This is one of the common questions asked by our clients. According to them, the home inspection process ensures everything is perfectly fine and they are safe for their entire lives. They just need a confirmation from us.
Even though we are working with a team of certified home inspectors in Toronto, we cannot guarantee that 1 to 2 hours of inspection will keep things safe forever. We cannot say firmly that the house you are buying or living in will be the same always.
In this post, we will discuss what happens during the home inspection and things you should do.
A home inspection is a matter of a day or sometimes, just for a few hours. The trained and certified home inspectors look for defects, damaged components or systems, and other items that are not functioning properly or broken on the date of the inspection. Once the inspection day or time is over, the home inspector is not blamed for any defects or damages.
For example, if you buy or move to your house after a month or two and find the sink broken, which isn’t mentioned in the home inspection report, then you will have to face the consequences. It’s because the sink was perfectly fine during the inspection so the home inspector has not included it in the report.
You just need to remember that “Home Inspectors Cannot Predict Future”.
But this does not mean you will skip the home inspection process before buying a new house. If you do so, the possibility of safe and secured investment will reduce drastically. It will be like a blind deal where you know nothing about your property.
Though home inspection does not guarantee future safety, you should take a few steps to turn things in your favor. You should make sure that the transaction is currently safe.
What should you do to alleviate the overwhelming task of being a new homeowner?
Allow adequate time for the home inspection– Quality matters during the home inspection. So, you shouldn’t rush and ask the inspector to complete the work in minimum time. For every square foot, a certified home inspector requires a specific time. And you should allow him with that. It’s good to ask the approximate time before starting the inspection.
Ask the home inspector questions about the home– When the inspection is on the verge of completion, you should ask as many questions as possible. The home inspectors are always ready for questions. You should ask how things work in the house, how to maintain the items, how to maintain in and around the house, if there any update or upgrades required to increase the efficiency of the home, etc. If you don’t ask, the home inspector will leave the site after completing the process, thinking you are not interested to know anything. It will create a huge confusion in your mind.
Understand what is going to be on the home inspection report– After the inspection is complete, you should ask the home inspector about the report. Usually, home inspectors don’t discuss the findings with the clients during inspection; they prefer post-inspection review. You should inquire about the major defects and things that you can expect in the inspection report. It’s because home inspectors get to know the majority of the items that will be listed in the report during the inspection.
Read the home inspection report fully– Once you get the home inspection report, you should read it carefully. You should read in detail and shouldn’t skim it. People usually read the summary and think they know everything. Sometimes, the important facts are listed in their respective section of the report. Knowing the report thoroughly will be helpful for you during an emergency.
A home inspection is important for the right purchase. With this, you will get to know a lot about your home before purchase. You shouldn’t skip the process thinking that it does not provide any guarantee.