How do Home Inspections Work?

Are you buying a home? We understand that the process can be stressful. House inspection is supposed to give you peace of mind but often has the opposite effect. You will be asked to absorb a lot of information in a short time, including a written report, checklist, photographs, environmental reports, and whatever the inspector himself says during the inspection. All this — combined with the seller's disclosure and what you notice yourself — makes the experience even more overwhelming. What should you do? Our Home Inspector is here to help.

What Really Matters

Relax. Most of your inspection will be maintenance recommendations, life expectancies and minor imperfections. These are nice to know about. However, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories:

Major defects.
Things that lead to major defects (such as a small roof-flashing leak).
Things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy, or insure the home.
Safety hazards (such as an exposed, live buss bar at the electric panel).

Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property (especially in categories 2 and 4).

What to Remember

Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn of defects uncovered during an inspection. Realize that sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the report. No home is perfect. Keep things in perspective. Do not kill your deal over things that do not matter. It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller's disclosure, or nit-picky items.

Turn BUYER BEWARE into BUYER AWARE

Trust our experienced team of professionals to inspect your potential new property. Buying a new home is probably the biggest investment you'll ever make. The process can be extremely stressful and confusing, and of course, there is always considerable risk involved when making such a large purchase decision. Your choice will affect you for years to come. Contact us now to schedule your inspection! Caveat Emptor Home Inspectors, LLC serves all of Northern New Jersey and Southern New York.

Standards of Practice