what does a home inspection actually inspect?

Question

i'm getting my house inspected today and i'm a nervous wreck. i have no idea why, i'm afraid that they'll find something that i didn't know about and then i won't be able to sell my home. what does the inspecter look for? i feel like he's going to look at every little thing..... i heard just the structure was inspected but then i was told that they climb all in the attic... so i'm not sure what to expect or if i even want to be here when he comes.....

Answer 1

Most of them look for the obvious. Waterstains, loose tiles, moisture under cabinets. If they go into the attic, they will be looking for signs of leaks and broken joists. Mold also. They should check any mechanical things like furnace and water heater to make sure they work. If there are any obvious remodels on the house, they will probably note them and either ask for permit copies or check with the code office later. A few of them know building codes and will note anything that looks improper. I would suggest you be there. You can answer any questions he may have and also make sure that no damages are done during his inspection. This doesn't usually happen but it's better for you to be there.

Answer 2

First of all, a property being on the market for 4 months isn't an excessively long time in the present state of the market. Second, if something was discovered in a previous inspection the seller was likely told and therefor would need to include such information on the seller's disclosure. But ultimately it makes no difference because as a responsible home buyer you will need to to do your own inspection on the property as your inspector(s) may find things others did not. And even if issues arise, all that means is that you have two options: renegotiate or walk away.

Answer 3

When I bought a home , just prior the purchase I had an inspector go through. He inspected the roof, the furnace, the water heater , the pipes , the foundation to check for leaking or unsettled foundation, etc. I don't recall him going into the cubby or attic, but that was years ago now. It depends on how thorough the inspector is and if you need any major repairs that you are aware of best to have those taken care of to make the value of the home sale increased. Any upgrade increases the worth of it. The inspector checked for things like carbon monoxide poisoning leakage I recall also.
They like to check a list often. Try a google search and see if anything shows exactly there by putting in home inspection.
Good luck on the sale of your home and your new purchase.

Answer 4

No worries, you just have to disclose any problems prior to sale. They will check everything from foundation to roof.