Inspection Report: What You Need to Know

Finding a house you love and making it a home is a priority for many people. But searching for your dream home can be stressful. After all, you can’t possibly know everything about the house. 

Or can you? 

Buying a home can be made simpler when you have an inspection performed. A home inspection teaches you all you need to know about that property and what you can expect if you live there. Divinity Inspection Service helps you to make an educated decision by providing you with a thorough inspection report that details all the crucial components of a residential property. 

Once you have a home inspection report in your hands, you may have a load of information, but you still need to decide what the next steps will be. Ask the seller to make repairs? Walk away from the sale? Or accept the problems and tackle them yourself? 

The only way you can choose wisely is by learning how to use the information in your inspection report. In this blog, we will explain how to read an inspection report and what to look out for.

What is an Inspection Report?

An inspection report is a detailed list of everything wrong with the house. The inspection is performed by a trained and licensed inspector who meticulously combs through the home from top to bottom. They use a set of standards to maintain a high level of professionalism and consistency.

As they walk around and through the home, they check all major appliances and components including the:

• Electrical
• Plumbing
• HVAC 
• Roof
• Foundation

The inspector focuses on:

• Construction
• Installation
• Age
• Damage
• Dangers

Your Divinity home inspector will walk with you and explain what they see. If you have any questions, they will be more than happy to answer them.

Home Inspection Report Summary

After the entire inspection is performed, the inspector will write a brief summary, highlighting issues that require immediate attention or cause the most alarm. If there is a problem with the structure of the home, especially the roof, it will be included within the summary. 

Common health concerns like mold will also be here. Other red flags to watch out for are electrical issues that can result in fire and water damage.

Check the summary for health and safety risks that may impact your ability to move right in. If there are pests or dangers present, speak with your real estate agent right away. Depending on your contract, the seller may be obligated to make repairs before closing.

However, Florida is an “as-is” state, which means that some sellers may choose to sell their home in its current condition with no strings attached. A home inspection is still an important asset in this situation because it informs the buyer; but in an “as is” situation, the prospective buyer will be required to purchase the home or walk away. There will be no negotiations.

Reading Your Report

When reading your home inspection report, you should consider what repairs or renovations will be expensive. If you are not familiar with the cost of home repairs, feel free to ask your Divinity home inspector.

Home repairs that you should look out for include:

• Structural
• Mechanical
• Electrical

For instance, if you see notes about foundation cracks, termite damage, roof replacement, or major appliances like the furnace, water heater, or air conditioner, this is cause for concern. These are big-ticket repairs you may not want to pay for.

Once you have an idea of what repairs need to be done in the home, it’s time to do some research. Find out exactly how much money it will cost for repair or replacement. Add them all up and ask yourself if this financial load is something you can bear. 

Before choosing to walk away, it’s best to speak with the seller about your concerns and show them the home inspection report. Some sellers are willing to give you credit, reduce the price of the home, or repair some things themselves. This can help to relieve some of the cost immediately.

Home Inspections in Tampa Bay

A home inspection report can be disappointing to many home buyers hopeful that their dream home is perfect. The truth is, no house is perfect. Every home inspection will find something to repair or replace. Even newly constructed homes will have their problems!

What’s important is that you have a knowledgeable and friendly inspector to explain these issues to you and help you to understand your options. With that information, you can negotiate and make your dreams come true.

When you need a wise friend to give you solid advice and guidance, hire a Divinity inspector to be your home-buying ally. Connect with one of our representatives today!