Things You’ll Learn with a Home Inspection Course

There’s a lot to learn about this business, and most people need a home inspection course to do the job correctly. Even if you’ve worked in some facet of the construction industry, home inspection is different so there’s more to cover.

A typical course teaches most of the basics that are standard throughout the industry. What makes School stand out is how our coursework is presented

Legal and Business Aspects of the Home Inspection Business

Home inspection is a business, and it’s your business. To get off on the right foot, you’ll need to understand this side of the industry, as it will be part of your everyday life.

School teaches you how to form a business, whether you want to be a sole proprietor or an LLC, and how to use pre-inspection agreements, which are legal documents. You’ll also learn about the insurance you’ll be required to maintain as a home inspector.

How to Perform a Home Inspection

Naturally, a home inspection course teaches you how to perform an inspection. instruct on the best methods to use in a home inspection, and the Standards of Practice, which outline what is universally expected, and not expected, of a home inspector.

How to Prepare for a Home Inspection

If your home is on the market or soon to be, no doubt there will come a time when a prospective buyer hires a professional to examine your house. Here are some tips from Inspecta-Homes, one of the Midwest’s most experienced home inspection companies, on how to prepare for a home inspection

If your property is vacant, confirm that your electric, water, and gas utilities are turned on. Also, be sure to clean out the area to access the attic so that a ladder can be placed by the inspector to gain access.  This includes removing clothes and shelving from closets.

Inaccessibility causes delays and may ultimately kill a sale. Avoid these inconveniences by furnishing the key(s) for utility rooms, laundry rooms, sheds, electrical panels, and any other areas that a home inspector might want to examine.

A home inspector will thoroughly canvas your house and inspect everything inside. This includes items like appliances such as the refrigerator and dishwasher, and utility access points for heating, cooling, and electrical. Make the inspector’s job easier by clearing a space of at least three feet around all such items and access points. Clear away any debris, stored items, and boxes.

Following the same train of thought as the previous tip, ensure that your water heater, stove, and furnace are all operational. For safety reasons, a home inspector will not activate the pilot light on any such equipment.

Preparing For Your Home Inspection: What to Expect

The home inspection is an important part of the home-buying process, yet it tends to cause anxiety for buyers and sellers alike. Part of this is because people don’t really know what to expect from the inspection: not only might the inspector find a deal-breaker of a problem, but the process itself is a bit of a mystery if you’ve never purchased a home before.

What Does a Home Inspection Cover?

The house will be examined from top to bottom.

several essential inspection areas:

Structure: The foundation and framing should be prepared to handle various weather conditions and the long-term effects of gravity.

Exterior: This includes the exterior doors, driveway, porch/patio, siding, windows, and more.

Roof: The condition of the shingles and any drainage issues will be made clear to you. Skylights and chimneys are also examined.

Plumbing: The inspector will check for small issues that may indicate larger (or soon-to-become) problems, like rust on the pipes or poor water pressure.

Electrical: This includes breakers, conductors, service entrance wires, and “a representative number of installed lighting fixtures, switches, and receptacles.”

Heating and Air Conditioning: The inspector will identify the energy source for these systems and inspect the vents and permanently installed equipment.

Interior: The walls, ceilings, and floors will be examined, along with installed appliances, stairs and railings, and some permanent cabinets, windows, and interior doors. Remember, the inspector is looking for structural defects and damage, not aesthetic issues.

Ventilation and Insulation: The inspector will check the exhaust systems in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry areas as well as ventilation for the attic and other areas.

Fireplace: The inspector will ensure the fireplace damper is working properly. Checking for proper installation and flues is not required, just a bonus.

What’s NOT Covered on Most Home Inspections?

It’s important to note that the inspection is done without judgment; that is to say, your inspector will tell you about the condition of the house, but will not make a call on whether or not it’s a good idea to buy it. It’s up to you to determine if an item is worth fixing or if you want the seller to repair it before you are willing to buy the house.

Despite the thorough nature of the inspection, there is still a long list of items and situations that are not covered on most home inspections. Here are a few of them:

Property boundaries.

The reason a particular item is in its current condition.

Estimations about the future condition or the life expectancy of an item.

The presence of rats, mold, fungus, airborne hazards, lead paint, asbestos, or hazardous waste.

Air quality.

Whether or not a home has complied with county codes.

Cost estimates for repair or replacement.

Concealed defects or problems.

Aesthetic issues (like peeling paint) and decorative items.

Seasonal accessories like screens or shutters.

Alarms, intercoms, and security systems.

Anything that would require the inspector to dismantle something, enter a dangerous situation, or move a personal item.

Testimonials

The report was thorough and easy to read and understand. Above all, I so appreciate bringing major concerns to our attention early in the inspection. He did not wait to write the report to bring concerns to our attention. I cannot overstate the value of his expertise and knowledge in advising us of major and costly-to-repair concerns had we gone ahead with the purchase of the property.

Home Inspections was very helpful during our home buying process. He was very thorough during the inspection and explained everything he found along the way. His report was very easy to read and understand and the color coding helped in identifying and differentiating between BIG and small issues

You did such a thorough job for the buyers of our previous property that we wanted you to check out the house that we plan to buy. You did another thorough, great job.

Home Inspections conducted a very thorough, professional inspection of the home I am buying. He spent a considerable amount of time testing and visually inspecting critical components of the house, and allowed me to follow along while he explained what he was doing each step of the way; he answered every question I asked in a patient and courteous manner.

Extremely knowledgeable, thorough, and takes the time to explain things if you want/ask questions. He also reiterates that he is available to you after the inspection process for any questions (which I can certainly vouch for).

Home Inspection Tips for Buyers

Buying a new home is a huge financial decision, whether it is your first home or your fifteenth. Each investment is unique with its own history, charm, and maintenance concerns. While not every home is perfect, some homes can appear beautiful on the surface while hiding dangerous problems just waiting to break on a new homeowner.

A home inspector is your best friend during the home buying process. Even if you find a great deal on a house in your ideal neighborhood, you should hire a home inspector to take a second look.

Don’t Skip the Home Inspection

If you think skipping the home inspection is going to save you money, keep reading. A home inspection can actually save you money.

You’ll know exactly what you’re buying and if you should expect any major expenses, such as getting a new roof or a roof rebuild within a few years.

You also have the opportunity to walk away from a deal if a serious issue is found, like a cracked foundation or extreme levels of mold.

If you do close on a home with more serious flaws, you can use the findings in the home inspection report to negotiate a lower cost.

You avoid the potential expenses of buying a home that has numerous structural flaws.

Ask Questions

Your home inspector is there to help you make sure you’re purchasing a high-quality home that’s free of major problems, so ask any questions that you have!  A good home inspector will be happy to answer any and all of your questions.

Here are a few questions to ask your home inspector:

How long will the heat/air equipment last?

What kind of maintenance will this home need?

What are the major red-flag concerns?

Focus on the most critical aspects of the home that could be expensive to repair or replace like the electrical, plumbing, or underlying structure.