We often get asked by homebuyers if there is anything they need to do before their home inspection. This is most common for first time buyers who haven’t had a home inspection before. With that in mind, we have a few tips, suggestions, and pointers to help buyers get the most out of their home inspection.
Be mindful of deadlines when scheduling:
Your Realtor will let you know when you have to have all inspections done by. Typically it’s 7 or 10 days from the time you sign the agreement of sale. Some inspections or tests such as radon, well water quality, or air quality can take a few days for results to come in so keep that in mind when scheduling your appointment.
Know what you’re paying for:
Inspections are visual and non-invasive. We can only report on the things we can see without taking anything apart. We’re kind of like a family doctor in that if we find something that seems like an issue, we may refer you to consult a specialist (i.e. a roofer or electrician).
Be sure to choose an inspector or inspection company who you can trust to be available for questions before, during, and after your inspection. Purchasing a home is a big deal so you’ll want someone you can rely on!
Attend the inspection and participate:
We strongly recommend all buyers attend the inspection for the duration. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! We’re not just here to tell you what’s wrong with the house. Our goal is to give perspective on any repairs, defects, or safety issues we find and to educate you about how to operate your new home. We also love giving home maintenance tips!
All houses have issues and defects to attending the inspection and asking questions can help put the findings into perspective.
Don’t panic when you get the inspection report:
One of our inspectors always tells clients “It looks worse in writing”. In our experience this is true. When you have the inspector on site to clarify and keep things in perspective for you it doesn’t seem so bad. For whatever reason a lot of people get a bit nervous when seeing those findings in the summary of their report.
Your inspector and your Realtor are here to answer questions and help guide you through the process.
If you need advice or have questions, please don’t hesitate to call or email us!
