It needs no more emphasis; a home inspection is vital. It is one of the property market industry’s most emphasized sections.
Essentially, it’s a step that ensures your new home or any property before you commit to buying or selling will be in a safe condition and fit your needs.
As essential as it is, we know you may not understand every aspect of home inspection. So as professional home inspectors in Santa Cruz and the surrounding areas, we want our clients to access inspection services, they fully understand.
So, we have put together a detailed guide to home inspection to give you a better idea of what it entails. Whether buying or selling, we have the information you need to know!
What is Home Inspection?
It’s simple; a home inspection is a process of checking a home’s condition before paying for it. It usually involves testing the state of several things, and it’s carried out by someone who has been certified to do so by the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI).
Inspection Process
Professional inspectors typically perform home inspections using specialized equipment to collect dust, radon gas content, and more.
More importantly, inspectors have the training to use their eyes to spot even the slightest suspicious features. Home inspectors need to perform their evaluations thoroughly and systematically to detect any potentially hazardous conditions early on.
First, they assess the heating and cooling system, plumbing and electrical systems, and other vital components such as foundation, walls/floors, and ceiling.
After this stage, the inspectors provide the buyer with detailed information about the home.
Why Do an Inspection? What’s the Benefit?
A home inspection helps ensure that you get an item that is in excellent condition and hasn’t got any hidden problems during its construction process. You can avoid these problems by hiring a certified home inspector.
Your inspector’s report will highlight important issues and give you a clear picture of what to expect.
Types of Home Inspection
A home inspection has various categories based on what is being assessed, frequency, who orders them, and many more.
Some of the common types of home inspection include:
New Home Construction Inspection
Checking the construction quality of a new home. This type of inspection usually lasts for around a week.
The inspector tests all utilities and systems within the house, including the heating and cooling, plumbing, electrical wiring, fire safety, and much more.
Insurance inspection
This type of inspection happens before your insurance company provides you with homeowner’s insurance. It helps to determine the coverage and your deductible if you want to claim any damages.
Your insurance company also conducts inspections after a fire, flood, or other disasters to ensure that the repairs made during the restoration process adhere to regulations.
Some things that can cause you to fail an insurance inspection include inadequate fire protection, lack of fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, failure to place guards on all exposed electrical wiring, and missing or shoddy safeguards.
Mold inspection
This is pretty self-explanatory. Mold inspection lets you know if there is any presence of mold in the structure of your home.
Molds can cause health complications, so it’s always important to check for them before you buy a property.
Radon Inspection
Radon is a naturally occurring gas found in the ground. Once radon comes into contact with living things, it can cause cancer and other breathing problems.
You should get an inspection if you have detected high radon levels in your house. Radon is often found in crawl spaces, basements, and possibly on the upper floors.
Water Damage
This inspection checks for sunken floors and other defects caused by water leaking into the structure of your house. The home’s condition can be assessed in several ways, so it’s important to know what to look for when evaluating these issues.
Lead paint inspection
Lead paint inspection is just like any other type of home inspection, except that it checks for paint in houses and buildings. Lead paint can cause health complications, so it’s essential to check for any presence of this substance before you buy a property.
Flood and earthquake inspection
This type of inspection checks the structural integrity of your home after a natural disaster has occurred. It lets you know if your residence will withstand future catastrophes like earthquakes or hurricanes.
Termite Inspection
If you have ever heard that termites can cause enormous damage to a house or even worse, wreck it, it is time to get a termite inspection done by professionals. By doing this, you will be sure enough that the house is clear from any unwanted pests.
Pre-purchase Inspection
This home inspection is often suggested by real estate agents to confirm the standard and quality of a house before it is officially on the market.
However, these inspections are not compulsory because you can also get information about your future home from friends or other sources.
Why Should I Hire a Professional Home Inspector?
- You get a report that details the construction quality, the health risks, and other essential details of your new home.
- It lets you know what type of insurance is required before you make an offer on your house, which can save you money on your premiums.
- It gives you peace of mind about your investment and lets you know what to expect in the future regarding maintenance.
Additional Home Inspection Tips/Suggestions
After the inspection, you will be able to identify any problem areas. You will also be able to discuss the problems with the seller and decide about your future home.
If, for example, there are high radon levels in your basement or there is evidence of mold below your bathroom floor, you have a reason not to buy this particular house. Some additional suggestions for inspections include:
- Perform inspections during different times (e.g., during the Summer and Winter seasons)
- Inspect the house from the top (roof) to the bottom (basement) and both inside and outside (in a courtyard)
- Inspect the house on different days. For example, you could inspect the home before it gets cleaned in preparation for your inspection.
- Inspect common points such as doors, windows, and electrical sockets
- Inspect heating equipment such as water heaters and space heaters
- Inspect your home’s ventilation system, including the furnace (gas or electric) and central air conditioner’s condenser coil. These assessments will detect any damage in the ductwork if they are too close to each other, which can cause heat leakage through “heat-transfer cracks.”
- Scrutinize the basement and look for any “cracks” in the floor/flooring. If you can quickly move around with your hands, it’s a crack (of course, some cracks are normal if they’re pretty small)
- Inspect and test the plumbing, gas, and electric systems (start by flipping all switches to on or off positions)
- Check the attic for water damage caused by roof leaks. You’ll need a flashlight or inspection light when inspecting the attic for possible evidence of water damage, such as discolored wood, mold (black spots), etc.
Home Inspection Costs
The cost will vary depending on the type of inspection you require and other factors.
However, for a typical home inspection, expect to pay between $250 to $500.
Remember, various factors can affect this price. So, to avoid surprises during home inspections and closing costs, you should have an extra amount for these expenses in your budget.
Expert Home Inspection Services in Santa Cruz
A home inspection is a pretty important step when buying or simply maintaining your home. Lucky for you, we are the premier home inspectors in Santa Cruz, CA.
At Cypress Home Inspections, we go beyond the expected standards to provide inspection services that meet your needs. We do this in a timely manner and at reasonable prices.
We have everything it takes to provide a comprehensive inspection, from skilled workers and advanced equipment to years of experience and love for our work.
Our quality of work is evident in the number of our repeat customers as well as the overwhelmingly positive verified reviews from both home buyers and sellers alike.
Our services include:
Looking to work with Santa Cruz Home Inspectors that can guarantee an amazing job? Give us a call at 831-920-8817.
FAQs
How long does an inspection take?
Each inspection is different. For instance, construction inspections take longer. However, general assessments often last about an hour, so they should not take more than two hours at most.
You will be able to get an idea of the condition of your house after about 15 to 20 minutes. From there, the inspector will start talking you through all the issues they have identified, followed by a detailed report that lists them.
What is a home inspection report?
It’s essentially a written report that gives you a clear picture of the condition of your new home and all the essential information in it, such as construction quality, any health risks, and other vital details.
The report can also help you to fix any problems that the home inspection suggests BEFORE you commit to buying the property.
Is it easy to get a home inspection?
It depends. Usually, most people assume they can walk into a home improvement store, pick up a book, and have someone give them an inspection report at their leisure.
This is not true. Try and collaborate with an insured and licensed inspector for a successful home inspection.
How do I get started?
Call us at 831-920-8817 to discuss your needs. We will give you a free, no-obligation estimate of the service you need and continue from there. You can also fill our contact/request quote form to get in touch.