What to Expect from a Home Inspection

If you are planning on purchasing a home or condo in the Columbus Ohio area it helps to know what to expect from the inspection process. I always recommend that my buyers have a professional inspection completed during the process, and this doesn't mean getting your dad or brother to look over the property. Remember, this is the most important and probably the biggest investment you'll ever make and knowing all you can about the property ahead of time just makes sense.

Professional home inspectors cost between $300 and $800 and are usually paid at the time of inspection directly from the buyer. Unless otherwise arranged, the buyer will pay the inspector immediately after the inspection.

As a buyer, it is not required to accompany the inspectors throughout the property but I highly recommend it. Again, this is one of the largest investments you'll make so shadowing the inspector and learning all you can about the property helps to prepare you not only for the home buying process but for the future as well. Inspectors can usually tell you how much life is left on specific items and materials such as roofs, water heaters, furnaces, and appliances. This is important to know if you are planning on selling in the near future. Let's say the roof has about five years laughed and if you're planning on selling in five years, buyers may want you to replace the roof before they purchase. At this point, you can also ask your sellers to replace the roof or negotiate for a different arrangement.

Home inspections take between one and three hours depending on how big the home is or property and how many questions you have. This is a great opportunity to ask about the materials and construction of your new home. Learn all you can and find out how to properly maintain the property.

Inspectors typically know a little bit about everything so they will inspect the roof, attic, installation, siding, pest inspection, plumbing, and electricity. Inspectors will test the outlets throughout the house and make sure that there is no hazardous issues with the property.

After the inspection is complete you will pay your inspector, get a receipt, and then your report will either be mailed to you or emailed to you or your agent. From there, you can go over the entire inspection report and decide if you are negotiating with the seller for any changes or repairs. Of course, you can certainly still take the property as as even if there are issues. Now you are well aware of any potential hazards or issues, you can make a more informed decision on which direction to go from here. You are able to simply terminate the transaction if you are not satisfied with the inspection and feel that the sellers may not change or help you in any way.

We want your home buying experience to be exciting and fun and knowing all you can about this large investment makes for good financial stability. You are free to choose any inspector you want but we do have reputable referrers that we recommend.

Call me today for more information on Columbus real estate.