Home inspections are standard protocol in various scenarios ranging from real estate purchases to renewing homeowner’s insurance policies.
Outside of these business-driven reasons, homeowners who take advantage of inspections appreciate what they learn and the resulting peace of mind.
A Home Inspection Should Matter To You If…
Here are some of the most important reasons a home inspection might matter to you:
1. You’re About to Buy a Home
If you’re buying a home, you absolutely want to schedule a whole home inspection to assess what may or may not be wrong with it. These inspections evaluate the over 1,000 things including:
- HVAC: system, operation, ductwork, etc.
- Plumbing: water heater, pressure, etc.
- Window & doorframes appear square
- Siding/masonry/stucco condition
- Toilet/shower/sink: operation & condition
- Driveways, sidewalk, etc. pitch & condition
- And more!
If we notice any significant issues, buyers can back out of the deal or negotiate a better price.
Whole home, pre-sale inspections are so standard that real estate agents partner with reputable home inspectors to ensure their clients have access to accurate information promptly.
2. You’re About to Sell a Home
If you haven’t had a home inspection in 10 or more years, scheduling one before you list your home is a good idea. As mentioned above, prospective buyers can wind up finding out there are significant issues. By knowing the status of your home’s structural and mechanical systems ahead of time, you and your real estate agent can determine which items are worth fixing or whether pricing or credit adjustments make more sense.
Also, full disclosure at the beginning of home sale negotiations builds trust with potential sellers, so they don’t feel duped or brokenhearted if their pre-sale inspection results scare them away.
3. You’re Shopping For Homeowner’s Insurance
Florida’s homeowner’s insurance carriers have grown more strict about coverage qualifications due to the increase in significant storm damage claims and fraud. For example, carriers readily deny homeowner’s insurance for houses with roofs that are 15 years old or older.
Most carriers require at least a four-point inspection, and you may want to consider a complete home inspection. By addressing each of the red flag items listed on the inspection report, you’ll not only qualify for insurance coverage. Still, you may save hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the policy term.
4. You Neglected Routine Home Maintenance Requirements
Each of the critical home systems inspected during our 4-point inspection was installed with some type of manufacturer’s recommendations regarding routine maintenance. Failure to uphold these recommendations can void warranties or negatively impact future insurance claims.
For example:
- Roofs
Roofs should be inspected by a licensed inspector – a building inspector or a licensed roofer – at least once a year. You should also remove debris, clean the gutters, and replace damaged shingles or other roof parts immediately. Finally, any signs that you didn’t notify the insurance company about a leak ASAP (significant damage, noticeable staining, mold growth, etc.) can compromise a claim. - HVAC
Similarly, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems should also be inspected by a licensed HVAC technician at least once yearly. During these visits, they perform a full roster of annual maintenance tasks. These are akin to a yearly tune-up on your car. Homeowners should also replace the system’s air filters at least every three months and more often if you have allergies. - Electrical System
If your electrical system is over 15 to 20 years old, schedule an electrical system inspection. Odds are you have an outdated panel due to our increased dependence on electronics. Also, contact an electrician if you notice anything unusual around fixtures or electrical outlets, like hot switch plates, the smell of something burning, or if the walls around outlets/switches are warm to the touch. - Plumbing
As with electrical systems, well-designed and installed plumbing should last for at least 20 years. If you have an older home, an inspection may reveal small plumbing leaks that haven’t been noticed or evidence of a faulty sewer or septic system.
An inspection is always worth the investment if you’ve been lax about annual home maintenance tasks. The Super Inspection Pros team is happy to walk you through what to do – with basic inspections on how to do it – so you can begin with a clean slate from there on out.
5. You Plan to Embark On A Major Remodel or Renovation
If you live in an older home, a home inspection is a wise investment before embarking on a significant remodel or renovation. The quotes provided by a prospective contractor are for their work but do not account for what they might uncover during the demo process – and that can blow up a project’s budget.
It’s almost always more affordable to repair significant issues (mold, structural rot, major pest damage, etc.) before remodeling begins. Let the design-build team know if you learn that electrical or plumbing systems are not up to current code. Then, compare their quote to perform the work with an independent, licensed subcontractor’s estimate and see which is more affordable.
6. Your New Construction Build is Nearing the 11th Month
Even new homes inevitably have something wrong with them. While these things aren’t always significant, they can cost a pretty penny if you notice them after the builder’s one-year warranty term expires. Once you move into the home, set a calendar reminder to schedule an 11-month warranty inspection.
When the inspection is complete, you’ll gain peace of mind knowing your home is built to code and that all systems function as they should. If that’s not the case, you’ll have a critical punch list to hand off to the builder so they can begin work on the necessary repairs or replacements before any warranties run out
7. You’ve Inherited a Home
Congratulations! Inheriting a home is an amazing gift – but only if you understand what you’ve inherited. Depending on your financial status, moving into a home that requires significant updating may not feel like the blessing it did at first.
Once the estate paperwork is complete, schedule a full home inspection. Within 48 hours or less, you’ll have a comprehensive inspection report. From this, you can determine your next steps, whether it be selling the home to the highest bidder and washing your hands of it or beginning the necessary repairs to bring it up to code or rentable living conditions.
Super Inspection Pros Knows How Much Home Inspections Matter
The team at Super Inspection Pros sees first-hand why home inspections matter. And so do our clients. For example, a recent review from Michael M. says:
“They revealed issues that I wouldn’t have known about and would have cost a great deal to address after buying the home…I can’t say enough about how great they are and the peace of mind they provide when it comes to spending money on a home.”
What’s more valuable than peace of mind? Schedule your home inspection with Super Inspection Pros before buying or selling a home or when you need accurate information about what’s happening “behind the scenes” of your home’s attic, walls, or crawl spaces.
