Must-Ask Questions During Your Home Inspection

The task of buying a house can be daunting. It can be stressful if you’ve never done it before. What are some of the questions that you should ask your home inspector both before and after the inspection?

You can be more confident about your home purchase if you ask the right questions during your home inspection in Ocoee Fl.

What Is A Home Inspection?

Before we begin, let’s know exactly what a home inspector is. A home inspector provides an independent assessment of the property’s structure. Typically, a home inspection is requested as part of a real estate deal, though not always.

Hire home inspectors who are licensed to assess the condition of the property, provide a report on its general condition and recommend contractors if necessary.

Seven Questions You Must Ask Before Your Inspection.

You need to hire an inspector before you can have your home inspected. Here are some questions to ask your prospective home inspector. Do not hire the home inspector recommended by your real estate agent.

1. What are your qualifications & experience?

• You can ask for affiliations such as InterNACHI FaBI or Ashi.
• Compare the years of experience with their competitors.
• If you need a state license, ask for it. Some states do not require licensing.
• How many inspections have they completed? More inspections means more experience.
• What do their Google, Facebook, and Yelp reviews have to say?

2. What does your report include or exclude?

• Does your inspection include the pool?
• Is the sprinkler system covered by your inspection?
• Are you willing to walk through the attic with me?
• What will you do in the event that you are unable to safely walk on the roof?
• Will you enter the crawlspace to explore?
• When you inspect your home, do you use thermography?
• Do you inspect detached garages or buildings? Most inspectors are willing to do so for an extra fee.

3.When will I receive the report?

This is very important because you may be in a hurry at times! You might also ask: How long are your reports, and do they include pictures?

Remember that a concise and shorter report can be more valuable than a long report with a lot of jargon. You can ask if you have an example report to review.

4. Do you have an agreement I need to sign?

All home inspectors must require their clients to sign a contract of inspection. This is a big red flag if they don’t!

The agreement for inspection outlines the scope of the inspection and excludes any items.

5. How long does your inspection take?

It can be helpful to determine how thorough the inspection is. Do not rely solely on this. A company might send multiple inspectors out to speed up the inspection for you and your Realtor. A faster inspection could be due to the fact that the inspector has more knowledge.

This is only a guide. Be aware of the extremes. This is not right if an inspector tells you that he’ll take four hours to inspect a 1500-square-foot home. If they claim to take 30 minutes for a 1500-square-foot home, that is not accurate.

A single home inspector can inspect, on average, 1,000 square feet an hour!

6. Can you provide me with a summary of the inspection?

Ask your home inspector if you can ask questions and see their pictures after they have completed the inspection. After the inspection, ask the home inspector whether you can see the pictures taken and if they will answer your questions.

7. What is the cost of a home inspection?

Home inspection costs vary depending on the inspection company. Find out the truth about home inspector costs.

Do not hesitate to ask these questions of multiple inspection companies!

Don’t settle for an inspection company just because you were referred. Make sure to do your research on the company and that you feel comfortable working with them. This is one of your largest investments.

Six Questions You Must Ask During A Home Inspection

It is generally not a good thing to follow the home inspector around and ask questions. Home inspectors perform routine tasks. This can lead them to deviate from their routine. Imagine someone talking to you and you trying to read. You may miss important details in both your reading and conversation.

If you’d like to be with the inspector, it is best to follow him/her. However, save your questions for the final review. Bring a notebook or use an app on your smartphone to record your questions.

Bring home inspection checklist along with you!

After your inspection, ask these questions to your inspector.

1. What is the state of the roof? How long will it last?

Roof replacements are expensive. You can bargain the price for the roof if necessary. You can plan your future expenses by knowing the average life expectancy.

2. What is the current condition of the HVAC, and how long will it last?

The cost of replacing the heating and air conditioning system can range from several thousand dollars to more. It is important to know when to expect this expense.

3. Is the electrical system in good condition, or will it require updating?

You may not have to worry about electrical systems that are outdated in newer homes. This may be an issue in older homes, especially those built before 1990. You can prepare yourself for costs of up to several thousand dollars for the replacement of an electrical panel or wiring by asking the inspector the question. Browse our Electrical category of blogs to find out what issues can come up during your home inspection.

4. How old is your plumbing system? Will it need to be updated?

The answer is similar to the previous one. The majority of newer homes do not need major updates. If your home has polybutylene or cast iron, you may have to upgrade to be able to get insurance.

5. What is the state of the house’s structure?

You should ask this question, even if you think it is basic and generic, just to be sure that the inspector hasn’t noticed any signs of structural or foundation issues.

6. Is there a problem with the grading of your home?

It is vital to ensure that water flows away from your home in order to prevent structural problems and water intrusion. The cost of grading adjustments or repairs caused by constant water ponding is high.

The Bottom Line.

It is important to hire the right home inspector in order to understand what you’re buying. Use these questions to help you make informed decisions about your investment.

If you still have questions after your home inspection, call your inspector.