Purchasing a home is a large investment so you should get to know your home inside and out. A home inspection is highly recommended as it will reveal any potential issues that may not be visible. Yes, an inspection is at the buyer's expense but is an important step that should not be skipped.
What does an Inspector Look for?
In general, the inspector will look for anything that is or potentially could be an issue of code violation or of safety concern. The inspector will look at foundation, walls, ceilings, attic, basement, roof, HVAC systems, appliances, fireplaces, plumbing, electrical, etc.
How long does the inspection take?
Home inspections will vary but normally it takes between two and four hours. Obviously, the larger the home the longer it will take.
A few days to a week after your home inspection, you will receive a full report outlining in detail all the findings of the inspector. You should review this report with your Realtor.
Things to Consider
If the home is vacant, there is a pretty good chance the utilities have been turned off. For the inspection, the utilities must be turned on in order to receive a full home inspection. It may take a few days to get all the utilities turned on and this is at the buyer's expense so plan ahead.
If you are purchasing a home especially between the months of October - April, the home may be winterized. This means that all the water has been drained from the pipes to eliminate frozen pipes in the colder months. To de-winterize a property, this will take additional time and is at the buyer's expense so plan ahead.
If you are purchasing home in "As-Is" condition and things are found in the home inspection, know that have two choices: to accept the property or to terminate the sales contract.
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