Most often, both buyers and sellers drop the idea of a home inspection because they think it’s a lengthy process. And they have to take time out from their busy schedule to stay with the home inspector during the process.
A Home Inspection is a lengthy process but not always. If a neighbour or a close friend of yours spent the entire day on the inspection process, then it does not mean you will go through the same. There are a few factors that define the length of the home inspection process. And these factors are different for different people. So you should not make a decision based on what others went through.
If you are still not convinced, read the 4 factors that determine the length of the home inspection process.
What is the size of the property?
It’s one of the major factors that influence home inspection time. The theory of size is very simple. If the house is small, it will take lesser time; on the other hand, if the house is large, the home inspector will take more time. Other than the size of the property, the large basements and attics will increase the time as compared to homes that don’t have them.
Where is the property located?
Not just the structure of the house, the location does play a major role in deciding the length of the home inspection process. If your house is located in a dry area, it is easy to inspect the property and takes lesser time as compared to the property located at the top of a hill. The walls are surfaces are dried which makes it easy for the inspectors to spot the defects and damages. If the area suffers from severe storms, the inspection time will increase and many other factors will be taken into consideration.
How old is the property?
The age of the property directly affects its condition. The structure gets weaken and suffer from several defects and damages. According to experts, if the property is older than 50 years, it takes longer to inspect. It is because more tests are administered to ensure that the foundation is in good condition. As compared to old homes, new or not so old homes will take lesser time.
Not just inspection, report making also takes time in older homes because Home Inspectors have to work on more parameters and get accurate results.
What are the disaster risks in the location?
Other than factors related to your home, the environmental conditions and disasters play major roles in the home inspection time. A home inspector has to consider different factors based on the location of the property. In areas that are prone to flooding, tornadoes, or wildfires, the inspection time is more because homes here have extra spaces like basements and storm shelters to inspect.
Now, you have an idea of the factors due to which the time of home inspection varies. So while comparing it with other homeowners, you should keep these as parameters.
Lastly, in any situation, no one should ever think of skipping the Home Inspection process because it’s about a huge transaction. A small mistake can reduce the sale price for the sellers and severely impact the investment of the buyers.