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During
the Inspection
1. Be Sure To Attend The Home Inspection
First time home buyers should be sure to attend the home inspection; the inspection should take about two hours. One picture is worth a thousand words, and there’s a unique opportunity to learn about the home and its systems.
2. Be Sure That The Home Inspector Is Well Equipped
The home inspection engineer should be fully equipped with necessary engineering tools including electrical testers, a fuel gas and carbon monoxide detector, moisture meter, ladder, inspection mirror, flashlight, level, and other home inspection tools, etc.
3. Be Sure To Follow The Home Inspector And Ask Questions
No questions are foolish for first time home buyers, learn as much as you can from the home inspector during the home inspection.
4. Be Sure That All Of The Following Points Are Fully Covered
Location, Location, Location, you’ve heard that often enough when looking for a home. Once you find your home, there’s nothing more important than Structural, Structural, Structural, you need to know that the home you are purchasing is structurally sound (that's an important reason for retaining the services of a home inspection company licensed to practice engineering).
The physical, plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and electrical systems should be thoroughly inspected and evaluated. The home inspection engineer should look for aluminum electrical distribution wires, electrical systems that are not adequate for modern usage, lead and galvanized steel water supply pipes, aged and inefficient heating and air-conditioning systems, etc.
The home inspection should include an inspection for wood destroying insects that will be accepted by your mortgage lender.
If the home has a well and/or septic system, these systems should be evaluated as well by the home inspector.
The home inspection engineer should look for materials that may be asbestos containing materials.
5. Be Sure To Consider Optional Tests
Where applicable, testing underground storage tanks, testing paint for lead, testing drinking water for lead, testing well supplied drinking water for bacteria, testing for radon gas in air, testing for urea formaldehyde foam insulation, etc.
6. Be Sure To Obtain A Full Verbal Report From The Home Inspector At The Time Of The Home Inspection
The home inspection engineering report should be available the next working day after the home inspection but a full verbal report should be obtained at the conclusion of the home inspection.
First Time Home Buyers: During The Home Inspection
First Time Home Buyers: After The Home Inspection
1. You Should Know
A first time home buyer should know the condition of the home being purchased, including all positive and negative aspects.
You should know what repairs are needed, as well as whether there are any major defects, the magnitude of the repair costs can be obtained from independent contractors although the home inspection engineer may be able to provide you with some guidance.
You should know a proper course of corrective action and whether alternatives are available.
You should know if there are any safety issues that need attention.
2. You Should Expect
You should expect an easy to understand detailed written home inspection report; look for the Licensed Professional Engineer's P.E. seal at the end of the home inspector's report.
You should expect the home inspection engineer to provide the answers to any questions you may have regarding the report.
You should expect the engineer's door to be open for answers to future questions.
3. You Should Not Expect
You should not expect the home inspector to offer to repair, for a fee, any uncovered defects (that would be a conflict of interest and may erode confidence you may have in the home inspector's findings).
You should not expect the engineer to comment on conditions that are not visible. |
