Back to Home Buyers FAQ Types of HOME INSPECTIONS Professional Inspection: Most home inspections are done by professionals. A professional home inspector has tools and methods for looking at a home from top to bottom and left to right. Obviously, a professional inspector can not find every problem, but they can find more than the average person. A home inspector is typically at a home for 2 to 3 hours and then reviews their findings with the buyer when they are through inspecting the home. 98% of home inspections are paid for by the buyer. Some sellers choose to have their home inspected prior to selling so they can address the problems before they scare a buyer away. The cost of a home inspection depends on the size of the home. Most inspections are between $200 and $400 for the basic inspection. Termite, radon, mold and other tests are usually an additional cost. A good inspector is not affiliated with any repair company. Inspectors who are affiliated with repair companies could be biased in their findings and may "inflate" a problem to try to get additional business. Professional inspectors will tell buyers if there is an issue that they need a licensed contractor to look into further. I would be happy to recommend a few local inspectors. It's important to understand that I am not affiliated with any of these inspectors. I require any inspector I refer to be completely honest with my buyers, even if that means losing the sale. I'd rather have a buyer back out of a sale versus having them buy a lemon and blaming me for it. Trade Specific Inspectors:
Some inspections are done by a licensed contractor in a specific
industry, like a plumber or electrician. If a home buyer only has a
concern in one category of the home, they could consider paying a
contractor in that industry to check into it for them. Most
contractors are happy for this type of business because it's a chance
for them to get more business if they find a problem. So, contractors thoroughly look into the problem area. The cost for these inspections vary between $45 to $150 and depend on what a contractors typical service call fee is. Self Inspection: Some buyers are quite capable as a "do it yourself" inspector. Someone who has a good working knowledge of all the home's mechanical and cosmetic components could feel comfortable in tackling the home inspection on their own. Typically, a self inspection reveals fewer problems because most people don't have the same tools or methods that a professional uses. These don't usually cost the buyer any money unless they buy special things, like tall ladders, to be able to inspect the home. A self inspector is usually very thorough because they have to live with any problems they miss. Friend/Family As Inspector: Some buyers have a trusted friend or family member inspect a home. Perhaps this friend or family member is the type that could do a Self Inspection. Even though these friends and family members have good intentions, they usually don't spend as much time in a home as a professional or self inspector. These inspections usually reveal the least amount of problems. |