Inspections are an important piece of the process when buying a home, and usually always a buyer expense. Buyers should know what exactly is being inspected when they order an inspection. In a basic home inspection, the inspector is going to cover areas such as structural, roof, plumbing, electrical systems, heating and air conditioning, test appliances and inspect crawl spaces.
Other inspections that may be added include tests for issues that can pose health risks like mold, radon, lead paint and asbestos. Termite inspections are also another inspection to add to the list. And, usually, fireplaces and any detached buildings, such as sheds, need to be specifically added.
Other questions a buyer should consider to ask their real estate agent are:
Who do they recommend for the home inspection and why?
Does the company cover all of the various inspections the buyer chooses to have performed, or do they need to hire different inspection companies?
Can they attend the inspection?
How long does the inspection take?
What are some of the common issues found during home inspections?
Can I still perform an inspection even if a home is listed “as-is”?
In some cases, sellers may choose to have a home inspection done before putting their home on the market to get more information about the condition upfront.
And, some sellers will also conduct all of the repairs suggested from that “pre-inspection”.
Or, some sellers may offer to cover the cost of home repairs as a seller concession when marketing their property.
But, a buyer can still decide to conduct their own home inspection even when a seller has provided a pre-inspection.
Lauren Bunting is a Broker with Keller Williams Realty of Delmarva in Ocean City, Maryland.
