Buying A New Home
A home inspection is a visual examination of the home's major structure, systems and components that are visible and safely accessible. The inspector should substantially adhere to a standards of practice that outlines what should be covered during a general home inspection, as well as what is excluded. Some inspectors may strictly follow the standards of practice, while others may exceed the standards and inspect other items, or perform a more detailed inspection. Whatever the inspector includes in his or her inspection should be discussed prior to the inspection – this is known as the scope of work. The inspector should be able to provide you with a copy or online link to the standards of practice they follow when buying a new home. The inspector should provide you with a written report, which may include photos and/or recommendations, of his or her findings of the inspection. Read InterNACHI's Standards of Practice to find out what is typically included and excluded in a home inspection.
The inspector will explain:
Whether each problem is a safety issue, major defect, or minor defect
Which items need replacement and which should be repaired or serviced
Items that are suitable for now but that should be closely monitored
An excellent inspector will even tell you about routine maintenance that should be performed, which can be a great help if you are a first-time homebuyer when buying a new home. At Straight 4WARD Property Inspections, we take it a step further. We provide a FREE home maintenance book to our clients with every inspection.
Should I be present for the inspection when buying a new home?
You should attend the inspection, and you should reconsider hiring an inspector who doesn't allow this. You can learn a lot when buying a new home by following an inspector through the home. You will certainly gain a better understanding of the home's condition, which will give you insight into its potential sale points and defects. Additionally, you will likely learn information about the home's maintenance, systems and components that may provide useful for the transaction.
Exterior Inspection - Buying a new home
The inspector will complete a full inspection of the outside of the structure. This will include climbing into any crawl spaces under the home and using a ladder to reach and inspect the roof and other items.
Exterior walls
Foundation
Grading & Drainage
Roof
Garage or Carport
The inspector will test the garage door for proper opening and closing, check the garage framing if it is visible, and determine if it is properly ventilated (to prevent accidental carbon monoxide poisoning). If the water heater is in the garage, the inspector will make sure it is installed high enough off the ground to minimize the risk of explosion from gasoline fumes mingling with the heater's flame.
Interior Inspection - Buying a new home
The inspector will also complete a thorough inspection of the interior of the home. They will inspect everything from the ceiling to the cabinets under the sink.
Plumbing
Electrical
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
Water Heater
The home inspector will identify the age of the heater and determine if it is properly installed and secured. The inspector will also let you know what kind of condition it is in and give you a general idea of how many years it has left.
Kitchen Appliances
Laundry Room
Bathrooms
Fire Safety
If the home has an attached garage, the inspector will make sure the wall has the proper fire rating and hasn't been damaged in any way that would compromise its fire rating. They will also test the home's smoke detectors.
As certified and licensed home inspectors we can't tell the future, or see through walls. When you buy a home, especially an older home, be prepared for unexpected problems to pop up over the first couple years that were not mentioned during the initial home inspection. Every piece of equipment installed in your home has an expiration date.
We serve our customers with complete integrity. Our Certified home inspector at Straight 4WARD Property Inspections PLLC will thoroughly inspect every your homes exterior and interior.
Call 972-755-9867 to book the Straight 4WARD Inspector.