Get Real with Doug Robinson: What to Expect from Your Home Inspection

You made an offer and it was accepted. Your next task is to have the home inspected prior to closing. Arkansas contracts allow you to make the purchase contingent upon an inspection satisfactory to the buyer. It must be done within 10 business days of the acceptance of the contract.

This contingency allows you to renegotiate the price you offered for the home, ask the sellers to cover repairs, or in some cases, walk even away if challenges arise. We sit down together and decide on the best course of action once the report is delivered.

How to Choose an Inspector

I keep a short of inspectors I’ve worked with in the past I can recommend to you. A REALTOR however, is not allowed to recommend a specific one. HGTV suggests you consider the following five areas when choosing the right home inspector for you:

Qualifications– Find out what’s included in your inspection and if the age or location of your home may warrant specific certifications or specialties.
Sample Reports– Ask for a sample inspection report so you can review how thoroughly they will be inspecting your dream home. In most cases, the more detailed the report, the better.
References– Do your homework. Ask for phone numbers and names of past clients who you can call to discuss their experiences.
Memberships– Not all inspectors belong to a national or state association of home inspectors, and membership in one of these groups should not be the only way to evaluate your choice. Membership in one of these organizations does, however, often mean continued training and education are required.
Errors and Omission Insurance– Find out what the liability of the inspector or inspection company is once the inspection is over. The inspector is only human, after all, and it is possible they might miss something they should see.

The inspector should be okay with you tagging along during the inspection, so they can point out anything that should be addressed or fixed.

Don’t be surprised to see your inspector climbing on the roof or crawling around in the attic and on the floors. The job of the inspector is to protect your investment and find any issues with the home, including but not limited to: the roof, plumbing, electrical components, appliances, heating and air conditioning systems, ventilation, windows, fireplace and chimney, foundation, and so much more.

Bottom Line

Even with these 5 areas, your best opportunity to find an inspector will be word of mouth. Ask your friends.

It is important to remember that an inspector’s job is to find things that are wrong with the house. No house is perfect. Take the time to go over the report thoroughly with my team and we will ask the seller to address the items that are important to you.

They say, ‘ignorance is bliss,’ but not when investing your hard-earned money into a home of your own. Work with an inspector you can trust to give you the most information possible, so you can make the most educated decision about your purchase.

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