What is a Home Inspection?
A Standard Home Inspection is often also referred to as a Pre-Purchase Inspection or a Seller’s Inspection. A Pre-Purchase home inspection is a visual process where all of the items typically used with a home are tested and/or operated to verify proper operation or installation. Doors and windows are opened and closed, roofing materials inspected, air-conditioning and heating systems operated. The inspector will fill the sinks and tub(s), run the shower(s), and flush the toilets. All the while making notes on the condition and operation of the components tested. Upon completion, a report will be distributed to your client.
A home is not just what it appears to be on the surface. It consists of many complex components including structural framing, physical components, electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems. When considering a home for purchase, you may be able to settle for minor cosmetic repairs, but you need to make sure that everything beneath the surface is in shape. This is why an extensive home inspection is both valuable and necessary.
A pre-purchase home inspection is performed by a professional and is a visual examination of the readily-accessible area s of a home to provide an accurate evaluation of the home’s condition at the inspection. Home inspections are designed to disclose defects in the property that could materially affect its safety, livability or resale value. They are not meant to disclose cosmetic defects. The evaluation is presented to the buyer in a comprehensive report so buyers are fully informed of the home’s condition prior to purchase.
Why do I Need a Home Inspection?
The pre-purchase home inspection is an essential part of the transaction. The professional home inspector understands residential construction and offers consumers an expert opinion regarding the condition of a home’s major systems and components before the purchase is made.
What’s Covered in a Pre-Purchase Inspection?
From an inspection standpoint a pre-purchase inspection is no different than any other inspection. During a pre-purchase inspection the same exact guidelines and standards are performed as detailed in our Standard Home Inspection. The difference is that the buyer (not the seller) arranges and pays for the inspection in order to discover any defects existing in the home prior to purchase. For further information on what’s inspected during a pre-purchase inspection see our article “What’s covered in a Home Inspection?”
View our Sample Inspection Report.