.png)
Home inspections are critical for home buyers to uncover key issues that may affect the quality of their homeownership. Thank you Houzeo for the great article. We would to be the Home Inspector of Choice. We check the boxes for qualifications and offer a comprehensive service.
Home inspectors identified issues that needed to be fixed in 86% of home inspections. In addition to providing peace of mind, a good home inspector will also walk you through the key aspects of the property that you need to watch out for maintenance.
Even for new homes, but surely for not-so-new homes, an inspection can help identify some key issues. Some common home inspection red flags are:
Wear and tear of mechanical systems
Cracked shingles on the roof
Leaks or cracks in walls
Improperly wired switches or faulty outlets
Cracks in windows or doors
Termite or rodent infestation
DO I NEED A HOME INSPECTION?
If You Are a Home Buyer: Yes, absolutely! A home inspection reveals the flaws of a property, and can save you from buying a poorly maintained home.
If You Are a Home Seller: Not really. But, a pre-listing inspection report can be used as a home improvement guide. You can fix identified issues and stage the property to get maximum cash for your house.
What is a Home Inspection?
Inspections are non-invasive visual examinations of homes. Home inspections can reveal significant defects in the property that a homebuyer may miss.
A home inspector performs a home inspection, and the report carries an inspector’s objective assessment of the house. Qualified home inspectors will highlight material defects that could pose a significant financial or physical injury risk to the next homeowner.
The inspector will create an inspection report summarizing their observations and comment on whether the issue is a safety risk, a repair recommendation, or a minor issue.
A thorough home inspection can uncover issues like mold infestation or faulty electrical systems. As a home buyer, this will give you an estimate of the maintenance required on the property.
Types of Home Inspections
1. General Home Inspection
In a general home inspection, a home inspector will examine all the mechanical systems and physical structures of the property. Inspectors assess the interior parts of a house and the exterior grounds to find flaws.
Here’s what a home inspector does during a general home inspection:
Foundation Inspection: Inspection of the house perimeter to check for large cracks in walls, uneven flooring structure, sink holes, loosened or cracked windows, etc.
Garage: Inspector will check if garage doors open and close as expected, whether the garage is ventilated enough, and if the garage framing is visible.
Exterior Walls: Inspector inspects the walls of the property to check the damage caused by wood-loving organisms, a possible infestation of termites, etc.
Roof Inspection: Home inspector will check for loose or improperly secured shingles on the roof, signs of water damage, and the condition of the gutters.
Grading: House inspector will inspect property to check grading around the structure of the house to verify if the level of the ground around the home is positive, as in, water flows away from the house.
Electrical Inspection: Inspector will examine the electrical connections and wiring of the house to find potential shock points or possible surges.
HVAC Inspection: Done by a home inspector to assess the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems of the house.
Plumbing Inspection: Thorough examination of the plumbing system, including sewers, supply and sewage lines, etc., done by an inspector.
Kitchen Appliances: Inspector will do a basic inspect household appliances like installed ovens, dishwashing machines, grinders, blenders, surface cooking appliances, etc.
2. Specialized Inspections
A home inspector may recommend an additional inspection for a house, depending on their initial assessment.
A trained real estate professional will evaluate a specific aspect of the property in a specialized home inspection. Specialized home inspections are also called ancillary inspections.
The areas flagged as “defects” during the general home inspection are scrutinized to find the root cause. After this specific reexamination, you get a complete view of the anomalies that exist in that aspect of the property.
Asbestos Inspection: The property is assessed for the suspected presence of ACM (Asbestos-containing material), which is a carcinogenic
Radon Inspection: Radon gas is a highly toxic material, and homes should be devoid of its presence
Lead-based Paint Inspection: Required for homes built before 1978 to check the type of paint used
Termites Inspection: Check the house for wood-destroying organisms like termites, pests, rodents, etc.
Mold Inspection: Mold or moisture can destroy the structure of the property & needs to be under control
Chimney Inspection: Evaluation of the chimney to determine if the fireplace & chimney is usable or not
Septic Tank Inspection: The disposal system of the septic tank is examined for defects or flaws
Is a Home Inspection Required?
NO! A home inspection is not required.
However, it is rare that a home buyer or buyer agent may not insist on scheduling one.
How Does a Home Inspection Work in Kansas?
A home inspector will perform a general home inspection. Note that a home inspection doesn’t deal with aesthetic aspects like the color of the walls. Usually, a home buyer or their realtor schedules the inspection.
Depending on the condition of the house and the severity of the problem, the home inspector may recommend a specialized home inspection.
Buyer’s Home Inspection
A buyer’s home inspection is also called a pre-purchase home inspection. A buyer or their realtor schedules this inspection.
Why do Home Buyers Need a Home Inspection in Kansas?
Home buyers need a house inspection so that they can estimate the maintenance cost of the property. You can anticipate the repair costs based on the replacements or repairs identified in the house inspection report.
Buying a house without inspection can be a bad idea. You could end up with a house that costs thousands of dollars in repairs. A real estate home inspection reveals the property’s defects, so for your protection, get a home inspection.
✅ Home Inspection Tips for Buyers
Make sure you include the home inspection contingency in your contract
Be present for the home inspection
Take a look at the seller disclosure statement
Identify fixes you can make yourself and ones you will negotiate with the seller
Do Home Buyers Have to Be There?
Yes! Buyers shouldn’t skip the home inspection.
As a home buyer, you can benefit immensely from attending house inspections. However, being present doesn’t mean interrupting the home inspector while they do their work.
Buying a house as-is with inspection rarely occurs because every house has some cosmetic flaws and minor repairs required. If your home inspector identifies a health or safety-related issue, you can negotiate it with the seller & save on future expenses.
