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Buying a home can be one of the most important financial investments you will ever make. But how do you know if the house is everything it appears to be? If your new home has hidden structural issues and needs major repairs, you may be buying into a money pit and sleepless nights. A home inspection is one of the smartest ways to educate yourself about the physical condition of a property before you buy.
What's a home inspection?
A home inspection is a visual inspection of the physical structure
and mechanical condition of a home - from roof to foundation. The
inspection is designed to identify problems, advise of repairs needed
and, in some cases, provide preventive maintenance advice. A home
inspection points out the positive aspects of a home, as well as the
maintenance that will be necessary to keep it in good shape.
A
home inspector may be a residential architect, structural engineer, or
building contractor. Currently, home inspectors are not regulated on a
federal level in either the United State or Canada. But many states and
provinces have their own licensing requirments. To find out what your
region requires, check out this list from American Society of Home Inspectors or Professional Home Inspection Institute in Canada. For structural engineer licensing requirements in the U.S., see the National Council of Structural Engineers Association (NCSEA) website.
Tips for hiring a home inspector
Pick a home inspector who has experience, positive references, and is known for being very comprehensive. While this may cost more upfront, hiring a great inspector will save you money in the long run. If you don’t get a complete, accurate inspection, you may miss major problems and your chance to negotiate repairs with the seller.
- Ask friends and acquaintances for recommendations. Ask for and experienced home inspector who is known for being very thorough.
- Find someone familiar with your type of home and the issues you need to inspect.
Be sure your inspector specializes in homes, not commercial properties,
and any issues you anticipate finding. For example, if you’re concerned
about a home’s structure, consider hiring a professional engineer or
architect who also does general home inspections. Also, be sure your
agreement with the inspector covers the systems you most need to have
examined.
- Ask prospective inspectors questions about their
professional training, relevant experience and/or length of time in
business. Find out if the inspector belongs to a professional
association, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors, the National Society of Professional Engineers, or the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors. Membership in professional associations may offer added assurance of an inspector's qualifications and training.
- Make sure your home inspector is working in your best interests.
For example, many home inpectors rely on referrals from real estate
agents for their business. This means that the inspector may be more
interested in maintaining that relationship than providing you a
thorough inspection. They may be less inclined to identify major repair
issues that hold up the sale of your home. Also, be cautious about
hiring a home inspector who is looking to get contracting work from you.
- Be present during the inspection. The majority of
inspectors will allow you to tour the home with them and ask questions
during or after the inspection. The inspection can last anywhere from
two to five hours, depending on the size of the house.
- Ask how soon after the inspection will you receive a copy of the home inspection final written report.
Carefully read your home inspection report and make a list of items
that need correction. Understand that the home inspection report records
the condition of the home, both positives and negatives. This will help
you to determine your future expenditures for repairs and maintenance.
The report will contain useful information that serves as a reference
for you in the future.
- Check BBB.org to see if the home inspector is a BBB Accredited Business and read reviews. Ensure that the business responds to complaints in a timely fashion. Find home inspectors near you.
Ultimately, no inspection can guarantee that something won’t go wrong with a home, but getting a thorough inspection job can really help prevent expensive, nasty surprises.
For More Information
For more help buying a home, check out our tips on shopping for financial services or hiring a real estate agent. Find home inspectors near you.
See BBB's Home HQ for information on buying, selling, building and where to find help for improving the inside and outside of your home.
BBB serving Metropolitan New York contributed to this article.