What's a home inspection?

Even the most experienced buyers will often get a home inspection. A $200-300 investment now can save you thousands down the road (call us to find out how to get a free inspection!). This is part of the due diligence process to make sure your potential new home doesn’t come with extra unwanted “features” like a leaky roof or clogged sewer lines. There are a few common inspections most homebuyers will have done, we cover a few of them briefly in this article.

General Inspection – The general home inspector will go over the entire property and comment on the condition of all visible items. They will inspect items like the roof, siding, plumbing, electrical, crawl space, foundation, etc. If there are issues that require an expert, they may advise you to get a more thorough inspection done by a licensed professional. For example, if they notice cracks in the foundation wall, it could be harmless, but it would be best to get the opinion of a specialized foundation expert.

Pest Inspection – A pest inspector will look for signs of damage from harmful pests like termites that could be detrimental to the current or future home structure. This inspection is sometimes included with the general home inspection as many lenders will require it.

Radon Testing – This inspection is less common than the first two, but many homebuyers opt to have it done. This test is intended to measure the amount of radon present within the home. Radon is an odorless gas that has been known to cause cancer over long periods of time. Though not required, a home owner should do their own research to determine if a radon inspection is right for them.

Specialized Inspections – These inspections are typically recommended by your general home inspector. A few common ones are sewer/septic, foundation, structural, mold, asbestos, lead based paint, irrigation systems, etc.

L+H Homes, ERA Great American Realty

Your Realtors That Care

316-365-7767