You're planning to buy a house — maybe it’s your first home, or maybe it’s a property you plan to renovate. Regardless, you want to know exactly what the condition of the building is so you don't have any unpleasant surprises once the property title is in your name. Let's answer some Frequently Asked Questions About Home Inspections.
Knowing the actual condition of the property you're about to buy can also help when it comes to setting a final purchase price. If you'll need to make big repairs, you'll expect the selling cost to reflect that. Or, if the property has some significant structural damage, you might decide that the purchase is not right for you.
But you may not know exactly what a home inspection covers and what you're paying for. Trademark Inspection Services has put together answers to frequently asked questions that you and other home buyers are likely to have regarding the home inspection process.
The home inspector is looking for structural problems that need repairs. Knowing about them lets you make an informed decision about whether to buy. An inspection includes checking:
The home inspector isn't responsible for every potential problem in a structure, and it's important to know what won't get checked or what you'll need to pay more for. A standard home inspection also does not cover anything the inspector can't easily get access to, like insulation; it's not reasonable for the inspector to cut into the wall to see if there's insulation present.
Here's what else isn't part of a standard home inspection:
*Trademark Inspection Services offers most of the extra inspection services listed above.
The cost of a home inspection in the greater Ann Arbor area (includes Canton, Westland, Plymouth) varies with the square footage of the home you want inspected, and an older house generally takes longer to inspect than a newer one of the same size. We quote each job rather than working from a price list, so the quickest way to get a figure is to ask us for one.
There are a few typical issues that affect nearly every house and that a home inspector will be on the lookout for. These include:
Your report should be very thorough, yet easy to read through. Issues should be highlighted and easy to understand. Recommendations for updates or repairs should be summarized on one page. Trademark Inspection Services' home inspection reports are highly visual with filters so you can easily see the most important issues. See a Trademark Inspection Services sample home inspection report.
Almost every home inspection uncovers some issues, and many are minor. In most cases, there is no reason to panic or be overly concerned. Many of the fixes can be done yourself. The home inspection simply helps you to be fully informed on the state of the house before you buy. Contact us if you have any questions on the process or how we can help!
Scheduling is easy, and we are here to help.
