Must-Ask Questions During Your Home Inspection

Table of Content

• Are any of your findings a deal breaker?
• Questions to Ask to Get the Most Value from a Home Inspection
• Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector
• What is the condition of the HVAC system and what is the life expectancy?
• Should You Ask These Questions DURING the Home Inspection or Not?
• Is this condition only cosmetic?
• Pay for the repairs

If you ask any real estate professional, they’ll tell you that an expert home inspection is one of the essential parts of acquiring a new home. Home inspections give you a feel for the property, its size and might start giving birth to ideas about how you could adjust the living space to your taste. If you presently own the home, a home inspection can show you what needs immediate attention to keep it in the best condition. If there are signs of mold, for example, a home inspection can help bring these concerns to your attention. And in doing so, it can save you from further costly repairs or illnesses in your household. Roofing may be a concern during inspections because if the roof is past its prime, an insurance company can opt not to cover it.

You want to come away from this inspection with a thorough understanding of what needs attention in your home. Some inspectors can be very serious and make problems sound like the end of the world, especially by using technical jargon that someone without training may not understand. Likewise, a minor, cheaper-to-fix issue could have a long repair timeframe, and a major one could need to be fixed now. At Guardian Angel Inspections, we are focused on providing a Home Inspection Service that is bound to a strict Code of Ethics, and standards of practice.

Are any of your findings a deal breaker?

As a responsible buyer, you must know to ask the right questions since some real estate agents will simply gloss over things they think their clients don’t want to know. As a responsible buyer, you must know to ask the right questions since some real estate agents will simply gloss over things they think their clients don't want to know. Don’t freak out—ask the inspector whether or not he thinks the difficulty is a massive deal. You’ll be amazed to pay attention that maximum homes have similar problems and that they’re now no longer deal breakers, although the fixes or maintenance sound major.

New homes may have different framing and materials that demand a more critical eye, while old homes might have issues that recently constructed properties don’t have. This is important information for a first-time buyer to review prior to deciding on a home purchase. Your home inspector will be looking for any signs of water damage throughout the house during the inspection. However, it’s still important that you asked this question to the inspector at the end, so you can get a full understanding of the house that you’re considering buying.

Questions to Ask to Get the Most Value from a Home Inspection

An issue could be major because in ten years it will seriously damage the house, whereas a more minor issue might have to take precedence if it’s affecting the present. It’s best to ask them directly if any issues need a specialist, like someone to look at the roof or the foundation of the house. Some issues may have a timeframe of ten years before they’ll actually start affecting the house and your life, so they can be put off if you don’t have the money to fix them yet. Make sure you’re getting your money’s worth by taking note of the most important questions to ask during a home inspection. You can view a home as carefully as possible and if you’re not an expert and don’t have the training of an inspector, there are still things you’ll miss.

You can make the most of this one-on-one lesson by knowing what questions to ask your home inspector. They expect you to have questions – and they’re more than ready to answer them. Home inspectors are highly trained, knowledgeable professionals who are more than willing to explain each step of the process. However, if you suspect that there may be some significant damage to one or more of the home features, you should ask the inspector if they could recommend a relevant expert. If you’re unsure at any point during the home inspection, it doesn’t hurt to ask. It’s not the home inspector’s job to pick up every single issue with the house.

Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector

The home inspection report is critical during negotiation with the seller. Your inspector should be able to prepare and send you detailed reports after completing the inspection. Their report should be detailed oriented and technically accurate. The language and clarity of technical information in a home inspection report will make it easier for all parties to comprehend. What former clients have to say holds merit as it speaks to the home inspector’s ability to complete a thorough inspection.

Ask the home inspector for a timeline that lets you know which issues should be addressed right away. However, if you don’t know what to ask a home inspector at all, you can’t go wrong with these inquiries. They’ll provide you with a clear understanding of issues, or refer you to someone who can. There are many potential great questions to ask during a home inspection, and many of them will differ from house to house. Some might depend on whether a specialist is required, and might even be better reserved for that specialist.

What is the condition of the HVAC system and what is the life expectancy?

You may need more information or require some additional recommendations based on what they report. After your inspector has completed the inspection, one of the questions to ask the home inspector is if they think you should get anything inspected by another professional. For instance, if the inspector flags a problem with the roof, ask if you should get a professional roofer out to provide you with more detailed information. Attending the home inspection will give you the opportunity to get answers to your list of questions to ask a home inspector. But the best time to get feedback is in person while the inspector points items out to you. One of the most important parts of the process is the home inspection.

Termites, and other wood-destroying organisms, can severely compromise the structure of a home. Ask the homeowners if the home is under a termite contract and has been checked annually. Cosmetics are generally considered matters of taste, but they can also be related to the overall age of the home itself.

It’s hard to believe, but some states still do not have licensing procedures in place for home inspectors. However, there are still certifying organizations to help train home inspectors. If you live in a licensing state, your home inspector must be licensed or working under the direction of a licensed home inspector.

In the event post-inspection discussions prove fruitless and you still want to move forward, there are lending options available. By putting together a renovation plan and gathering quotes, Peach State may have a borrowing option to fit your needs. For example, qualified borrowers may be able to secure an FHA Loan . This federally supported mortgage helps people buy fixer-uppers, make the required renovations, and come out with increased equity on the other side.

We urge you to keep an open mind regarding your home inspector’s findings. A home inspection deal breaker only really exists if you and the seller can’t agree on how to handle the repairs. On average, it costs around $4.50 per square foot to install new plumbing systems in the house. Depending on the size of the home, this could rack up fees of $5000 or more to replumb a house. Plumbing failures are why it’s important to double-check with the home inspector about the condition and age of the plumbing system in the house.

Every house has problems, usually lots of them, though most generally aren’t that big of a deal. A sample report will keep you from panicking when you see your own report, and it will give you a sense of how your inspector communicates. It’s another opportunity to ensure that you and your inspector are on the same page. A home inspection costs around $300 and $600, though it will depend on the market, the size of house, and the actual inspector. Generally you’ll pay the inspector the day of the inspection, so you’ll want to know in advance how much and what forms of payment are accepted.

Home Inspection Checklist: The Major Points of a Home Inspection

HomeGo may utilize the services of an affiliated real estate brokerage to transact home purchases. Any reference to a licensed real estate agent is meant to imply an agent representing HomeGo and its affiliates as a principal buyer. All homes are purchased in the name of an affiliated holding company designed to acquire properties and may not vest in the name of HomeGo. Generally, properties are simultaneously resold as-is to a non-affiliated entity for a profit. One or more of HomeGo’s owners, employees and affiliates may also be licensed real estate agents, salespeople, or brokers at affiliated or unaffiliated brokerages. You might save a few hundred dollars to hire the cheapest home inspector but pay a hefty price if the inspection wasn’t thorough or you couldn’t understand the report.

Nearly 9 out of every 10buyers use a home inspector when making a purchase because the inspection can uncover issues and result in invaluable knowledge to sway a decision either way. Focus on the “bones” of the home including the heating and cooling systems, the roof, siding and the foundation. These are areas that if there are issues, because you will be writing a big check whether you want to or not! A kitchen or bath can be updated, but a roof with a short lifespan could cause a lot of financial pain. Depending on the issues that are found, if any, certain repairs must take priority.