What to Expect When You’re Inspecting

When looking at a home to buy, typically buyers walk around and try to imagine themselves living in the space. Does it have the right layout? Are there enough bedrooms? Do we like the neighborhood? But, the down and dirty parts don’t really get looked at until inspection time. An inspector will crawl under your house, poke around in the recesses of your attic, get eyes on the roof..and those are just to name a few. These are the things not readily seen at a showing, and their health can be crucial to the value of the home.

I tell all my home-buyers, “Go to your inspection!” There is no better way to learn about a house than shadowing a home inspector. A good home inspector knows a LOT about construction and systems. Their report should include recommended repairs, along with a ballpark cost estimate to fix, as well as expected life spans and reliability of certain systems. Add-on services recommended by your realtor or inspector may include testing for the presence of lead, radon or mold. Not only is the inspection the time to find out what’s wrong with your home, but inspectors are also good at pointing out some of the finer points of the home. Set aside a few hours and join your realtor for your inspection. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask questions! You wont regret it.