A home inspection should be done during the early stage of your home buying journey. It is only common to ask questions to an inspector prior to the inspection service. Most questions home buyers ask are “How much do you charge?”, “How long will the inspection last?” “What exactly do you look for?” etc. While these questions are important, you should not forget to also prepare questions during and after inspection.
Although home inspection can be a challenging process, as a home buyer, you know that it’s a necessity. It can be intense sometimes because you have no idea what issues the home inspector might find. What if the inspector finds out some problems that will make it difficult for you to continue the purchase? Are you ready to let go of the house you have set your heart on?
The thing is, a home inspection is just another important way so you can get the house of your dreams. The inspection may reveal some information that you don’t want to hear but note that most of the issues found can be fixed and can help in your negotiations.
By asking the important questions, you will have a better understanding of the house you are planning to purchase and, in the end, make an informed decision whether to continue the purchase or not based on the details presented in the inspection report.
So, here are the questions you should ask a home inspector.
Can you go into detail?
Unless you are a trained inspector, chances are there will be some issues that you will not fully understand. So, even though you are present during the inspection and have asked the inspector some questions, you still need clarification about some things upon looking into the inspection report.
It takes a day or two before you are given the full and detailed report. Make sure that you review the report properly and write the thing you don’t understand well. Then call the inspector and ask them to explain further what was written on the report.
How serious is this?
Part of the home inspection process is to reveal unknown issues present in the property. The report usually contains pictures, and detailed notes about the issues found, and it can be 50-100 pages long. However, it’s important not to be overwhelmed with this and avoid thinking that the house is crumbling.
In most homes, some issues are really just minor, and there are only a few issues that are considered significant. These issues are what needs to be addressed asap, or else the sale won’t go through.
It may be hard to identify which problems are serious and which are not; this is why you need to ask the inspector. You need to know how big the problem is so you can decide whether you will sign the contract or not or negotiate with the seller.
Do I need an expert to look deeper into the problem?
Home inspectors are generalists. They know how to spot defects but not all the time; they are trained in all areas when it comes to home repairs. It will be a good idea to ask the inspector if you need to bring in an expert, like a certified electrician for electrical issues or a certified plumber for plumbing system issues. The home inspector can advise you when it is good to call an expert to take a look at the problem.
What should I fix first?
We all know that no home is 100% perfect and issue-free. Ask the inspector what should be prioritised first before you move in. Ask if there are issues that could be fixed later as they can help you manage your budget well. With this, you can have a clear perspective and focus on the big things first.
How much will it cost?
Part of the inspection report is the list of repairs and/or replacements that should be done to ensure that the house is in good shape. It may be intimidating to look at the list, but you should know that almost everything is fixable. In case the seller is not willing to fix the problem, it doesn’t mean you should kill your deal off. Ask the inspector how soon the repair should be done and how much it will cost. This will help you negotiate and estimate the value of the house.
A home inspection is considered to be one of the essential steps in a real estate transaction. Both sellers and buyers need to be educated regarding the condition of the house in order to make great decisions.
Once you have signed the contract, there is no going back, so make sure that you hire a professional home inspector to check the house for you to learn as much as you can about the house you plan to buy.
