Why Get A Home Inspection And What Do Home Inspectors Look For?

Are you in the market for a home? Does everything seem to be as it should? The house is beautiful, it has updated bathrooms, new carpets, and the kitchen appliances are state of the art. Everything checks out at first glance, but what's hidden beneath the floorboards? How many times have you been to an open house and seen some guy stomping around on the roof? My guess is never. The plumbing, wiring, foundation, chimney, attic, and roof pose a significant risk to any homebuyer's pocketbook because odds are, the average Joe doesn't know the signs of creosote buildup or termite damage. So this article will be dedicated to defining what a home inspection is, a Home inspection checklist, and what to look to make sure you get your dream home instead of a huge pit in the ground in which you throw money.

What Is A Home Inspection

A Home inspection requires an inspector to come on-site to double-check that everything is working and in good condition. If anything is wrong with the home, it would show up here.
Unfortunately, there is the initial cost of a home inspection that the buyer usually pays for, but it's well worth the investment. The cost can range anywhere from $325 to $600, depending on the size of the home. You can find a free inspection checklist is available here.

What Do Inspectors Look For

A checklist for a home inspection should include the following:

The plumbing inside and outside the house, including faucets, toilets, bathtubs, outdoor spigots
Electrical--circuit breaker, outlets, wires, and meters
Roof--checks for missing or loose shingles, cracks, and holes
Garage--working garage door and outlets, windows
Basement--checks for water damage
Attic--is there any structural damage?
Foundation--cracks or signs of water damage
Appliances--are all of the kitchen appliances in working condition?
Porches or decks--cracks, rot, paint, support beams
Pest infestations
In Conclusion

A simple home inspection can end up saving you thousands of dollars in unexpected expenses. Yes, there's the initial cost, but to put it in perspective, a new roof on average costs over $7,000 dollars. Foundation repair can be anywhere from $1,800 to $6,500, or more depending on the extent of the damage. $300 isn't looking so bad anymore, is it? What do home inspectors look for? Anything that might depreciate the value of the home. They tell you if the house is sincerely worth the asking price, and that is worth every penny.