Before spending their hard-earned money on a home, most individuals want to know exactly what they are buying. But, not everyone possesses the required knowledge and skill to carry out a home inspection of the property. For this reason, there are professional home inspectors. Many professional real estate companies have home inspectors they use to help buyers get an evaluation of the condition of the property for sale. Not just prospective homebuyers, but also home sellers should understand the home inspection process. This knowledge will help buyers to prepare a set of questions they should ask. Also, this information will help sellers be aware of the required changes to their home for a sale to go through.
What Happens During a Home Inspection Process?
A Detailed Walkthrough
In general, professional inspectors will take around two or three hours to do a complete walkthrough of the entire house. Of course, the time will differ according to the size of the home. To help buyers make the right choice, they conduct a top-to-bottom review of the physical structure. Also, they evaluate the electrical and mechanical systems during their walk through. They have a close look at the doors, windows, floors, walls, ceilings and roofs for any repairs to be carried out.
Checking Major Appliances
The inspector will evaluate the functioning of the major electrical appliances and other systems in the home like HVAC. They will carefully evaluate the plumbing system for any leaks. They crawl up into the attic and also down into the basement.
Taking Pictures and Notes
When evaluating every structure, the inspector will take pictures and notes about the condition of every part of the home. Some inspectors also capture motion pictures commenting on the items they see and their quality and every structure on the property.
Report
At the end of the home inspection process, the buyer can expect an objective opinion in the form of a written report from the inspector about the condition of the building. Professional inspectors conduct such an evaluation without any emotional attachment either towards the purchaser or the seller. Professional realtors usually require such inspections with the aim that the summary report should help both buyer and seller. Many home sales contracts are contingent on a satisfactory home inspection report.
Problems found during a home inspection are used during the final sales negotiations. The main reason for a seller to have a home inspection is to avoid being surprised after the sale with an expensive problem such as a failing roof or leaking basement.
Home inspections will never be able to find all issues with a house. Any issues hidden behind walls will not be discovered during a home inspection, but most major problems can be detected with this thorough visual inspection.
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