What is a Home Inspection Contingency?
The inspection contingency is also called a due-diligence contingency. A home inspection contingency clause guarantees that the sale of the house depends on the result of the home inspection.
This contingency allows the buyer a specific timeline called as the inspection period, and it’s about 7 to 10 days. This is the period after the house inspection, where the buyer decides if they still want to purchase the house.
A home inspection contingency back out also helps you recover the earnest money deposit if you walk away from the deal.
Inspection contingency regulations vary statewide. It is best to consult with your mortgage lender and agent while making the contingent offer.
Seller’s Inspection
A seller’s inspection is also called the pre-listing inspection. The seller will schedule this inspection for their house before they list on MLS.
The primary motivation for home sellers to do a pre-sale home inspection is to identify the flaws in their property. A seller can plan home improvements based on the issues flagged in the inspection report.
Sellers can sell their homes quickly by making minor repairs and investing some dollars in home staging.
What Should Sellers Expect From a Kansas Home Inspection?
Sellers can expect every area and system of the house to be scrutinized. There will be wariness because a home inspector usually checks EVERYTHING during a home inspection. A seller is also not welcome in the house during the seller home inspection.
In a general home inspection, home inspection professionals will look for anomalies in the roof, ceilings, drywall, structure, floors, windows & doors, attics, crawlspaces & basements, electrical systems, heating & cooling systems, and even the plumbing systems.
In a specialized home inspection like a rodent inspection, the inspector will only investigate specific areas where rodent infestation could have occurred.
✅ Home Inspection Tips for Sellers
Facilitate easy access to all areas of the property
Ensure all systems are on and enabled
Vacate appliances like washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, etc.
Disclose known issues in the property disclosure statement
Go away before the inspector arrives. If you have pets, make sure you take them with you.
The number of defects flagged in the report doesn’t necessarily mean your house will not sell. It just gives you an opportunity to fix issues that may pose a threat to the sale.
Is the Seller Responsible for Any Repairs After Closing?
Technically, no. A seller isn’t responsible for any repairs. But it is important for the seller and buyer to arrive at a mutual decision for closing the sale. 17% of contingent contracts fall through in this phase.
As a seller, you are supposed to disclose known defects to the next homeowner. Not doing so can cause the sale to go astray.
When Does a Home Inspection Happen?
A home inspection occurs when a property officially goes under contract. The full inspection happens after the buyer has made an offer on the house and the seller has accepted it.
⛔ You Can’t Inspect a Distressed Property: Home inspection is NOT performed when you are buying a distressed property via a homes for foreclosure, short sale, or auction.
» House Under Contract Meaning: When a buyer and seller agree to close the deal, the house is said to be under contract.
How Long Does a Home Inspection Take?
The average home inspection time is 2 to 3 hours.
The time is lesser in the case of smaller properties like a condo or if the number of defects is less. It also depends on the thoroughness of the home inspector.
Who Pays for Home Inspection When Buying a House in Kansas?
The home buyer will pay the home inspection fee. Home inspectors will typically expect the payment at the time of the service or before the home inspection.
Although the buyer incurs this cost, it is not considered under the buyer’s closing costs.
Will There be Follow-up Costs?
It depends! A thorough inspection is usually enough unless the inspector suspects the need for a specialized inspection. Then you need to spend on specialized inspections.
If your property passes the inspection in the first round, you will not incur additional costs. The follow-up costs also depend on the repairs identified & which ones you wish to pay for as a home buyer.
Kansas Home Inspection Checklist
Home inspectors look for visual cues of major flaws that could compromise overall safety. There are different home inspection checklists based on the type of inspection.
Here’s a sample of a house inspection checklist that you can refer to when preparing for home inspection:
Attic
Basement
Bathrooms
Ceilings
Doors
Electrical Systems
Foundation
Floors
Heating & Cooling Systems
Kitchen
Plumbing
Windows
Insulation & Ventilation
Home Inspection Report
A house inspection report is also called a property inspection report. The home inspector documents their findings in this report. Home inspection reports contain photographs and notes of the observations made by the home inspector.
A thorough, detailed, and diligently written report with lots of home inspection pictures will expose the true condition of the property.
Such a report helps home buyers make an informed decision about buying the house.
» Home Inspection Report Example: Check out this sample inspection report for the house & how to read it
How Long Does a Home Inspection Report Take?
The time to get back the inspection report depends on the thoroughness and meticulousness of the home inspector.
Typically, a home inspection report is available within 24 hours. It may take several days if an ancillary inspection is performed.
Do Appraisers Look at Inspection Reports?
No! A home appraiser has nothing to do with the home inspection report.
A home appraiser’s goal is to determine the home’s market value based on the recent sales in the vicinity. Appraisers don’t need to look at the inspection reports because these reports depict the physical condition of the property.
Hiring a Home Inspector in Kansas
Hiring a credible home inspector is critical for knowing the true condition of the property. Before scheduling a home inspection, you should check out:
Customer Reviews: Review the home inspector’s reviews on popular review sites like Google & TrustPilot
Home Inspector’s Credentials: Check if your home inspector is certified and a member of ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NACHI (National Association of Certified Home Inspectors)
Training and Experience: How many homes were inspected in their tenure? Do they perform specialized home inspections?
Pricing: Verify if the home inspector is charging as per the average house inspection costs in your area.
Quality of home inspection reports: Is the inspection report detailed and specific? How meticulously has the home been inspected?
Access to technology tools: An inspector with new-age home inspection tools and drones will have a higher chance of detecting issues that are hidden in plain sight.
.png)
_adobe_express.jpeg)
Comments