Home Inspections

A Home Inspection should be performed by a qualified Home Inspector (ASHI) who spends 2 to 4 hours assessing the overall condition of a home’s interior and exterior. Inside, an inspector will look at the heating & cooling systems, plumbing, electrical work, kitchen appliances, water heater, laundry, fire safety and bathrooms. Outside, they will look at the home’s exterior walls, siding, foundation, grading and roof. They will be looking for any evidence of damage or deficiencies (due to age, water, fire, insects, animals) and any other issues that may affect the home’s integrity and/ or value.

Purchasing a home with a well or septic system will require additional inspections. The well & septic tests required by the contract are paid for by the seller and are quite cursory. The well test looks for the presence of coliform bacteria and the septic inspection is a “walk & sniff”. If a buyer would like more extensive inspections performed, they may include a septic contingency in their offer that allows a qualified septic inspector to visually inspect the drainfield with rod probing, pump the tank’s contents, and/ or visually inspect the distribution box & tank.  Buyers may also have the well inspected and perform more extensive water tests.

If the buyer is in town and available, they will attend the Home Inspection with their agent. A good inspector will answer questions and explain items that are both minor and major. After the inspection, a copy of the full report is sent to the buyer and the agent. DO NOT PANIC! Every single house has a myriad of items on its home inspection- even new construction! This is when the negotiations begin. If you need a recommendation for a Home Inspector, please let me know.

(I am not a qualified Home Inspector and the above information is for informational purposes only.)