Picture it: You found a home you love, and your offer has been approved. Often, the next step is a home inspection. An inspection is not a test to pass, but rather an evaluation of what is and is not working properly, giving the buyer a clear picture of the property’s condition. An inspector will examine the heating system, central air conditioning, interior plumbing, electrical systems, roof, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors and foundation, among other things.
Inspections typically occur after the contract or purchase agreement is signed, but before a buyer and seller close the deal on a property. Depending on the results of the inspection, the buyer can rescind their offer on the home or renegotiate the terms of the purchase. When faced with bidding wars for limited housing stock, some prospective buyers skip inspections to be a more competitive applicant. But homeowners — who end up responsible for expensive property surprises — often regret doing so. Plus, the benefits outweigh the cost: Inspectors generally charge somewhere between $200 and $500 for their services.
Carmelo Rodriguez became a licensed home inspector in 2016, with the goal of making the homebuying process a little easier for buyers in Chicagoland. He works as the master property inspector at Hometec Property Inspections.
Austin Weekly News spoke with Rodriguez about what homebuyers can expect going into an inspection — and what red flags to keep an eye out for.
What exactly is a home inspection, and what is its purpose?
Rodriguez: A home inspection’s goal is to give clarity to the client, which is usually the home buyer, the purchaser. (That could be) defects in their electrical system, defects in their plumbing, or just the overall condition of the home that they’re purchasing, giving them peace of mind of any defects or potential things that could come up later.
What should a homebuyer expect from a home inspection?
Rodriguez: The inspection takes maybe about two hours, sometimes three, and they get a thorough report of my findings of the property.
What do you check during the inspection?
Rodriguez: I’ll check the roof. If it’s a shingled roof, I check for any missing shingles, any deterioration, any clogged gutters. I check windows, doors and siding. I check all the mechanicals, the heating system, the air conditioning system, the electrical system. I’ll check for proper drainage in the plumbing system. I also make a note of the age and model number of all the mechanicals, so (the buyer) can get an idea of the age of all the mechanicals. I basically test all the water and I test for water pressure. I’ll check the foundation. If there’s a crawl space, I look for any moisture accumulation in the crawl space, and I’ll check for any cracks in the foundation.
What are some of the red flags that you look out for during an inspection?
Rodriguez: Major electrical issues, like maybe an old electrical panel that could potentially lead to a fire hazard. I also look for foundation issues that can lead to flooding or settling, where it could cost them a lot of money in the long run to repair.
What might an inspection look like for a unit within a building?
Rodriguez: That depends. If it’s a big complex that maybe has 30 or more units, [the inspection] is mostly focused just on their unit. The common areas are not included in those inspections because those are homeowner-association issues. So, it’s mostly the dwelling unit within the walls when it’s a condo. Now, if it’s a building that’s maybe only three units or three condos, sometimes they would want me to check the roof, just because those could be added special assessments later, or things that could affect them later. So then I’ll go ahead and check the exterior, the roof.
What is your advice to prospective homebuyers?
Rodriguez: I would advise them to definitely get a home inspection. There’s instances where they might not want one, or think that they know somebody that can go and walk through with them, but there’s been instances where they have done that and they regretted it. So I always encourage homebuyers to get into home inspection.
What should buyers look for in a home inspector?
Rodriguez: They have to be comfortable with who they speak with. There’s questions they can ask, like how long (the inspector) has been in business, what they’re going to be looking for, what’s included in the report, turnaround time, just basic questions.