What is a Home Inspection

As a home buyer who is on a journey towards homeownership, have you ever wondered what is a home inspection, and why is it important for aspiring homeowners like you? Other people choose not to go for a home inspection during the homeownership process for many possible reasons. One of the possible reasons is that it can be too costly. Another possible explanation is, they do not want to complicate things, and they want to buy the house right away. Or it could be that they are just ignorant about the home inspection; that is why they could not see its value. All have their reasons for not choosing home inspection during the homeownership process; however, we cannot deny that it is vital to have a successful homebuying journey.

Being educated with a home inspection can make you fully appreciate the house, therefore, purchasing better. This article is for everyone to have a better understanding of home inspection. 

What is a home inspection? 

Usually, a home inspection is an examination of the house’s system, including the interior and exterior components. It often happens during the sale of that house. The people who conduct home inspections are called home inspectors, who have the training and license to do different checks. The home inspection typically takes 2-4 hours to assess your home. Thus, the goal of a home inspection is to check the condition of the house thoroughly. After the assessment, the home inspector will prepare and give a written report of findings to the client. Then, the client can use the written report to make wise decisions about the potential house purchase. Meanwhile, the home inspection is not a guarantee to solve all the house’s problems; however, it will surely help you see your potential home’s health or status. 

The price of the home inspection varies in every home inspection company. There are home inspection companies that base their pricing on the size of the house. You need to clarify to the home inspection company that you are availing of the home inspection services.

What are the different types of home inspection?

A home inspection offers different types of assessments. It is always great to know the different kinds of home inspections and better understand each one. Are you ready to know them? Let us get started! 

Mold Inspections

Houses can be susceptible to mold if it is not taken seriously. Did you know that mold thrives in warm, damp, humid places? A small amount of mold may not be dangerous, but once it grows and becomes more invasive, that is the time mold can pose a significant danger to you and your family at home. So, a mold inspection is needed to check if your house can be at risk with mold problems. 

Usually, the home inspectors are experts in mold identification, trained, and have all the testing equipment to see if mold is present at home because it is not usually seen with our naked eyes. 

Part of the process is that mold assessors will check the indoor air quality of your own home. Aside from that, the mold assessment process requires lab work to check the mold in your own house accurately.

Asbestos Inspection

Asbestos exposure can cause health issues like lung conditions, asbestosis, and even cancer. People should not underestimate asbestos because it can become a big problem if not taken seriously. Therefore, all households must take time to have their homes inspected by asbestos inspectors. 

People should make an asbestos inspection if they have a house renovation or during the house selling process. It is for the benefit of aspiring homeowners to make wise decisions before buying real estate. 

What are the areas at home that home inspectors check for any asbestos danger? Here are the areas that asbestos assessors check:
-Flooring
-Paint
-Roof
-Tiles
-Pipes

Everyone can expect a written report from the home inspectors and details such as the location of the asbestos, description of materials that may contain asbestos, lab testing results, and suggested action plan. 

House Roof Inspection 

The roof is always the first line of defense for each family’s homes. But as time passes, the roof can be susceptible to different factors like aging, rain, and others that will cause deterioration. That is why the roof needs inspection for people to see the full status of their roof. Also, nobody wants to see foreign objects entering their house through the roof. But what should you do? A roof inspection is a solution to this problem! Another question is, what should you expect during a roof inspection? 

Usually, home inspectors assess these things:

Interior

They will assess if your attic has the proper insulation. If the attic has poor insulation, it can cause many problems like having extreme heat in your attic during winter, causing snow to melt on the roof, leading to potential leaks. Proper ventilation will be part of the roof inspection as well. Without it, there will be moisture, which can indeed result in having mold presence. Remember that mold thrives in moisture. Assessors will check if there are any damages on the roof caused by aging or other factors. They will also assess if leaks on the roof can potentially cause significant risk to your home. 

Exterior

Yes, the interior needs some inspection, so as the exterior of your roof. Roof inspectors will check if there are any improper flashing because flashing helps prevent water from leaking into your roof’s open locations. Other areas that roof inspectors assess are the shingle condition and the gutters on your roof. If not given much attention, your roof can have serious problems. 

Swimming Pool Inspection

Home inspectors also check the swimming pools at home. It helps aspiring homeowners check if the pools and spas at home are still in good shape because this can put your whole family at risk.

What should you expect during the pool inspection? Some factors need consideration during the pool inspection. One of them is the pool’s safety. The pool needs to be located far from electrical wires that may cause electrocution to your household. Aside from that, the walkways need checking as well to keep the children and grandparents from slipping.

Other things that are part of pool inspection:
-The cleaning system
-Make sure that there are no cross-connections in the water supply system.
-The diving boards, ladders, handrails, etc., are also included.
-Safe barriers for children.
-Blowers, heaters, pump motors, and other equipment must be part of the inspection.
-The pool lighting system.

Water Quality Inspection

Water is arguably one of the essential things in life. As we all know, we cannot live without water. Human beings must drink water to prevent dehydration. Water inspection helps everyone at home to check if the water is safe for everyday use. Home inspectors usually do water quality testing to check if your home’s water supply is free from contamination and pollution. It also helps to see if there is an imbalance in the water supply’s pH level at home. With a water assessment, you can do the next steps to ensure your home’s water quality. 

Radon Home Inspection

The air we breathe every day matters because, without air, we will all die. The quality of air is crucial. Therefore, the indoor air quality in your home needs some inspection, especially for radon risk. Are you familiar with radon? Radon is a naturally occurring gas in the environment and one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Radon home inspectors will assess your home’s indoor air quality and check any radon presence around your home environment. They will give you a written report and suggest some action plans to help you with what to do next with the radon problems. 

Other types of inspections

Other different areas are a part of a home inspection, such as:

• Property and site
• Structure and foundation
• Electrical
• Plumbing
• HVAC

How to know if a home inspection company is reputable and reliable? 

By now, you can see that home inspection is an essential aspect during the home purchasing process, and it should be done if you want to assess your own home’s status and to get your money’s worth. Do not go after unproven and not so trustworthy home inspection companies for your home inspection needs. What you need is a reliable and reputable home inspection company! What are the questions you want to ask about a home inspection? Watch the video below, and you will understand.

One must wonder, how do you determine a reputed and dependable home inspection company? Always check out the online reviews about the home inspection company. A trustworthy home inspection company still gets good online reviews. You can check if their written reports are well-written and if it shows results clearly. You get to see the qualifications of the home inspection company. One must have the training, certifications, and many others to prove its worthiness. They got to practice what they preach!