Columbus Ohio Home Inspector

A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a home, from the roof to the foundation. Having a home inspection is like giving it a physical. If problems or symptoms are found, the inspector may recommend further evaluation. Hiring a professional home inspector can help you find out as much as possible about a home before you sign on the dotted line. Choose an experienced, full-time inspector, not a renovator or contractor with an inspection business on the side.

The standard home inspector’s report will review the condition of the home’s heating system, central air conditioning system, interior plumbing and electrical systems; the roof, attic and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, doors and windows; the foundation, basement or crawl space and visible structures.

The purchase of a home is probably the largest single investment you will ever make. As such, you should learn as much as you can about the home before you buy, so that you aren’t hit with any unexpected repairs or difficulty after the home is yours. In addition, the home inspection may note positive aspects of the home, as well as maintenance required to keep your home in good shape. The inspection also helps you to get a much better understanding of the property than you could get on your own.

The cost of a home inspection varies based upon a number of factors, including size, age, special services requested, etc. Typically, the cost is in the range of $325 – $550, although the fees can go higher. However, cost should not be a factor in deciding whether or not you get your home inspected or in determining which home inspector you choose. Rather, you should consider the home inspection as an investment that will pay for itself many times over. As with most things, cheaper is not always better. The knowledge gained from an inspection is well worth the cost, and the lowest-priced inspector is NOT necessarily a bargain. The inspector’s qualifications, including experience, training, and professional affiliations, should be the most important consideration.

No house is perfect. This needs repeating, NO HOUSE IS PERFECT. If there are problems, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t buy the house. However, if there are major problems, you may want to go back to the seller to either get the problems corrected or to negotiate the contract price to reflect the inspector’s findings.

No. A house neither passes nor fails inspection. In fact, a house receives no grade at all. A home inspection is not the same as a code inspection. While the inspector will be familiar with the local building codes, his or her objectives are to describe the physical condition of the house and indicate what may need repair or replacement. The information contained in the inspection report is provided for you, the client, to make an educated decision, not as a pass/fail analysis. If the inspector identifies problems, it doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t buy the house, only that you will know in advance what to expect. A seller may adjust the purchase price or make repairs if major problems are found. If your budget is tight, or if you don’t wish to become involved in future repair work, this information will be extremely important to you.

Even the most savvy do-it-yourselfer will not have the level of training, knowledge and expertise as a professional home inspector who has looked at hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of homes in his or her career. An inspector is familiar with the complex elements of home construction, understands how the home’s systems are intended to function, as well as how and why they fail. Most importantly, the inspector is a disinterested third party that can be totally objective about the condition of the home.

An inspection of a new property is important to help you spot any shortcuts the contractor or builder may have taken. A trained home inspector will be able to spot certain telltale signs that might otherwise go unnoticed to an untrained eye. Especially valuable is an inspection before the drywall is put up. This gives you the chance to identify and fix problems when they are much easier to spot and repair.

A quality inspection should not be rushed by you, other parties, or any real estate agent. A complete and thorough home inspection will typically last between 3 to 5 hours depending on the size of the home. Could we do it faster? Absolutely, but a thorough inspection takes time and we would rather take longer than necessary than rush through and miss potentially costly issues. A thorough home inspection includes full evaluation of all accessible components of the home and therefore will require a greater amount of time.

It is not necessary for you to be present for the inspection, but if you desire you are more than welcome to attend. Generally we recommend that you show up at least an hour after the inspection has started. This ensures that the inspector has had time to do a preliminary inspection and will have matters to discuss with you when you arrive.

We always strive to report our findings to you as quickly as possible. Generally your report will be delivered via email to you and your agent within 48 hours of the completion of your report. That being said, we are happy to expedite the process if you have limited time remaining to request for remedy or need the report sooner for another reason. Just reach out and communicate with us and we are happy to provide faster delivery times if necessary!