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Is a Home Inspection Report Public or Private?

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A home inspection involves a professional home inspector thoroughly assessing the condition of the property. You will then receive ainspector writing home inspection report home inspection report that will include any findings regarding deficiencies, including structural damage and safety hazards at the property. It will address both critical concerns of the property and minor damages that don’t need to be rectified immediately. The report should also include photos to demonstrate the extent of any damage in the home. 

All inspectors write up reports following the Home Inspection Standards of Practice (SOP) defined by the association the home inspector is a member of. These include associations such as the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, American Society of Home Inspectors, and National Association of Home Inspectors. Home inspectors look over and assess the following items on the property:

  • Exterior and interior walls, doors, windows, walkways and driveways, railings, porches, and vegetation
  • Heating and cooling systems
  • Structural components in the basement and foundation
  • Water and fuel supply systems, plumbing systems, and drainage 
  • Electrical systems including service grounding and bonding, lighting fixtures, service conductors, circuit breakers and fuses, and carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
  • Insulation and ventilation in the attic and mechanical exhaust systems in the kitchen and bathrooms

Who Performs Home Inspections?

Licensed home inspectors must carry a membership with the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors when performing inspections in the United States. They must pass the InterNACHI’s online inspector exam and comply with all the Standard of Practice set by them. In addition, some home inspectors will be part of more than one national association of home inspectors. Each association helps to keep home inspectors stay up to date on standards in home inspection and improves their knowledge of the process going forward.

Do You Need a Home Inspection Report?

When thinking of buying a home, a home inspection is incredibly important to understand what exactly it is you’re buying. The report will serve as a way for you to negotiate repairs with the seller or learn all the costs you might be taking on for repairs yourself once you buy the home. A home inspection does not signify anything in regards to your ability to purchase the home; it isn’t a test that the house has to pass or fail in order for you to buy it. The client pays for the inspection, as mortgage lenders don’t require inspections and will therefore not be part of their closing costs. Anyway, it is a small price to pay for peace of mind when buying a home.

Who gets to see the Home Inspection Report?

Unlike a home appraisal, a home inspection report is a private document that details the condition of the property. It is provided directly to the client, i.e., the owner or prospective owner of a home. 

It is not available to the public, so no one will have access to the home inspection report but you and whomever you choose to see it.

Are you in need of a home inspection in the Tampa area? Contact us to schedule an inspection!

 

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Inspection Report: What You Need to Know

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man writing inspection reportFinding 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! 

 

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Do You Need A New Home Inspection Report If The Seller Already Has One?

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As you search to purchase a home you may come across a seller who has already had a home inspection completed. Possibly this was done as a pre-listing inspection or a previous buyer had an inspection completed and then the deal fell through. Either way, this could possibly be a big benefit for you and might mean you don’t have to shell out for a home inspection. However, before you get too excited, here’s what you need to know before deciding you don’t need to get your own home inspection.

Do you have access to the inspection report?

Access to the home inspection report is only given to the one who paid for it. This means if an inspection was completed by a previous purchaser, the seller won’t have access to the report and therefore can’t give you access. Unless somehow the buyer gave the seller a copy of the report, possibly in an effort to make negotiations. Even if they do, your lender is going to require a home inspection. You will need to find out if a second-hand home inspection report would be acceptable to your lender and home insurer.

When was the home inspection completed?

For a house that has been sitting on the market for a while, a seller may use a pre-listing home inspection as motivation for buyers. It’s one less thing a buyer has to pay for! Which sounds great, but you want to make sure the home inspection was done recently. Any home inspection report older than 90 days would not be as reliable. In fact, the most ideal report would have completed within 30 to 60 days. You also want to read the report thoroughly. Just because it was done doesn’t mean the inspector didn’t find any major issues. Some sellers believe just by knowing the issues a buyer would feel comfortable purchasing the house. But major issues should always be a major concern, no matter what the situation.

Who was the home inspection completed by?

You will want to research who completed the inspection report and decide for yourself if you feel they are a reliable company. If you are not familiar with a home inspection report then you may not know what to look for or how to read it. There are two things you need to do if you would like to depend on the home inspection report offered by the seller. First, find out who the home inspector or company was and give them a call. Do your due diligence to make sure they are a credible resource and a dependable, insured company. Second, ask the home inspector if they would review the home inspection report with you. They should be able to talk you through their findings and educate you about the house, including any concerns.

What is the home inspector’s policy?

Some home inspectors are not willing to honor the report if you did not order and pay for it yourself. You may also want to ask them if there are any warranties offered by the company that would be valid or invalid based on the transaction of the report. In this case, any findings or claims can be made by the homeowner only (the seller) and not the buyers. This does you absolutely no good if you run into an issue with the house, especially if it’s an issue with something expensive. Plumbing, electrical, or the roof is just examples of very important areas that need to be inspected thoroughly. If the report claims everything is fine and you find out something is wrong you may have a hard time holding the inspector or the seller responsible.

