Buying a home without an inspection is risky because there are certain things you need to know about the house before it’s all yours.
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If you’re thinking about buying a home, there are three main reasons you should order an inspection for that home.
The first is so you know what’s going on with the house. The good news is you can choose whoever you like to do the inspection. Your agent will most likely have someone to recommend as well.
Make sure whoever you pick is certified through InterNACHI (International Association of Certified Home Inspectors) or ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors). This is important because these inspectors are required to keep up their education courses, certifications, and general ongoing knowledge of the inspection process so they can service you the best they can.
The second reason to order an inspection is in case you ever get caught in a court dispute and need to back up your claim. A certified home inspector is admissible in court—your neighbor who dabbles in home inspections isn’t.
With home inspections, there is no “pass” or “fail.” It’s simply a snapshot of the home that day. An inspector can’t tell you if an appliance or a major item will fail. They can only inspect it and give you their opinion on its condition. They also can’t move any of the current homeowner’s personal effects. For example, they can’t look under a rug or behind a curtain. If they miss something that’s being purposely hidden, that’s something they can’t control.
There are also items and systems that are outside of their control or expertise. Just because an inspector became an inspector because they had experience in construction or plumbing doesn’t mean they have the same level of knowledge regarding electrical wiring. If this is the case and they see something they think isn’t up to code, they’ll advise you to seek out legal expertise in that area.
The third reason to order a home inspection is so you can get a radon test and a sewer scope recommendation done. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. This is outside the scope of regular inspections, so don’t forget to ask for one. Radon can happen in a home no matter its age. If you’d like to know more about it, visit www.epa.gov/radon.
We don’t usually recommend a sewer scope unless the home is older and might have clay piping or there are big trees growing around the house that might have roots interfering with the plumbing system. As with a radon test, this sometimes falls outside the regular duties of a home inspection, so you may have to request it separately as well.
If you have any questions about this topic, please feel free to call, text, or email us anytime. We would be happy to help you.
