Buying a house is a significant milestone for many, but it’s crucial to approach it with care and thoroughness. From sorting out finances to finding the perfect location and interiors, there’s a lot to consider. Even when you think you’ve found the ideal home, it’s essential to wait and inspect the property thoroughly before committing.
This is where a house inspector becomes invaluable. Their role is to provide comprehensive information about the house’s construction and overall condition. By inspecting the property on your behalf, they can identify any potential issues and help you determine whether it’s a wise investment.
However, finding the right house inspector is just the beginning. You also need to ensure you ask them the right questions to ensure they’re a good fit for the job and that they’ll cover all essential aspects during the inspection.
Here are some key questions to ask your house inspector before they inspect your potential home:
Contents
- 1 Questions To Ask Home Inspector
- 1.1 1. Are you licensed or certified?
- 1.2 2. What does this home inspection cover?
- 1.3 3. Is the plumbing in good order?
- 1.4 4. Is the electrical system current or upgraded?
- 1.5 5. Does the house need to be “brought up to code?”
- 1.6 6. What’s the condition of the roof?
- 1.7 7. Is the house structurally sound?
- 1.8 8. Does the property have good drainage?
- 1.9 9. Is the heating and cooling system working properly?
- 1.10 10. Has the home been renovated or updated?
- 1.11 11. Are there any safety issues?
- 1.12 12. Is there any termite damage?
- 1.13 13. Is there any evidence of water damage?
- 1.14 14. What do you think of the overall condition of the property and are there any deal breakers?
- 1.15 15. Ask them anything you are concerned about.
- 1.16 Conclusion
Questions To Ask Home Inspector
1. Are you licensed or certified?
When choosing your house inspector, the first question that you need to ask is if they are licensed or certified. You may find it hard to believe but some states don’t have the requirements to follow a procedure to get licensed or certified. This might work for some people but you shouldn’t take any chances.If a house inspector is licensed or certified that means they might have gone through the training and will do a better job at finding flaws in a property. The house inspector should be licensed or certified by either ASHI or NACHI, the top two organizations in the house.Apart from this, you can also ask them how long they have been practicing house inspections, this will tell you their experience so you can be assured of their work and ability to find the red flags.
2. What does this home inspection cover?
This is another must-ask question for your home inspector and you can’t skip it. The thing about home inspection is you would like the house to be inspected from each corner and all the factors included. But each home inspector may have different sets of things that they will inspect and they may be narrow or broad.To know what the home inspector would cover and what not, you will need them to take you to a quick rundown of the checklist and the upcoming tour of the property. Since the home inspection would be subjective and it all depends on the home inspector, you need to know if the things that you are concerned about are covered or not.Lastly, when you are satisfied with what the home inspector is going to inspect and how they are going to do that, you can figure out the next questions for them after they are done inspecting the house.
3. Is the plumbing in good order?
The plumbing is a crucial part of a house and it needs to be solid. So your question to the home inspector should include the plumbing as well. If the plumbing is in any way not up to the mark, you will need to reinstall it after you move into the house. This can cause you some extra bucks.You should know the age and condition of the plumbing system in the house. The plumbing system has been changed over the years so there is a chance that you will need to update the plumbing in your house if it is outdated.
4. Is the electrical system current or upgraded?
The next important thing that you will need to figure out about the house would be its electrical system. The electrical system of the house is quite important and you don’t need to tackle the outdated or unsafe wire fittings. This can lead to a lot of damage in the future, so it would be better to be assured of the electrical situation of your new house. The outdated wiring or some DIY stuff regarding the wiring or electrical switches can also be a matter of concern, so make sure your house inspector can clarify this to you.
5. Does the house need to be “brought up to code?”
The building codes are also a factor to weigh in while inspecting the house. While most people are familiar with the term, they may not fully understand them.The building codes involve a lot of information and factors such as material, technology, and the overall building style of the houses. If you are buying a new house, you would want to buy a house that follows the building code or at least doesn’t violate it too much. The code would include electrical systems, plumbing, and fire protection.
6. What’s the condition of the roof?
The roof is also something you can’t neglect and you shouldn’t. That is why you must ask the home inspector about the condition of the roof.The condition of the roof depends on the weather conditions and the climate factors of the area of the house located on it. It should protect the house from outdoor weather, leaking, and pests. Ask the home inspector what they think of the life span of the roof and how good its condition is.
7. Is the house structurally sound?
It doesn’t matter how good everything about the house is, but if it lacks the structural quality it won’t be worth spending money on it. So you need to know that the skeleton of the house is made with good quality material and it is something that can last for a long time. You should make sure that the house is safe and sound.Although the house inspector will keep a close eye on the structural strength of the house, it won’t hurt to remind them again to think about it.These are the things that you should be worried about and ask your house inspector about:
8. Does the property have good drainage?
The drainage is also a very important part of the house and you can’t neglect that either. There are so many things that can be ruined or get damaged if there isn’t a good drainage system. Poor drainage and improper grading of the landscape are some of the common issues to have when it comes to house inspection. So make sure you ask the house inspector what they think of the drainage of the house.
9. Is the heating and cooling system working properly?
When it comes to comfort, you would want to ensure that the heating and cooling system of the house is working properly as well. You should be able to control the temperature and humidity of the house so that everyone can be comfortable around the house.You should ask the house inspector to show you how you can operate the heating or cooling system and if it is working properly or not.
10. Has the home been renovated or updated?
If you are buying an old house then you should look for any renovations that have been done in the house. See if the previous owners of the house have renovated the house and how that has been done.Make sure you ask your house inspector the questions regarding the house renovations and see if they think it has been done properly. Look if there are any DIY errors in the house or how the renovation has been done.
11. Are there any safety issues?
You don’t want to take risks when it comes to the safety of the house. This is why the next questions should be whether the house is safe or not or are there any safety issues that you should be concerned about.There are a few things that you should ask the house inspector when it comes to safety measures in the house:
12. Is there any termite damage?
Any kind of pests and termites can cause the loss of property and with that a ton of money too. So it is better that you look if there is any damage done by termites or any other kind of pests.See what kind of pests there are and if there is damage done by the pests. You would want to know how much it will cost for the pest control and the termite control before you make a deal for the house, the price will depend on the size of the house.
13. Is there any evidence of water damage?
Make sure to ask if there is any water damage on the property and if there is, what is its intensity.Water damage is common around the house but this isn’t something you should neglect. Find out where the water damage is on the house and how it will affect the other things. Ask your house inspector to look for any kind of smell, mold, mildew, dripping sound on walls, and the water stains on the walls, ceilings, or floors.
14. What do you think of the overall condition of the property and are there any deal breakers?
Now you have covered the major questions to ask the house inspector and it is time that you ask for their final thought on the property and what they think about it.Just ask them if it would be worth spending money on the house or if they think it is a good idea to buy the property as well. Ask them to tell you their honest opinion and thoughts on the house.
15. Ask them anything you are concerned about.
At last, you can ask them anything that might be bugging you or you are concerned about. So even if it is as little as the squeaky door or as big as the questions that we have mentioned above in the article, you can ask them anything. Don’t hesitate and make sure you don’t have any more doubts about the property or the house.
Conclusion
These questions are essential to ask your house inspector to ensure a thorough assessment of your potential home. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned homeowner, it’s crucial to have these questions on your list. A competent house inspector plays a vital role in helping you make an informed decision and avoid potential pitfalls in your home purchase.
We hope you found this article helpful and that it assists you in navigating the house inspection process effectively. If you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out. Good luck with your home purchase!
