What is a Home Inspection?
Home inspections are specialized professional inspections to determine and document a home’s current physical conditions. Home inspections also identify defective conditions of specific structures and systems within a home.
A standard home inspection includes examination and review of:
Exterior Walls and Surfaces
Roofing
Attic Insulation and Ventilation
Plumbing Systems
Electrical Systems
Major Appliances
Heating and Air Conditioning Systems
Foundations, Basements, and Flooring
Interior Walls and Ceilings
Garage, Driveway, and Outdoor Surfaces
The State of New York requires that home inspectors be
licensed
by the state. To obtain a license, an inspector must receive a specified amount of education, must perform at least 100 home inspections under direct supervision, and must pass the state examination.
A standard home report will include delivery of a written report detailing the inspection and all findings of the inspection supported by photos documenting the conditions existing at the time of the inspection. Defective conditions will be identified and classified as either minor or major defects, and any observed safety or functional defects will be described in detail.
We strongly encourage you to be present when your home inspection is being performed so that we can discuss the process with you as it occurs, and so that you can ask any questions you may have.
When Do I Need a Home Inspection?
Home inspections are usually required during the process of the sale and purchase of residential real estate. When a contract is agreed upon for the sale and purchase of a home, the seller is typically required to provide a home inspection report to the buyers and the buyers’ agent within some time period before the closing. Most lenders and insurers also require a standard home inspection before a mortgage is funded or insurance coverage is provided.
If you are a prospective purchaser of residential real estate, you may also want to have an independent home inspection performed for your benefit before you are fully obligated to close on the contract. You can discuss an independent inspection with your agent or call us directly for help with an independent inspection.