First Home Buying

Having a ratified contract means that you and the seller have a legally binding agreement that you will purchase their property on the date you specified or negotiated in the contract itself. Before that date arrives, you will need to complete several tasks related to the condition, size, and value of the home. Each is important for its own reason, but perhaps the most important for your peace of mind is the home inspection.

If you don’t have a home inspection before you close on a home, you could unknowingly be walking into more trouble than you could possibly know what to do with. There are so many things that can go wrong with a home if left unchecked! I did my first home buying without an inspection; demand was so overwhelmingly high at the time that sellers were offering almost no restitution for problems that came up during inspections anyway. I lucked out, and with the home being fairly new and its condition good, I didn’t have any major disasters. Then again, I didn’t know very much about buying a home back then, so I highly recommend that you always, always, always have an inspection!
Choosing an Inspector

All licensed home inspectors should be able to perform the necessary duties adequately and furnish a full and complete inspection report. If you don’t have a home inspector picked out, your real estate agent may already have a company or individual in mind. In this case he may have a working relationship and has likely worked with the inspector in the past, which can be reassuring because it probably means he does a good job.
What An Inspection Does

Residential home inspectors are required to know the systems within a home to a great degree; they are trained to study the condition of the home in both large and small scales. You can choose whether or not you wish to be present at the time of the inspection, but for obvious reasons it’s better to be there than to be absent. You need to understand any problems the home inspector finds and what they mean for you if you purchase the home, so a first-hand look with the inspector explaining things to you is the preferred way to go. If it is not possible for you to schedule a time when you are able to be present, you might have the option of receiving a phone consultation with the inspector after the inspection takes place.

The inspector has a long checklist of items he needs to look at, which include assessing the home’s overall appearance; checking the exterior grounds; examining the condition of the interior spaces; and ensuring that plumbing and electrical systems are working properly and are up to code. Below is a sample checklist of what inspectors are looking at when they enter a residence:
Inspection Checklist

Grounds

* Driveway
* Walkways
* Decks / Patios / Porches
* Deck / Patio / Porch Cover
* Retaining Walls
* Fences & Gates

Exterior

* Exterior Walls
* Trim
* Chimney(s)
* Exterior Stairs
* Sprinklers
* Hose Faucets
* Gutters & Roof Drains

Foundation

* Grading
* Concrete Slab-on-Grade
* Raised Foundation / Basement
* First Floor Construction

Roof

* Location
* Style
* Material
* Exposed Flashings

Plumbing

* Main Line
* Supply Lines
* Waste Lines
* Fuel System
* Water Heater

Heating & Cooling

* Description
* Condition
* Venting
* Combustion Air
* Burners
* Controls
* Distribution
* Evaporative Cooler
* Air Conditioning

Electrical

* Service
* Main Panel
* Wiring

Interior

* Entry / Exit Doors
* Interior Doors
* Windows
* Interior Walls
* Ceilings
* Floors
* Fireplace(s)
* Stairs
* Interior Features
* Laundry
* Attic

Garage

* Floor / Walls / Ceiling
* Door to Living Space
* Exterior Door
* Vehicle Door
* Electrical

Kitchen

* Sinks
* Refrigerator
* Disposal
* Oven/Cooktop
* Dishwasher

Bathrooms

* Toilet
* Sink
* Vent / Heat
* Bathtub
* Shower

More On Inspections

At first glance the above may seem like quite an exhaustive list, but there are many elements contained within a home that inspectors do not have the time or expertise to include in the home inspection. Some of the elements home inspectors may not be able to include, especially if not readily noticeable, are:

* Zoning Compliance
* Structural Analysis
* Soil Condition or Geological Survey
* Pest Inspection
* Hidden Mold or Fungus Growth
* Swimming Pools
* Well / Septic Systems
* Appliances
* Underground Storage Tanks

Individual parts, fixtures and systems may vary by location and specific situation, but you should be aware that certain items within the home like your refrigerator or dishwasher probably won’t be part of the inspection, but instead should be included in your final walk-through.