Home Inspection 101

There are lots of things to be nervous about when you are buying your first home, and having to do a home inspection shouldn’t be one of them. You should definitely get a professional home inspector to do the inspection. He will go over the home to check for various things---
He’ll look at structural elements like the walls, foundation, floors, ceilings, and the roof.
He’ll check the plumbing. Do all the drains work properly? Do the toilets flush? How are the P-traps?
He’ll look at appliances. What is the condition of the washer and dryer? Does the dishwasher work well—he should run it through a cycle. What is the condition of the stove and refrigerator?
He’ll check all the electrical components like switches, plugs, circuit breakers, and he’ll look to see if the home is grounded properly, and he’ll make suggestions as to what to do if it isn’t.
Is there an attic to the home? The inspector will check the attic for its condition. Is there a basement? He will look at that as well.
He’ll go out into the yard, if there is one, and look at landscaping, outdoor lighting, fences, rock walls, sidewalks, etc.

Your home inspector will tell you if there are health and safety issues you need to be aware of, any damage to the roof that he can see, appliances that are malfunctioning, foundation problems, and moisture or drainage issues.

There may be some things that need repair. As the buyer, you should talk to your agent about this. Will you get a credit through your escrow? Or will the seller do the repairs? If the seller does the repairs, they need to be finished by the time you close on your home. And you need to make sure the repairs are done properly, so you will need to be sure to check those things on your final walk through before closing.

If you need more information on home inspection ideas, and what to look for, please be sure to call Tiare Dutcher at 808-753-5327.