A Few Things You Should Know About a Home Inspection

A home inspection is necessary to help you make a safe investment when you're buying a home. You'll be able to tell if the house is in good shape and maybe get a better deal. Here's what you need to know about home inspections.

Here's What You Need to Know About a Home Inspection

Once your offer on the house has been accepted there is a certain process you must follow. You need to get a home appraisal, settle your mortgage loan, acquire title insurance, and arrange a home inspection. A home appraisal is a mortgage requirement to determine the home's market value.  On the other hand, a home inspection is necessary to help find out if everything in the house is fully functioning. We've already covered what a home appraisal includes, this time Schutt Law-Title Insurance Agency brings you a bit more information about the home inspection.

What is a Home Inspection?

A home inspection is a visual assessment of a home’s physical structure and systems. A professional home inspector performs it, and it’s only meant to identify unsafe areas or elements that need to be repaired in a house. Unlike a home appraisal, which determines the market value, the inspection merely examines a home’s physical condition. The examination is requested almost as soon as a home seller has given the buyer the green light and accepted their offer. The results of the home inspection are presented in a written report. You can later negotiate with the seller to make some repairs or choose to back out of the deal.

What a Home Inspector Looks for

Although the requirements for a home inspection vary from state to state, there is a minimum standard that every inspection should include. Here are the things that the home inspector must check for. Remember that while you get your home inspection, you can also purchase your title insurance. Not sure if you should get it? These are some of the reasons why you should. So go ahead and call Schutt Law-Title Insurance Agency at (239) 540-7007 while your home inspector does their job.

• Roof:  The inspector will check if there are any missing shingles, areas that need repair, damage to chimneys, the state of the gutters, and if there are any potential leaks.
• Structure: The home must have a solid foundation, they will revise if there is any sagging or bowing of the structure, and that the windows are all aligned.
• Exterior: They will examine the condition of the exterior paint, working lights, and the right clearance between the ground and the siding material.
• Plumbing: The home inspector will make sure that there are no visible leaking pipes, the hot temperature is appropriate, and the toilets, sinks, showers, and bathtubs are functioning.
• Electric system: All the electrical outlets and light fixtures must be fully operational, so must the circuit breakers. The inspection will also check for visible wires, which can be a safety hazard.
• Basement: There shouldn't be any visible leaks or water damage to the walls and floors, and the basement foundation must be solid.
• Heating and cooling system: The inspector will turn on the air conditioning system to test its function while they explore the house. They will also examine the furnace, chimney, and fireplace.
• Grounds: The report will include if there is any damage to the driveway, fences, and sidewalks, overgrown trees that might cause trouble in the future, drainage, and leaks from the septic tank.
• General safety: The inspector will check that the house has working fire sprinklers, carbon monoxide alarms, and garage door openers. They will also check that the stairs are safe and the handrails placed solidly.
• Appliances: If some of the main appliances such as the stove, refrigerator, microwave, washer and dryer, and dishwasher are included with the house, the inspector will try them out.

What a Home Inspection Doesn’t Include

Again, home inspection requirements tend to vary according to the state and the inspector. However, some areas are not covered by the inspection. Reviewers tend only to inspect things that are visible or that are easily accessible. An inspector won’t be digging up your yard or drilling holes in your walls; they don’t have the licensing requirements. If you feel like there might be a problem with some of the aspects of the house not included in the home inspection, you should look for a specialist.  Here are some of the things you won’t find in your home inspection report.

• Termite and pests
• Swimming pools and hot tubs
• Septic tank
• Asbestos, radon gas, and lead paint
• Central vacuum systems

Purchase Your Title Insurance in Fort Myers

Once you're sure that your dream home is a safe investment, be sure to learn about its title history. Call Schutt Law-Title Insurance Agency at (239) 540-7007 to begin your title insurance process and protect yourself from undisclosed liens.