10/09/2024
5 Home Inspection Misconceptions:
Myth #1 You Can Fail A Home Inspection-
Absolutely False.
Home inspections are reports based on an expert opinion. Therefore, the report should only be used as such… an opinion of the condition of the home.
Nothing in the report passes or fails. This does not mean items could fail in other areas of your home buying process.
For instance, exposed wiring (although does not fail a home inspection report) may fail a mortgage lending requirement or an insurance requirement. Ultimately, this depends on your lending and insurance situation.
Myth #2 New Construction Does Not Need A Home Inspection-
New-construction homes are often not free from defects. Unlike older homes, which require owners to disclose any known defects, builders will not market a new construction home with known defects.
Every new construction home I have personally inspected has found something wrong. Now, this does not mean an inspector will find something seriously wrong with the home, just expressing the importance that every home should be inspected before buying.
Myth #3 A Long Inspection Report Means The House Is Trash-
Home inspection report length does not translate into a bad home. In fact, older homes generally have outdated materials and safety issues. Moreover, older homes can be priced more than their new construction counterparts due to location or the design.
If a report is “long” you should speak with your home inspector and Realtor about the typical finds on a house of that age and location. This way, you can better understand the normal conditions of a house at that age.
For instance, older homes are just prone to have damage since they have had a longer chance to get it.
Myth #4 Your Home Inspector Should Have Caught That-
This is a comment that homeowners may hear from a licensed contractor who is working on their property at some point after the inspection. It is important to remember that a home inspector is not a licensed electrician, plumber, or HVAC technician; these professionals possess specific skills and licensing that make them experts in one particular element of a home. Home inspectors, in contrast, are trained to review the entire property as a system, and consider how one component of the house may affect the others. When problems are found, the inspector will either offer recommendations of how to repair the issue, or recommend you get a further evaluation by someone who specializes in that field.
It is important to remember that there are fairly strict limits on what a home inspector can do. A home inspection is a visual examination of the readily accessible systems and components of a home. This means that the inspection is limited to what can be visually observed at the time of the appointment. While a home inspector may examine hundreds of elements around a property, there will always be components of a home that are not visible without dismantling the system; home inspectors do not perform this kind of testing. While a home inspector may refer you to a specialist for further review, the home inspector cannot perform these in-depth evaluations him or herself.
Myth #5 The Inspector Will Tell Me if the Home Is "Up to Code" -
While home inspectors are trained to identify numerous potential code violations, they can't definitively declare a home "up to code" or "not up to code." This responsibility lies with building code officials who conduct separate inspections based on specific state, local and regional codes which can vary from one jurisdiction to another. However a home inspector will highlight areas that do not comply with standard building practices, allowing you to investigate further with the appropriate authorities.
