What to Expect – Home Inspection

When you’re buying a home, our real estate agents always recommend a professional inspection before finalizing the deal. A home inspection can uncover all kinds of potential issues.

If you’re looking at Columbia homes for sale, we want to make sure you never get caught off guard by unexpected problems. These are the answers to some of the most common questions regarding home inspections:

What Will a Home Inspection Cost?

A typical home inspection costs between $200 and $400. While you may balk at the cost, consider this – having a home professionally inspected may reveal defects that would cost thousands of dollars to fix. A home inspection can help you avoid sinking your money into a money pit.

On the other hand, the inspection may not turn up any problems at all, in which case you now have the peace of mind that comes from knowing the house is sound. You may also have the option of asking for a reduced price on the home based on issues found during the inspection. 

What Does the Inspection Cover?

Every home inspector has his/her particular methods and protocol, but the general guidelines of the American Society of Home Inspectors should be adhered to, no matter what. A good home inspector will check each of the following areas, and possibly others as well:

• Heating system
• Central air conditioning
• Interior plumbing and electrical systems
• Floors, ceilings, and walls
• The attic and all visible insulation
• Roof and structural components
• Basement and foundation
• Windows and doors

As the buyer, it is your responsibility to choose and hire a home inspector. In addition to the points listed above, you have the option of requesting additional inspections for mold, asbestos, termites, radon, and lead. These inspections usually come at an extra cost, but may be worth the expense, especially if you are planning to buy an older house.

What Comes After the Home Inspection?

You will receive a detailed home inspection report from the inspector. This report should include notes, summaries, checklists, and photographs that tell you what was inspected and detail any problems. If the report reveals no defects, the sale can proceed as planned. But if issues are present – and there are usually at least a few –  then you have a few options moving forward

Keep in mind that no house is perfect, and even a great house may have minor problems that show up on the inspection report. It’s not the number of issues that matters; it’s the seriousness. A few things to consider:

• If there are issues that you and your agent consider important enough to warrant fixing, ask the seller to either have repairs done before closing or reducing the price.
• For minor issues, it might be best to let them go rather than jeopardize the deal.
• If there are serious structural issues with either the roof or the foundation, it might be best to walk away. These repairs can cost many thousands of dollars.

Ready to take the next steps on the path to homeownership? Contact us today to learn more, and let our team of dedicated real estate agents help you find your dream home and make it your own.