Guides for buyers, sellers & agents
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Plain-language guidance on what a home inspection is, what it isn't and how buyers and sellers use the report.
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Common questions about inspections and reports.
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For buyers
What Is a Home Inspection?
A home inspection is a visual inspection of the structure and components of a home to find items that are not performing correctly or items that are unsafe. When problems are found, they are documented in a written report and further evaluation may be suggested.
Emotion often affects buyers and makes it hard to imagine any problems with a new home. A home inspection helps a buyer find out about problems with the home before moving in.
Additional services such as mold, radon and water testing are sometimes available.
A home inspection is not
- A guarantee against future component failures
- An appraisal that determines property value
- A code-compliance inspection
For sellers
The Seller's Inspection
A seller's inspection virtually eliminates the hassles a buyer's inspection can cause: fewer deals that fall through when an inspector finds a problem, no inflated repair estimates, and no contracts undone by surprise defects.
A seller's inspection report lets the listing agent link prospective buyers straight to the report, which can be viewed over the internet instantly.
Knowing what defects are present at listing lets you
- Determine which items require fixing before listing
- Substantiate the asking price
- Provide full disclosure protection
- Shop for contractors competitively
- Streamline the sales process
For agents
How Selling With a Seller's Inspection Works
Inspect at listing
After the listing is signed, a seller's inspection is performed.
Decide together
The agent discusses any problems with the seller and determines whether the listing is “as is” with full disclosure, or whether repairs should be made to expedite the sale.
Repair and re-inspect
The seller corrects problem areas and calls for a re-inspection. Deficiencies are re-inspected within 90 days of the original report at no charge.
List with the report
The revised report is linked from the web listing. When a buyer enters a contract, they can rely on the inspection or have another performed.
After closing
What Is a Home Warranty?
A home warranty protects you against components that fail in the future. You may have to pay a deductible or service-call fee when you have a problem, so confirm coverage with the warranty company before a repair visit.
If your inspection shows that the furnace or another major component is old, you may be better off buying a warranty before you purchase. Look closely at what is not covered as you compare prices.
Next step
Ready to Schedule Your Inspection?
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