A
home
inspection
is
a
must
when
buying
a
house,
and
it
can
be
a
good
idea
for
sellers
as
well.
Buyers
will
probably
need
to
have
an
inspection
done
to
satisfy
their
mortgage
lender
and
will
also
want
to
be
sure
that
there
are
no
hidden
problems
or
defects.
Sellers
can
benefit
by
identifying
repairs
that
will
need
to
be
done
prior
to
sale.
An
expert
analysis
of
the
home's
condition
at
the
time
of
sale
can
also
help
protect
against
liability
later
by
establishing
strong
evidence
that
the
seller
has
not
failed
to
disclose
any
known
defects.
Finding an Inspector
Finding
a
home
inspector
is
no
different
than
hiring
any
other
contractor
-
the
best
way
to
find
a
good
one
is
through
a
recommendation
from
someone
you
trust.
Check
with
friends
and
family
or
with
your
real
estate
agent
(who
should
be
able
to
make
several
suggestions).
You
can
also
check
the
American
Society
of
Home
Inspectors'
online
database
(http://www.ashi.com).
Just
enter
your
zip
code
to
get
a
list
of
ASHI
member
inspectors.
ASHI
members
are
required
to
pass
several
examinations
to
receive
a
certification,
so
you
can
be
confident
that
they
are
qualified.
The Process
The
home
inspector
will
visit
the
property
and
then
prepare
a
written
report.
It
is
well
worth
attending
the
inspection.
You'll
be
able
to
take
a
look
at
the
home's
systems,
ask
questions
as
the
inspection
progresses,
and
point
out
any
areas
of
specific
concern.
The
report
will
detail
the
condition
of
various
systems
and
structures
in
the
house.
At
a
minimum,
the
inspection
report
should
cover
the
following
areas
of
the
subject
property.
- Heating system
- Central air conditioning
- Plumbing
- Electrical system
- Roof
- Attic
- Insulation
- Windows and doors
- Walls and ceilings
- Basement/foundation
- Overall structural integrity
The
report
should
be
available
in
no
more
than
four
to
five
days
(and
may
be
delivered
the
day
of
the
inspection). |
