Home Inspections

What are home inspections?

Home inspections are non-invasive reviews of buildings to understand the state and condition of the property. They’re carried out on residential properties by experienced professionals.

An inspection is usually done when a property is renovated, sold, or rented to check for issues and damages before reaching a purchase decision.

Inspections may be required by either home buyers, landlords, or property insurers. They can affect the investment value of a property as it’s different from other inspections because it’s strictly visual and doesn’t include any tampering of property elements. Home inspection software is often used to collect property data and formulate contractual agreements.

What can be expected from a standard home inspection?

A general home inspection involves visually examining a house’s interior and exterior. The home inspector’s report can include evaluation of one or more of the following depending on the extent and reason for the inspection:

• Structural integrity.
• Appliances.
• Heating and cooling systems.
• Interior plumbing.
• Electrical systems.
• Roofs and attic insulation.
• Ceilings, walls, floors, and doors.
• Foundation stability and basement.
• Safety components.

Types of inspections

There are six main types of home or property inspections. These differ based on property location and characteristics.

• Certificate of Occupancy (CO): Certifies that the property is habitable and is most often required for property renovations, remodelings, and sales. Property restoration software can help simplify this step.

• Certificate of Habitability: Certifies that the property follows the city’s and state government’s health and safety codes.
• Certificate of Conformity to the Requirements of Fire Safety: Fire inspections are mandatory for the most common types of properties and to check the number and quality of carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Appliances such as furnaces and water heaters are also examined for fire safety purposes.

2. Construction inspections are also required by the city and state ruling bodies for every building project or renovation. These can be categorized into the following:

• Building inspection: Includes assessing issues such as drywall installation, framing, roofing, or staircase installations.
• Plumbing inspection: Properties that require plumbing work must go through this inspection. Issues such as drain lines, rough plumbing, and kitchen plumbing are often evaluated.
• Electrical inspection: These are necessary to pass if the property is being rewired or the electrical services are being upgraded as per the building code.

3. Environmental site inspections are typical for commercial properties and family homes. They check for environmental hazards, including asbestos, lead, mold, or mercury leakages.

4. Bank inspections are performed when a house is being purchased with financial aid. Third-party appraisers carry out these inspections to assess the worth of the property in line with the loan amount. Bank personnel also conduct walkthroughs if a bank wants to lend the property in cases of retail spaces and high-end homes.

5. Rental property inspections are the landlord’s responsibility and are meant as walkthroughs with the tenant before moving in. The condition of the home and associated furniture and appliances is examined. Once the tenant has moved out, the landlord takes another property inspection to look for any damage beyond normal wear and tear.

6. Insurance inspections are carried out by insurance companies to determine whether a property is insurable under the policy the owner has signed up for. They’re also a way for insurers to assess potential risks such as falling ceilings or cracked sidewalks to prevent false insurance claims in the future.

Home inspections vs. property inspections

Home inspections differ from property inspections as they are more thorough in their evaluation. The former can often examine deeper by assessing mold, broken pipelines, etc., while the latter focuses on the overall state of the property.

While home inspections are visual assessments of a house, property inspections are usually only performed if there are any defaults in mortgage payment on the property. 

Individuals conduct property inspections under lender contracts to protect their interests in a property when it defaults. These are also done to understand whether the building will maintain its marketability.