Hire a Home Inspector when Buying a Home

When purchasing a home or getting your home ready to sell, The Hoffman Home Team recommends that you hire a licensed home inspector to find out if there are any problems with the home. A buyer wants to know if there are any hidden unknown conditions and a seller would want to know if there are any repairs to be done before going on the market.

Here are some tips for hiring an home inspector:

1. You can choose your home inspector.
The Hoffman Home Team can recommend an inspector at your request, or you can find one on your own.
Here are two Home Inspector Organizations that we recommend: National Association of Home Inspectors, Inc. (NAHI) and American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). Members of these organizations have to complete an approved home inspector training program, demonstrate experience and competence as a home inspector, complete a written exam, and adhere to the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.

2. Home inspections are intended to point out adverse conditions, not cosmetic flaws.
The Hoffman Home Team recommends that you attend the home inspection. Typically it takes 2-3 hours depending on the size of the home. The Home Inspector will point out items to you and explain the severity of the problem. You want to learn what is important and what's not. No house is perfect and an inspection on any home is bound to uncover faults. Major points to look for are leaks (water or gas), water damage, electrical, plumbing, and structural integrity. A home inspector will point out conditions that are health and safety issues.

3. Home inspection reports include only the basics.
A home inspector considers hundreds of items during an average inspection. The home inspection should include the home's exterior, steps, porches, decks, chimneys, roof, windows, and doors. Inside, they will look at attics, electrical components, plumbing, appliances, central heating and air conditioning, basement/crawlspaces, and garages.They report on the working order of items such as faucets to see if they leak, appliances, windows, or garage doors to see if they open & close properly. The final written report should be concise and easy to understand.

4. Home inspectors work for the party who is paying the fee.
Either it is the buyer or seller that orders the report, the one that pays for the report is the one that will receive the report. The other party does not have to share the report with the non paying party. The NAHI Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics clearly state that members act as an unbiased third party to the real estate transaction and "will discharge the Inspector's duties with integrity and fidelity to the client."

5. Inspectors are not responsible for the condition of the home.
Inspectors don't go behind walls or under flooring, so it's possible that a serious problem can be overlooked. Keep in mind that inspectors are not party to the sales transaction, so if you buy a home where an expensive problem surfaces after the sale, you won't be able to make the inspector liable or get the inspector to pay for the damage. In fact, you may not be entitled to any compensation beyond the cost of the inspection.

As the buyer, the home inspection is used a tool to determine the current condition of the home as well as knowing maintenance that is needed now as well as in the near future. Sometime further inspections may be required by a plumber, roofer, or an electrician to determine if a real problem exist. The buyer uses the home inspection to determine if the current condition is what they can tolerate to purchase the home. It is entirely up to the buyer(s) to determine their own comfort level. The buyer can ask the seller to repair/replace inspection items. This is all negotiable within the deadlines of the purchase contract.

Contact the Home Selling Real Estate Specialists at Keller Williams Realty and the Hoffman Home Team. Heidi Hoffman 303-949-9770

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Heidi Hoffman ~ HoffmanHomeTeam.com ~ 303-949-9770 ~ Keller Williams Realty