What to Expect at an Inspection

(Disclaimer: I’m not a licensed inspector!)

Buckle up buttercup, it’s inspection time.

Inspections are one of those things that can strike fear in the hearts of buyers and sellers alike. What will the inspector find? Will I have to fix it? How much will it cost? Will the seller pay for it? Will the buyer pay for it?? WHAT IF THERE’S NO PLUMBING???

I can assure you, I’ve never been privy to an inspection where there was no plumbing at all, (that would be revealed in the Sellers Disclosure statement at the very least, so fret not), but there are still some issues that can come up. Like I’ve said before, I can’t cover them all, but I can give you a good idea of what an inspector is checking over when he or she comes to do their job:

*Roof

*Plumbing

*HVAC

*Foundation

*Trees proximity to roof (if they’re touching, or close, it gives squirrels an entryway to the attic) 

*Evidence of squirrels and other rodents

*Evidence of bugs

*Flooring

*Exterior condition of house (siding, wood rot, facia, gutters)

*Doors and windows

*Garage door (if applicable)

The inspection is usually scheduled for about 3 hours, either in the morning or afternoon. If it’s scheduled for the morning you should have your report by the end of that business day 🙂 

Something will usually come up that has to be negotiated, (will the seller replace that leaky gutter, is the buyer cool with that wood grate over the front door not being painted?), and it’s up to the separate parties as to how smoothly that goes. But if all is negotiated to the satisfaction of each, we’re signed and sealed and on the way to closing!

The next few weeks are a bit of a no man’s land, where nothing major is scheduled and everyone is waiting on the loan to finalize and the lawyers to clear the title and make sure we are clear to close. It’ll be quiet (for the most part), with the ball in the lenders and lawyers court. After we’re clear to close, the next stop is the place all of us want to be.

The closing table.