What To Expect From a Pre-Closing Home Inspection

A home inspection is a routine element of buying a home. A licensed professional home inspector carefully examines a home’s major structural elements and systems, and then issues a written report.

It helps if both the buyer and seller know what to expect from a pre-closing home inspection. That way, if the inspector identifies issues with the home, the parties can negotiate regarding repairs. If the issues are severe, the buyer, with the advice of their Realtor, may rescind their offer.

What Home Inspectors Examine

The most important thing to know about what to expect from a pre-closing home inspection is that it’s a visual inspection. The inspector will only examine elements of the home that they can see, without moving furniture or knocking holes in the walls.

Those elements include:

• Looking at the foundation for visible issues like cracks or bowing. However, it is important to note that if the home is on a slab covered by carpet of wood flooring, the inspector can’t see the foundation.
• Reviewing the walls, ceilings, and floors, which could turn up things like visible water damage or warping.
• Assessing the HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems to ensure they are operational, or if they appear old and on the brink of failure.
• Visually inspecting the roof and giving an estimate of its remaining life. However, don’t expect a home inspector to climb up and around a steep roof or look at inaccessible areas that can’t be seen from the ground.
• Looking at the attic, if there is one, as well as inspecting the amount of insulation present.

Beware of Hidden Defects

Because the home inspector only looks at visible, accessible areas, they can’t discover hidden defects. If you’re considering buying an older home, you can arrange for additional, specialized inspections for insect damage, and the presence of lead, asbestos, or any harmful, invisible gases like radon. You can also arrange for other licensed professionals to look at potential issues with mechanical systems that the general inspector can’t assess.

For example, you may want to have the home’s water tested by a qualified plumber or lab that can identify whether a filtration system is advisable, if there isn’t already one in place. Similarly, an electrician can tell you about the condition of the electrical panel and outlets, whether they’re up to code, and whether a whole-house surge protector is something you should consider. 

What Happens if the Inspector Finds Flaws

The seller won’t pay for upgrades like whole house filtration and surge protection, but the buyer and seller may negotiate repairs that are essential to safety, like structural issues, leaking water supply or sewer lines, an overloaded electrical box, or faulty heating and air conditioning systems.

Pre-closing home inspections can minimize miscommunication and facilitate negotiation that can lead to a successful Real Estate transaction.