What happens during a home inspection?

Whenever you visit an open house to get a feel of your potential new home, you may do so with the expectation that you’ll be taking a walk-through of the property, peeking inside the closets, and ask questions about the home.

However, you do not want to let what you see at face value or the agent’s praises about the house influence you to purchase a house that is not necessarily right for you. Based just on a walkthrough or knocking against the walls, a home can appear perfect to you, but once you’ve moved in, it will begin to show its true colours.

This is why it’s so important to enlist a professional home inspector before you put an offer on the table. The inspector will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the overall condition of the home, including all the major mechanical and structural systems. The evaluation is not just about getting a sense of the home’s current condition, but also spotting potential problems and what the home will need from you once you move in.

There are many things a home inspector will look for. They will climb onto the roof to check for loose tiles and deteriorated shingles, check the walls and floors for mildew and signs of dampness, examine the plumbing and electrical systems, scrutinize the heating and air-conditioning system and crawl into attic space looking for water condensation or penetration. Doors, floors, stairways, counters, cabinetry, and windows are also assessed.

A typical home inspection last less than a day, usually two to three hours. They will then compile a report that containing checklists, summaries, photographs and notes taken during the inspection.

It’s important to remember that a home inspection serves as a general check-up and not an x-ray, pass/fail exam. The inspection should give you an idea of how reliable a home is, which can save you from expensive repair headaches in the future.