INSPECTION PROCESS

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE HOME INSPECTION? HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR A HOME INSPECTION?

The home buying process can be confusing and stressful. Not only do you need to consider things such as price and location, you also have to worry about whether the house itself has any hidden problems that could become costly surprises down the road.

It is the job of a professional, licensed Home Inspector to look for those hidden problems for you. Your Home Inspection is an unbiased, professional assessment of the condition of the house. It provides you with an expert opinion and professional report on the condition of the physical structure and various systems within a house - giving you peace of mind on what is likely the largest purchase you'll ever make.

In order to prepare the report, an inspector must conduct a visual inspection of the house. The inspection process typically takes 3 hours to complete. This of course may vary, according to the size, age, and condition of the home. We strongly encourage you to accompany the inspector during the inspection. This will give you a chance to ask questions and become familiar with the systems of the home.

What Will the Home Inspector Do?

When scheduling your home inspection appointment, your home inspector will ask you for information about the home (i.e., style, location, size, any unique characteristics of the home, neighborhood, etc.). He will ask you to ensure that all utilities to the home are on. This is especially important for a new or vacant home. In order to thoroughly test the systems of the home, the utilities must be turned on and be readily accessible. Additionally, the inspector will want to know if you have any particular concerns about the house to be inspected.

Before the inspection begins, your inspector will review with you the Pre-Inspection Agreement and discuss terms of payment. The Pre-Inspection Agreement clearly details for you what your inspector will and will not do during the inspection. The HTI Pre-Inspection agreement is available for your review by downloading it from our website.

All structural elements and systems of the home will be inspected. Items that will typically be included in an inspection are:

Framing (structure)
Roof and attic
Foundation
Walls
Electrical system
Plumbing system
Heating and air conditioning systems
Kitchen
Bathrooms

Additional items and systems unique to a particular home such as pools, spas, detached garages, workshops or barns can also be inspected - usually for an additional fee.

When the inspection is complete, your home inspector will review with you any problems that were discovered, as well as answer any questions you may have at that point.

The inspector will then integrate all of his findings, observations and photographs into a full and comprehensive report that can be delivered to you either electronically (via email) or hard copy by mail.

It is the goal of your professional home inspector to discover and inform you of anything they find that might affect your purchase decision, as well as make recommendations on any necessary repairs. They will also go over with you specific maintenance tasks that are routinely required to keep the home and its systems in top condition.

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Preparing for a Home Inspection