Home Inspection Blog Posts & Tips

What To Expect From Your Home Inspection Report

 

Normally we have a to-do list before we make any major moves in our life; the same is with buying or selling a house. There are certain things that should be on your to-do list when buying or selling a house, for example, home inspection. 

 

It’s important to make sure that you know the current condition of your soon to be dream home before making the sale official. A home inspection report allows you to gain more clarity as to what to expect when it comes to future maintenance and repair costs. Let’s uncover what to expect from your home inspection report.

 

What Is Included In Your Home Inspection Report

 

Generally speaking, reports should describe the major home systems, their crucial components, and their operability, especially the ones in which failure can result in dangerous or expensive-to-correct conditions. Defects should be adequately described, and the report should include recommendations.
 

Reports should also repudiate portions of the home not inspected. Since home inspections are visual inspections, the parts of the home hidden behind floor, wall and ceiling coverings should be disclaimed. Keep in mind that home inspectors are not experts in every system of the home, but are trained to recognize conditions that require a specialist inspection.This doesn’t mean that your inspector will disassemble a furnace to examine the heat exchanger closely, for example.
 

What Really Matters In Your Home Inspection

 

Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life expectancies for various systems and components, and minor imperfections. These are useful to know about.  However, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories:

 

  • major defects.  An example of this would be a structural failure;
  • things that lead to major defects, such as a small roof-flashing leak, for example;
  • things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy, or insure the home 
  • safety hazards, such as an exposed, live buss bar at the electrical panel.
     

Anything in these categories should be addressed.  Often, a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property (especially in categories 2 and 4).

 

 

How To Read Your Home Inspection Report

 

There is a good chance that you may receive a narrative report that details each individual problem in a checklist report or paragraph that lists the condition of each system. Be sure to go over it with your real estate agent before close on your real estate transaction. 

 

Your inspection report won’t be flawless unless you’re buying a brand-new home. Even brand new homes aren’t totally exempt from defects. Minor repairs and issues are to be expected, however you will want to be on the lookout for the following major issues. Ignoring these could potentially cause life-threatening issues to your health.

 

  • Radon
  • Mold
  • Asbestos
  • Lead Paint

 

Electrical System: When it comes to your electrical system, it should be up to code, and safely grounded.  If not, you’re setting yourself up for unfavorable circumstances such as potential fire hazard.


Plumbing: Take notice of your plumbing system, having a  leaky plumbing system is not to be taken lightly. A leaky plumbing system can lead to a mold problem, and damage to the home’s foundation and a range of other issues.


 

In conclusion

Your home inspection report is the backbone of your real estate transaction, and it serves as means to provide valuable insight into the current condition of the home, and avoid costly repairs. Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life expectancies for various systems and components, and minor imperfections. Minor repairs and issues are to be expected, however you will want to be on the lookout for things that could lead to major defects, and safety hazards. Now that you know what to expect from your inspection report, and what to look out for, you can confidently book your upcoming home inspection. If you are in the market for a home inspection, contact the home inspection experts at S& Home Inspections LLC for all your home and termite inspection needs. We offer same-day home and termite inspections. Click here to view more information about our home inspection services. View Services

 

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