Home inspections are conducted after the seller’s acceptance of your offer but before closing.  This should be performed at the property as soon as possible. Generally it is scheduled within a week or two from date of contract, but during the summer months it may take longer due to limited access to rental properties.  The cost is between $400 and $800 (depending on the size of the home) but it is money well spent.  This gives you the opportunity to ensure that the major elements of the home (appliances, heating/cooling system, roof, foundation, etc.) are “performing the function for which intended and shall not be in need of immediate repair.”     

A thorough home inspection should cover a the home's basic systems such as heating and air conditioning, electrical, roof, foundation, plumbing system as well as address any drainage issues.  The doors, porches, decks, windows and interior wall surfaces (cracks, sagging, etc.) are also inspected.

If the home inspector finds that some systems are not working at all or are not functioning up to par, you as the Buyer have some remedies. You can choose to request that any or all of the items be repaired by the Seller, you can ask for partial credit and proceed with repairs/replacement after closing, or you can accept the property in “as-is” condition. The Seller can choose to make any or all repairs and/or concessions, or can refuse to do anything. If no agreement can be made as to home inspection issues, the contract can be nullified and all earnest money is released to the Buyer. Luckily, this does not often come to pass.

Home inspections are conducted after the seller’s acceptance of your offer but before closing.  This should be performed at the property as soon as possible. Generally it is scheduled within a week or two from date of contract, but during the summer months it may take longer due to limited access to rental properties.  The cost is between $400 and $800 (depending on the size of the home) but it is money well spent.  This gives you the opportunity to ensure that the major elements of the home (appliances, heating/cooling system, roof, foundation, etc.) are “performing the function for which intended and shall not be in need of immediate repair.”     

A thorough home inspection should cover a the home's basic systems such as heating and air conditioning, electrical, roof, foundation, plumbing system as well as address any drainage issues.  The doors, porches, decks, windows and interior wall surfaces (cracks, sagging, etc.) are also inspected.

If the home inspector finds that some systems are not working at all or are not functioning up to par, you as the Buyer have some remedies. You can choose to request that any or all of the items be repaired by the Seller, you can ask for partial credit and proceed with repairs/replacement after closing, or you can accept the property in “as-is” condition. The Seller can choose to make any or all repairs and/or concessions, or can refuse to do anything. If no agreement can be made as to home inspection issues, the contract can be nullified and all earnest money is released to the Buyer. Luckily, this does not often come to pass.