Posted on January 15th, 2025

In short, a home inspection is a visual inspection of the major systems and components of a residential building. Most home inspections are utilized by the buyer in a real estate transaction. Home inspections can also be used by the home owner before listing their house for sale (pre-listing inspection).
Home inspectors look for problems with the home and situations that may become a problem in the future — like damaged roof shingles, faulty electrical receptacles, and potentially costly plumbing leaks. All the defects the inspector sees are documented in a report along with information about the home and it’s installed systems. The inspector will list the problem that was identified, provide a picture or video of the issue, include a possible resolution, or a recommendation of the type of contractor the client should contact to have it fixed.

You should choose a home inspector that is certified (or licensed if your state has licensure requirements). 

Be prepared to be at the home for at least a couple hours. A good thorough home inspection should take about 2-3 hours for an average sized single family home. Your home inspector will look at the building from the roof to the foundation and everything in between, so now is a great time to ask any questions you may have; exceptional inspectors will be available to you for questions long after your inspection.

You should expect to pay somewhere around $400.00 to $600.00 for a residential home inspection. Variables that could affect the cost would be square footage, local market, and of course demand. Some inspectors also offer ancillary services to extend the depth of the inspection scope such as sewer scopes and radon testing.

If you have any questions about home inspections or the inspection process feel free to leave a comment!