Home Buyer Tips: What to Expect During a Home Inspection

A home inspection is an important - yet often overlooked - part of a Highland Park real estate transaction. As a buyer, a home inspection will alert you to any potential problems or areas of the home which require maintenance, repair or replacement.

A proper home inspection can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in home repairs.

A comprehensive home inspection should, at the very least, cover the following areas of the home:

  • The land and lot
  • General construction
  • The foundation
  • The exterior foundation
  • The roof, the flashing, the gutters and the downspouts (the age of the roof, the roof’s condition)
  • The roof’s support structure
  • The attic
  • The basement
  • The home’s insulation
  • The windows
  • The garage
  • The kitchen and the kitchen appliances
  • Any attached structures
  • The electrical system (is the electrical box up to code, is there obvious safety issues)
  • The visible interior and exterior plumbing
  • Central air and heating system (is it efficient, is it big enough for the home)
  • Interior condition of the home (floors, walls, etc.)

Your home inspector should be able to provide you with his or her experience, including the number of inspections they have completed and how long they have been doing inspections.

Other questions to ask your inspector include:

  • What type of report will I receive after the inspection? How long will it take you to get the report to me?
  • How long will the inspection take? A qualified inspector can give you a rough estimate based on the size of the house.
  • What do you typically include in your inspections (see above list)?
  • What certifications do you carry? Are you ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) certified?

Your best line of defense when buying a home is to stay informed and educated about all of the decisions regarding your Highland Park real estate transaction - and a home inspection is no exception.

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