Would you buy a car without driving it first? Would you purchase clothing without making sure it fits? Then why buy a home—probably your largest expense—without getting it checked out first? Just because it looks good at first glance doesn’t mean you won’t find some “skeletons” in its closet later. Let’s take a look at a few things to consider in regards to home inspection.

What Does a Home Inspector Do?

A qualified home inspector will crawl under, look behind and step above windows, doors, walls and floors to discover anything that might be less than perfect. He will also make sure the home in its present condition is up to the city’s building codes, check if appliances work properly and report for possible termite damage. Checking on your electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems are also part of a home inspection.

Now that we have a little better understanding of what it is the inspector will be doing, how do you pick one?

How to Pick a Good Home Inspector

If your real estate agent doesn’t refer you to an inspector initially, check out the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). This is a great resource where you can research and select a home inspector that’ll have your best interest at heart.

ASHI will show you some listings (get it?) for home inspectors, but how do you make sure you choose the right one? Contact our team and see who we would recommend. In addition, it’s all about asking the right questions

• Who… is this person?
• What… are their credentials? … was their job before they became an inspector?
• Where… did they get training?
• When… did they do any further professional education to keep training current?
• How… long have they been an inspector? How many homes have they inspected?
  
  

Be There, Be Engaged

Attending the inspection isn’t mandatory, but keeping an eye on the inspection will give you insider insights, and help in your decision when purchasing a home. Reading the report is good, but being there can make all the difference. Make sure and schedule enough time for the inspection, it can take half a day in some instances. You might need to use some vacation time at work, but being there can save you thousands in the long run.

The Inspection Report

Once completed, the inspector will write a written detailed report of what he finds. Note the following:

1. No home is perfect. The report might be lengthy or contain multiple issues.

2. Reports aren’t pass/fail. In most cases you decide what needs to be fixed and what can wait until you purchase the home… if you buy. In addition to stating what is wrong, a good inspection report will estimate the cost to fix or repair the problem areas.

3. The report isn’t a warranty. Issues might occur after you buy this home, but you can be prepared (financially, emotionally) because of what a report states.

4. Additional inspections or tests you might want to consider *

• Radon
• Mold
• Lead
• Sewer Scope

* The cost of these services vary.

Cost of an Inspection

Home inspection prices can vary by quite a bit, but you should plan to pay between $300 - $500 on average according to homeadvisor.com. Keep in mind larger houses cost more to inspect then smaller homes, so the cost will be higher. While spending your hard earned income is never fun, it will be one of the best investments you make throughout the home buying process.

Looking for more home buying tips? Take a look at our other helpful guides for homebuyers.

Why Wait?

The choice to hire a home inspector is yours to make. It will cost you a little more, but remember that buying a home might be the single biggest investment you make. With so much on the line, wouldn’t you rather have a professional look it over before you move in?

Selecting a home inspector is only one small part of the real estate process. At New Heights KC we make it our mission to help you navigate the process and get your home sold for what it’s really worth. Our knowledgeable agents specialize in the buying and selling of homes, so whatever you’re in the market for we can help!