A home inspection is a professional, unbiased visual examination of the condition of a home at the time of the inspection. Home buyer's now entering the market place view inspections as a way to gain valuable information about the biggest purchase of their lifetime. It helps them to determine whether there are any major defects in the visible portions of the home before the sale is completed.
What a professional, competent home inspector should inspect are the major components of the home: heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical systems. Also built in appliances, exterior walls, gutters and downspouts, roofs, foundations, crawl spaces, and basements.
Home inspections are not intended to point out every small problem or any non-visible defects in a home. Most minor or cosmetic flaws, for example, should be apparent without the aid of a professional and are not normally commented on.
Home inspections also highlight the positive aspects of a home. In fact, many of the home inspector's observations or recommendations help to dispel home buyer anxieties, and provide useful repair and maintenance suggestions.
The home inspections should not be confused with an appraisal, a municipal inspection, or a guarantee of any kind.
At first glance, a home may appear in great shape. But it could contain a defect that may go undetected by you and the seller -- a defect that could equal financial and emotional hardship for all parties involved. It takes an experienced, knowledgeable inspector to identify problems that may not be readily apparent. A thorough, whole-house inspection helps you make your buying decision with confidence, avoids possible legal entanglements, and provides you with a comprehensive portrait of the anatomy of your home...from top to bottom and inside out |
