The Ultimate Home Inspection Checklist for Buyers
A home inspection is vital to give yourself peace of mind as you purchase a new home. These inspections ensure there are no significant issues that need to be addressed before finishing the sale, and they also give buyers official leverage to negotiate with sellers over costs.
As a buyer, it’s important to remember that an inspection differs from an appraisal. Instead, the home inspection happens after the seller accepts your offer while the home is in escrow. Another important thing for buyers to know is that a home inspection contingency can be added to the contract you and the seller sign. Find out more about the home inspection contingency here.
As you have your home inspected by professionals such as those at DMC Home Inspections, you’ll want to know more about the process and what goes into a home inspection. Here’s what you need to know.
How To Prepare as the Buyer
Experts do a home inspection, but you can still help out in the process if you’re prepared ahead of time. It’s best if you are there during the inspection. This allows you to see what the inspector notices and to learn more about the condition of the house you are looking to buy.
While you might find many repairs coming up, don’t get too worried. Instead, try to focus on more significant issues that may warrant negotiation.
What’s in the Home Inspection Report?
Once the home inspection is done, the inspector will put together a report. This written report is given to you and will feature all of the issues from the property. In most cases, you’ll also get the chance to talk to the inspector about what they noticed. Be prepared to see a long list of flaws, as this is the job of the home inspector. Not all of these are a big deal.
What to Look for in a Home Inspection?
While you won’t conduct the inspection yourself, it doesn’t hurt to know what the inspector will look at. It’s also not a bad idea to look at most of these factors around the property yourself.
A home inspection will include the following:
- Going over the grounds, foundation, drainage, crawl spaces, windows, frames, chimney, gutters, and the rest of the exterior.
- Looking for water damage or sump pump issues in the basement.
- Checking the attic for stains, damage, or poor insulation.
- Inspecting the roof for damage, missing shingles, or cracks.
- Going over the electrical systems in the home and around the property.
- Inspecting bathrooms for plumbing issues and water damage.
- Evaluating kitchen plumbing, fans, and appliances.
- Seeing if the interior rooms are in good condition.
- Checking HVAC systems and plumbing.
Cover Your Bases With DMC
If you have questions about home inspections for buyers, contact DMC Home Inspections to learn more. You can call us at 612-310-1692 to get in touch with an inspector.