What is a Home
Inspection?
A home inspection is a professional, objective,
visual examination of the condition of a home. Home buyers now
entering the marketplace view inspections as a way to gain
valuable information about the biggest purchase of their
lifetime. It helps them to determine whether there are any
major defects or system inadequacies at the time of purchase.
In most cases, home inspections are performed after a
sales contract, conditional upon a satisfactory home
inspection, has been accepted by the seller. The inspection
can usually be arranged immediately to within a few days. The
home buyer is typically encouraged to attend the inspection,
so that he/she can see first hand the workings of the home. It
also represents an excellent opportunity for the prospective
buyer to ask questions about the home or to discuss potential
changes.
Home inspections should also highlight the
positive aspects of a home. In fact, many of the home
inspector's observations or recommendations help to dispel
home purchaser anxieties, and provide useful repair
suggestions.
The home inspector's service to the purchaser is
primarily one of education. The goal of the inspector is to
provide the purchaser with a better understanding of the
physical condition of the home in order that they can make a
well-informed decision. It is also the inspector's role to
keep his findings in perspective for the buyer. After the
inspection is completed, a written report should be prepared
for the home buyer, documenting the results of the inspection,
along with an estimation of repair time frames and costs.
The home inspection should not be confused with an
appraisal, a municipal code inspection, an environmental
audit, or a home owner's warranty.
A complete home
inspection should cover all of the major systems of a house,
including structure, exterior, roofing, electrical, heating,
cooling, insulation, plumbing and interior. As a minimum, an
inspection should meet the Standards of Practice of the
American Society of Home Inspectors® (ASHI®).
Consumers should be very careful when shopping for a
home inspector. The industry on the whole is unregulated and
many unqualified people offer home inspection services. Home
inspection companies that offer to do repair work, or
recommend repair companies, should be avoided.
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