Does Professional Home Inspection Cover Everything?
What does professional home inspection cover?
If you feel that a professional home inspection is necessary, then you shoud know what it covers and what it does not cover.
Home inspection covers only readily accessible or observable systems or components. Home inspector does not move household effect or personal property and take any action that may likely involve risk to persons or property. Any water, moisture, leaks, seepage and drainage problems can be observed only during and after a certain amount of rain.
What does home inspection not cover?
A typical home inspection does not include testing of carbon monoxide, radon, or any other environmental contaminants, lead-based paint, asbestos, water analysis, wood destroying insects/organisms such as termites, dry rot, fungi, and others. Home inspectors do not provide engineering services, or testing Exterior Insulation and Finishing Systems (EIFS).
In general, professional home inspections do not cover environmental inspection, termite inspection, and earthquake evaluation. Some other limitations and exclusions are as follows:
- Asbestos evaluation for homes built before 1978
- Radon gas inspection
- Lead inspection
- Landscape components (ponds, pottery, fire pits, patio fans, heat lamps, etc.)
- Detached storages, sheds, and stables
- Septic well or tank inspection
- Washing and drying machines
- Any location or space that pose danger to inspector's life or health
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) For Your Protection Get Home Inspection provides valuable tips on getting home inspection and finding a qualified home inspector.
Learn about foreclosure home inspection
- Learn foreclosure inspection and detect problems. Don’t rely on the disclosure statement prepared by the selling bank or government agency. Such disclosure may underestimate or ignore some serious problems. Remember: some bank foreclosures and government foreclosures are sold as-is. Conduct your own preliminary foreclosure home inspection to get the feeling before going through a professional home inspection.
- Attend professional inspection as an educated home buyer or foreclosure real estate investor.
Who is home inspector?
Home inspector is a professional knowledgeable about the structural, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and other systems of a residential homes. Home inspectors pass examinations conducted by the state or professional associations. They are the members of professional home inspection associations and take continuing education each year to update their information and knowledge on the new systems.
What can you expect from a home inspector?
A home inspector makes an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a home, from the roof to the foundation. A professional home inspector will include an evaluation the home's foundation, heating and central air conditioning system, interior plumbing; electrical systems; the roof, attic, and their insulation; doors, windows, walls, ceilings, and floors; and many other visible parts of the property.
Professional home inspectors prepare a written report commenting on all of these issues. A typical report has a summary containing the problems that need to be addressed for quick review. The repairs advised by the home inspector are something that need to be discussed between the home owner and the buyer. Home owner may want to go ahead and take care of the repairs or give credit to the buyer. Such credit amount is deducted from the total amount to be paid by the buyer.