachment or under the sinks or in the crawl spaces. Often times what appears to be in excellent shape can have hidden signs which lead to much greater problems in the future.
For example, the seal around the toilet connection could be compromised and is often undetectable. A trained and experienced home inspector may be able to evaluate the components and surrounding areas with different methods and tools to diagnose a potential problem. Obviously, without removing the toilet, this would be tough to tell with precision. However, if the inspector notices a loose attachment to the floor, he may investigate further looking in the crawlspace for signs of water intrusion, stains or moisture. Additionally, some experienced inspectors may opt to use a more involved method such as water detection methods via infrared or thermal imaging cameras.
Electrical Inspections
Wiring systems often have small concerns. But finding old, outdated, inefficient or unsafe electrical issues is a concern worthy of immediate attention and repair.
Expansive wiring repairs can be costly, sometimes requiring walls to be breached or entirely torn down. The proper repairs are always recommended, and often an experienced electrician is best in advising the prospective buyer of what’s needed. If your expert home inspector sees any signs of melting, black marks near outlets, exposed wiring or other signs through the use of their specialty tools, then further review is often suggested. While rare, it sometimes does happen during a quality home inspection.