Frequently Asked Questions in Real Estate: All About Inspections!
The home inspection period generally lasts about 10 business days, though it can be longer than that if negotiated ahead of time.
Ultimately inspections are a way for interested buyers to find out everything they would want to know about the home and its’ systems. This includes finding out if there are any major deterrents to buying the home or if there are issues that will need to be dealt with that you may not be willing to take on.
By and far the most important aspect of an inspection is the education you’ll get about all the systems that are in place in that home and on that property.
Related: The 9 Steps of Home Buying: The Complete Guide for First Time Buyers
What’s Covered in a Home Inspection? (0:39)
Standard inspections that happen when purchasing a home called a Whole Home Inspection. This is going to be a top-to-bottom inspection inside and out that’s going to include:
- Roof
- Crawl space
- Foundation
- Electrical
- Plumbing
- HVAC system
- Appliances
The goal is to give potential buyers full knowledge of how those systems are working and if anything is needing repair or a replacement. This knowledge arms buyers with negotiation leverage during the process of purchasing a home.
Cost of a Home Inspection
Standard Inspections (1:11)
The typical cost for a standard whole home inspection in the Pacific Northwest will be around $500.
This is dependent on the size of the home, how extensive the inspection is, and if outbuildings are included in the inspection.
Radon Testing (1:30)
The other standard inspections that we do are radon testing. Radon is a type of a gas that can be released into the home. It’s detrimental to our lung health (I’ll cover Radon in another video!)
Radon testing typically is done for a flat rate of ~ $150. It’s a 48-hour test based on a small machine that’s set-up n the home.
Sewer Line or Septic Inspection (1:59)
The cost for sewer line or septic inspections can range from a couple hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. For a septic inspection, the price will depend on how much digging needs to happen for the systems to be inspected properly.
In the case of a sewer line inspection, a camera is put in to the line navigating the path to where the sewer line becomes the city’s responsibility (typically, the edge of the property and the sidewalk). The cost of this is under $200 and you’ll be sent a link to a video with the camera’s results.
Well Inspections (3:03)
In most situations, the home seller will pay for testing of the water’s quality and safety, but it’s typically up to the buyer to pay for the well flow test.
The flow test tells you what kind of water pressure the home has by measuring how many gallons per minute are being pumped into the home.
Calling specialists during home inspection (3:30)
On-top of these inspections, you may want to investigate further if something comes up that needs a closer look by a specialist.
This typically means calling a roofer or foundation specialist to more thoroughly examine key aspects of the home and property.
My Advice on Budgeting for Home Inspections (3:52)
I tell my clients to expect to pay around $1,000-$2,000 overall for inspections. For a standard city home, you should expect to pay around $1,000 for all the standard inspections that are needed. For a country home, it could cost a little more–closer to around $2,000.
Related: How to Prepare for Buying Your First Home: 9 Financial Questions
