If you are considering buying a home, whether it be your first or fiftieth time, it is always a good idea to get an inspection. The more thorough this inspection, the less likely you are to run into future unforeseen problems. You are protecting yourself and your investment by hiring a professional and reliable home inspector.
At the end of the home inspection process, your home inspector will provide you with an inspection report. While reading and interpreting this report may seem fairly straightforward, there are some specific things to look for:
Tips for Interpreting Your Home Inspection Report
Here are a few pointers that could make reading your home inspection report easier:
- It is a good idea for you to be at the home to be inspected on the day of the inspection to ask specific questions.
- Be sure to pay close attention to the summary page. This is where the home inspector lists any major including any suggested repairs that may have been found.
- Use this summary page to guide you to specific sections of the report where you will find details of any deficiencies or any pictures of the issues.
- Since buying a home is a large decision, it’s imperative to take the time to read over everything, it may even be ideal to have your realtor review the report with you.
Some of the most important items to pay attention to are any evidence of mold or water damage, and electrical, plumbing, foundation, and roofing elements.
Some Important Things to Look for in Your Report
- Home systems such as HVAC, interior plumbing, and electrical are foundational to the home and at the center of any inspection
- Structural components and the integrity of these components, some of which include the attic, garage, basement windows, and doors
- Walls, ceilings, and floors
- Exterior components such as roof and siding.
- Safety features function
- Appliances
- Insulation and ventilation in the home
- Structure and foundation of the home
- The quality and age of your roofing system is important to understand when going into a home-buying or a home-selling situation
Should I Trust the Seller’s Home Inspection or Get My Own?
Doing your due diligence on a home before moving forward with a purchase is a must. It is in your best interest to protect yourself by covering all bases to ensure you are not walking into a potential money pit of endless replacements or repairs.
Final thoughts
No home inspection is perfect and usually, there are at least a few minor faults that will be found some may need immediate attention, or other areas of concern that may require repair soon.
It’s of the utmost importance to hire an inspector who will be thorough in their walkthrough and assessment of the home, and will also be clear in their depiction or representation of any fault they may have found.