What to Do Before, During, and After A Home Inspection

A home inspection is a cost-oriented way of discovering or detecting a home’s general condition. It is essential to conduct such a service in order to prevent an expensive mistake from being committed through the purchase of a property that needs repair, major or not. It is important to know too, that an ideal home inspection gives the buyer assistance in carefully and thoroughly understanding exactly the property he is about to buy.

What is a home inspection?

In simple terms, a home inspection is defined as a professional and complete inspection of a particular property intentionally to carefully evaluate and check a structure’s safety, as well as its mechanical condition. A sufficient home inspection service is more often than not, a condition which a purchaser sets forth.

One of the most trusted home inspection companies in Idaho is Bent Nail Inspections. For years now, the company has been carefully conducting a visual inspection on the following:

• Foundation
• Siding
• Windows
• Roof
• Attic
• Doors
• Cooling and heating systems
• Plumbing
• Electrical
• Home interiors

How much does a home inspection cost?

Typically, a home inspection costs around $300. Such an amount is usually applied in condo units. As far as Small houses less than 1,000 sq/ft. are concerned, the price is roughly $200. For bigger homes with more than 2,000 sq/ft. for the size, the cost is approximately $400 or a little more than that.

How long will a home inspection take?

The duration for the home inspection varies. Meaning, it’s not fixed. Typically though, it takes around two to three hours for this service to take place. And during the conduct of the inspection, it is advisable that the inspector is being closely accompanied or followed as he thoroughly does the evaluation on the house being sold.

Before the home inspection

Before the conduct of home inspection, making a research is very vital. It is indeed important to know very well all the information about the home inspection company you’re hiring. If you haven’t found the right inspector yet, the best way to do so is to go and search online. Read through customer reviews on various home inspection services being offered. Part of the research you’re doing should be the expertise of the company. Know which service it is most skilled in and see if this particular expertise is the one you need for your home or the property you are selling. Bent Nail Inspections offers a wide range of high-quality home inspection services that you will surely find the one that suits your inspection needs.

During the Home Inspection

It is important to be physically present during the home inspection. What’s even more essential is that you know every single detail about the procedure being conducted. Do everything to be present in the property being inspected. Follow your inspector wherever he goes around the property. And, as you inspect each and every corner of the place, ask all the questions you can ask about the possible defects that may occur. Say, you won’t be available during the inspection, set a meeting with your inspector so together, you can go over the details of his submitted report.

Ask questions during the inspection

Be attentive to the home inspection process. It is not enough that you are there physically. Meaning engages yourself with what is being conducted. More importantly, make a careful observation and ask questions when needed. Ask these:

How bad is it?

The moment the inspector traces a problem and tells you what it is, ask immediately, “How bad is it?” Ask how critical the situation is and if you can still do the fixing yourself. It is also important that you know whether the fixing can still be done later on, right away, or possibly when you’re already living in the property.

What should we do with that?

This is the best question to ask to test if your inspector is efficient and worthy enough to be hired by you. If from his answers, he sounds so pushy in promoting their company’s products or services, it’s not bad to have a second thought. Maybe you need the service of another home inspector. Nevertheless, if his explanation is articulated easily and simply in order to solve the issues traced in your property, and if the explanation that you can do the fixing yourself fast, you are then dealing with the right person.

What would you fix?

It is the inspector’s responsibility to show you all the problems he has traced or found so long that such issues are part or within his inspection’s scope. Ask him all about the items needed for repair, replacement, maintenance, or whatever is needed for a more thorough inspection. While you and your home inspector are still both in the location, simply ask him to walk you through the property for around 15 minutes more so you will see everything–all the items he has listed for repair and further evaluation and inspection.

Can you show me how (x) works?

Bear in mind that home inspection does not only mean seeing all the items for repair but being guided well too, of the manner the systems and things are run inside your property. Don’t ever hesitate to ask how everything works inside. Bent Nail Inspections is a home inspection company that can give you the detailed guidance when it comes to the step-by-step procedure in operating various mechanisms and inside the house such as the emergency shutoffs of things, water heater, thermostat,  dishwasher, and stove, among others

How much time is left in (x)?

Only the home inspector knows how much time is left based on his findings or the result of his inspection. The time depends on the part of the home that needs repair. The time frame the inspector will give you may not be that accurate, it may at least, help you get ready for repairs that need to take longer for whatever reason it is.

After the inspection

After your home inspection, you are all set for the action you need to take. Since the home inspector has already presented to you all the items needed for repair and the extent of the problem, the decision is now for you to make. Some circumstances may happen. If you are the seller, you can make an arrangement with your buyer on how and what to do with the repairs needed as based on the report of your home inspector.