By Ryan Coisson
When purchasing a home, one of the most important last steps you will take is to have the house inspected by a certified home inspector. It is in your best interest to have a grasp on the kinds of things the inspector will be looking for. Here's more about how he'll do his job so that you can ask all of the right important questions.
What is a home inspector's job?
In a nutshell, a home inspector is there to protect your interests, and his inspection's goal will be to determine if there is anything glaringly wrong with a house that would either endanger your family's safety, cost you a whole lot of extra money to repair and replace, or both. It is essential to remember that the inspector can only vouch for the condition of the house at the time of inspection and cannot predict any future issues that may arise down the road.
What kinds of things does he look for?
As to the exterior of the home, an inspector will look for structural soundness regarding:
- the general condition of the roof and its coverings
- rain gutters and their corresponding downspouts
- exterior vents and chimneys
- exterior facings, windows, doors, stairs, etc
On the interior, he will make a thorough inspection of:
- the basement, foundation, and any crawl space that may exist
- visual structural elements, looking specifically for cracks or other problems
- attic condition and insulation
- fireplaces
- doors and windows
He will make a complete check of the home's systems:
- electrical
- heating and cooling
- plumbing
- hot water heater
The inspection is thorough but it is not exhaustive: in other words, he will not be in a position to gauge water quality, nor should he be expected to determine the state of wall coverings, etc.
The home inspector is your partner in making sure that you are getting what you structurally expect when you make that all-important purchase.
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