At Forever Home Inspection, we believe that knowledge boosts confidence. We also believe in transparency and empowering home buyers as they navigate the home buying process. As we enter a new year, here are ten things we believe every buyer should know about home inspections.
Home inspections and home appraisals are not the same.
Though both are important parts of the home purchasing process, home inspections and home appraisals are different. Home inspections evaluate a home’s condition, whereas home appraisals estimate a home’s value. A home inspector is a third-party licensed professional who evaluates a home’s condition, whereas a home appraiser is someone who works with a mortgage company or bank to estimate a home’s fair market value so that lenders do not loan more than the property is likely worth. Home inspectors work for the home buyer, whereas home appraisers work for the mortgage company or bank.
Inspectors identify safety concerns and focus on big-ticket items.
A qualified and experienced home inspector is less concerned with pointing out cosmetic flaws inside a home, and more concerned with identifying safety hazards and big expense items. A home inspector is focused on documenting issues with a home’s structure, roof, or electrical/plumbing/HVAC systems. Cosmetic flaws are also often included in home inspection reports, but they are not the priority of a home inspection.
Home inspections are not “pass” or “fail” inspections.
Since home inspections are not code-enforcement inspections, homes do not receive a “pass” or “fail” designation from a home inspector. A home inspector’s job is to report on the condition of the home and present the findings to the prospective buyer so the buyer can make the most informed home-buying decision. The prospective buyer then determines if the findings are acceptable, negotiable, or a deal-breaker. In short, a home inspector acts like your very own home detective.
Every home will have its issues.
It’s not a matter of “if” an experienced home inspector will find defects, but rather “how many” defects and “what kind” of defects. Even brand new homes have defects! The question really is which defects the buyer wishes to purchase and which defects are deal breakers.
Home inspections are visual and non-invasive.
Home inspectors will not open walls, move heavy furniture, etc. since a home inspection is a visual inspection and non-invasive. If a home inspector cannot access an area of the home, it is marked as a limitation on the inspection report. However, we at Forever Home Inspection will do everything we can to gather the appropriate information about a home in a safe and respectful manner.
Buyers are strongly encouraged to attend the inspections.
Walking the home with the inspector during the inspection allows buyers to ask questions and “see what the inspector sees.” Attending the inspection also helps buyers understand the identified defects since the inspector can explain the findings in plain language before the buyers receive their written report. We are always happy to answer buyer questions during the inspection process! We pride ourselves on being education-driven and client-focused.
Inspection reports can help give buyers negotiating power.
After a home inspection is performed and the prospective buyer has the report in hand, the report can be used as a powerful documentary tool to negotiate final details before closing. Buyers can always request that repairs be made before final paperwork is signed or that the asking price be lowered based on defects found during a home inspection.
Inspectors are generalists, not specialists.
Home inspectors are considered experts in home inspecting, which means they have to know enough about each major system in a home in order to identify defects. However, home inspectors are considered generalists because they cannot be experts on every home system. A good inspector does not pretend to know everything, but does know who to recommend when defects in a home are discovered. For example, a home inspector can identify signs of settling in a home’s foundation, but since the home inspector is not a structural engineer, if structural work is needed the home inspector would recommend that the prospective buyer follow up with a licensed structural engineer for further evaluation. Check out our Tulsa Partners Page for local companies we often recommend who service Northeast Oklahoma!
A home inspection is a snapshot in time.
A home inspection is a snapshot of a home’s condition at the time of the inspection. It is important to remember that houses change and age. Home inspections don’t just have to be done at the time of a home purchase; inspections can be a very beneficial tool around the 5-year and 10-year mark of owning a home. These “owner home inspections” report on the overall status of a home and its possible defects to help homeowners more confidently prepare for another year of homeownership.
Hiring an experienced home inspector matters.
There is a difference between a new home inspector and one with hundreds or thousands of inspections under his/her belt. Experience in home inspecting is much like other careers; a home inspector improves in his/her ability as he/she performs more inspections. Some inspectors have had a former career that trains them to have an eye for defects because of an emphasis on attention to detail, such as prior military service. Here at Forever Home Inspection we pride ourselves on having both of these assets. Inspector Mike has performed hundreds of inspections and, as a military veteran, he possesses exceptional attention to detail. Additionally, our systems and processes have been proven effective over the thousands of inspections during the company’s lifespan. We take great pride in what we do!