Ask your agent for their opinion

Your agent is seasoned and familiar. Ask them for their opinion! They can advise you on whether they think it’s a good idea to use the inspection report provided or order your own. Your agent will consider factors such as the seller’s history, age of the house, and other things you may not know to consider. Always use the resources you have around you when you can.

Divinity Inspection Services offers pre-listing home inspections. These inspections are specifically for a seller that wants to know more about their home before they sell it and also want to use the report as an incentive for buyers. A pre-listing inspection can also give the seller a heads up on anything that needs to be fix that might hinder a sale before they put their house on the market. Learn more schedule your home inspection now!

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What Does Your Home Inspection Report Mean

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Any new first time home buyer who is unfamiliar with the home inspection process will have many questions. Some of the most common questions are about the home inspection report. This is not just about the process but what to do with this long list home inspection details. Here are three things you should absolutely do with your home inspection report.

Use your home inspection report as a negotiation tool

This will not apply to everyone but does apply to most. Very likely you will discover at least one major concern during the home inspection. A concern big enough that you will either want it addressed before you close on the house or you will want to adjust the closing costs to address the problem. Either way, the inspection report is your most important tool in making these negotiations. Your real estate agent will help you navigate these waters, so don’t try to do it on your own. Keep in mind, no matter what the report uncovers you always have the option to back out of the sale or adjust the terms.

Print a copy of your home inspection report

Any good home inspector will tell you the company will keep your inspection report in their records for up to a year. But you would be surprised how quickly a year flies by. Especially when you are busy settling into your new home. As soon as your report is available, print and keep a copy for your records. There will likely come a time when you will need to reference back to the report.

Look at your report after you move into the home

We always tell our clients that their report is like a home to-do list. Some of the findings will need to be addressed immediately. Others you will want to address eventually – so, not quite as pressing but still important. And lastly, some issues you will consider optional. Either you want to address it or you don’t, and either way it’s up to you. No matter what timeline you decide on, make it a point to look at your inspection report within six months after moving into your new home. Most homeowners will completely forget about home inspection findings they deemed important at the time. Use the report to create a home to-do list that you can tackle in your own time.

Divinity Inspection Services takes a slightly different approach to home inspections. Our goal is to educate you on the house you want to purchase in as much detail as possible. Not only do we take the time to complete a thorough inspection of the property, but we also take the time to discuss the inspection with you in detail. This gives you the opportunity to ask for clarification on anything. Be sure you attend the home inspection and be sure you hire the right company.

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What Is Insurance Fraud: Don’t Be Fooled

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Insurance fraud is the act of using false information to received undeserved compensation by your insurance company. Insurance fraud can be committed in many ways. Unfortunately, as a home inspector, we run into homeowners that don’t understand the seriousness of this offense. Here are the three most common requests we deny that would result in home insurance fraud.

Using old reports

Some homebuyers will ask us to use old reports as part of our documentation for a home inspection. However, using outdated reports is considered falsifying a home inspection report. Our job is to show up at the home and inspect the home in its current condition. We cannot use an old report, even if it is only a few years old.

In Florida, codes are constantly updated. What was once allowed three years ago may not be allowed today. Homebuyers may think their home is up to code only to find out the new code now disqualifies them. This can be really upsetting news, and we understand that. But, we still have to do our job. We still have to let you know when something in your home needs to be fixed. We will never use an old report just to pass your inspection.

Overstating the value of the home

When you buy a home you hope that you will get some equity out of the home. We understand that. Even so, overstating the value of a home is a type of home insurance fraud. When we inspect your home we want to give an accurate estimate of the value of your home in the condition it is in. We will even detail what you can renovate or fix and estimate how much the value will increase.

Our goal is to help you be as informed about your home as possible. Whether you are using us for a pre-listing home inspection or a home inspection before you complete the purchase. We want to make sure you are completely educated about your home, as well as any issues or concerns.

Missing information on the inspection report

Sometimes a homeowner will request we leave something off the report because they intend on fixing it right away. This is especially common when a homeowner is conducting a pre-listing inspection or an inspection to receive a discount on their home insurance.

Be that as it may, asking us to leave information out of a report is a type of home insurance fraud. And simply put, we won’t do it. Even if you have clear intentions of fixing an issue in your home – do yourself a favor and fix it before the inspection. We cannot report that something has been addressed unless we see that is has with our own eyes. We cannot write a report built on “promises”.

Divinity Inspection Services takes insurance fraud very seriously. We are always on the homeowners side and we always want to be helpful. That being said, we will not help you commit insurance fraud and we would hope that you wouldn’t ask us to. If you are looking for an honest and truthful home inspector who will give you as much detail about your home as possible, then that’s us! Schedule your home inspection here today.