05/30/2021
A home inspection is the buyer’s opportunity to discover problems with the house before purchasing. And it’s a chance for the seller to address those problems and negotiate pricing with the buyer.
Here’s what to expect on home inspection day as a home seller or buyer. Learn what the inspector will look for and how you should handle any issues that are turned up in the process.
As a home buyer, the home inspection is your last chance to uncover defects with the house — and potentially get the seller to pay for them — before sealing the deal.
As a seller, you want to know what the inspector will look for so you can be prepared for their visit and help everything go as smoothly as possible.
Here’s what to expect during a home inspection:
A home inspector will look at things like a home’s foundation, structural components, roof, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems, then provide a written home inspection report with results
A home inspection generally takes two to four hours, but may take more time depending on the size of the house. After the physical inspection, the home inspector may take a couple of days to send the written report
Buyers should attend the inspection so they can explore their new home in detail and ask questions during the process. This can give you much more information than the report alone.
Don’t be concerned with the number of defects listed on your report — many will be so minor you won’t bother fixing them.
Instead, pay attention to the severity of the home’s issues. Some problems can be deal-breakers.
If serious problems turns up, talk to your home inspector and real estate agent about your best ways forward.
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Home inspection checklist: What to expect on inspection day
Peter Warden
Peter Warden
The Mortgage Reports Editor
December 23, 2020 - 8 min read
Your home inspection checklist
A home inspection is the buyer’s last opportunity to discover problems with the house before purchasing. And it’s a chance for the seller to address those problems and negotiate pricing with the buyer.
Here’s what to expect on home inspection day as a home seller or buyer. Learn what the inspector will look for and how you should handle any issues that are turned up in the process.
Verify your home buying eligibility (May 30th, 2021)
In this article (Skip to…)
What to expect at a home inspection
What do home inspectors look for?
What to expect as the home seller
Who pays for a home inspection?
How long does it take?
Should buyers attend an inspection?
Next steps after the home inspection
What to expect at a home inspection
As a home buyer, the home inspection is your last chance to uncover defects with the house — and potentially get the seller to pay for them — before sealing the deal.
As a seller, you want to know what the inspector will look for so you can be prepared for their visit and help everything go as smoothly as possible.
Here’s what to expect during a home inspection:
A home inspector will look at things like a home’s foundation, structural components, roof, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems, then provide a written home inspection report with results
A home inspection generally takes two to four hours, but may take more time depending on the size of the house. After the physical inspection, the home inspector may take a couple of days to send the written report
Buyers should attend the inspection so they can explore their new home in detail and ask questions during the process. This can give you much more information than the report alone.
Don’t be concerned with the number of defects listed on your report — many will be so minor you won’t bother fixing them.
Instead, pay attention to the severity of the home’s issues. Some problems can be deal-breakers.
If serious problems turns up, talk to your home inspector and real estate agent about your best ways forward.
What do home inspectors look for?
Here’s a full list of what the inspector will review:
Heating system
Central air conditioning system (temperature permitting)
Interior plumbing and electrical systems
Roof
Attic, including visible insulation
Walls
Ceilings
Floors
Windows and doors
Foundation
Basement
Structural components
Clearly, the inspector isn’t going to tear your home apart to inspect piping and wiring. But the more an inspector can access, the more complete the final report will be.
Your Local Professional Real Estate lnspection Team!!!
