Therefore, to help you prepare for your home inspection, we’ve compiled a list of five things that we think you should know about the process.
1. What’s Included
A home inspection is meant to give you a detailed report of the overall condition of the house based on a visual inspection. It isn’t a catch-all about every detail, but our inspectors do look at the major systems (HVAC, electrical, plumbing, etc.) as well as the structure, foundation, roof, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, and doors. They look at those big-money items that would be costly to replace or to repair. An inspector has a trained eye, so he’ll also assess the minor features of the home and include any issues on the report. However, note that those “big money” items are the priority.
2. How Long It Lasts
Each home inspection varies based on the condition of the house, the house size, and so on. However, you can anticipate a typical home inspection to take between two to three hours. Even though this is a large chunk of time, remember it’s in your favor for the inspector to take his time and do a thorough inspection.
3. Who to Have Present
In addition to the inspector, we encourage all home buyers to be present at the inspection. You may also want your Realtor to be present so you can both hear the inspector’s findings and ask questions. Sometimes, the seller and the selling agent may also be present so that they too can hear the findings and develop a plan on how to proceed.
4. What’s in the Report
After your inspection is complete, you will receive a detailed inspection report within 24 hours. We can get that to you whichever way is most convenient, either by mail, fax, electronically, or through your Realtor. The report will have all the inspector’s findings, including written details and pictures when necessary.
5. The Cost
When you are purchasing a home, you can’t put a dollar sign on the exact value of knowing the property’s condition. This information is invaluable to you as you make informed real-estate decisions. However, we do have to charge you for our services so our people can get paid. We base our home inspection rates on the size and age of the property, and that rate will be higher if you opt for any additional specialty inspection services like mold testing or infrared inspections. For a free quote, just contact us at (805) 484-9711.
Let InspectPros be on your side during your home-buying experience. To find out more or to schedule an inspection, call us or schedule online anytime. We serve home buyers and sellers throughout the Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Thousand Oaks, CA, areas.
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