Tuesday Tidbits: Home Inspections

Here at DCAR, we want to make your jobs easier. That’s why we’ve started up our Tuesday Tidbits series, a weekly email that will provide you with a useful, relevant piece of information that will hopefully come in handy as you work. First was wire fraud. Next up: home inspections.

Much of the information we use in these emails comes from the National Association of REALTORS® publication RealtorMag. We encourage you to browse through their content for other useful tips.

Home Inspections

A home inspection is one of the many important steps to be taken before a prospective buyer purchases a home. But it’s imperative that you know what to look for and what to ask when the time comes, otherwise your buyer could be left unhappy.

What Questions to Ask Home Inspectors

The National Association of REALTORS® offers a guide to home inspections, which is linked below, that features five questions buyers should be asking of their home inspectors. Check out the link for more information on each of these questions, and make sure to check out the rest of the site for helpful information.

1. What do you check? Home inspectors are limited to “visual, general inspections,” and it’s important the buyer knows what is not covered in the inspection.
2. What do you charge for an inspection? Always find out the cost of the inspection you’re getting before you hire an inspector.
3. How many inspections have you done? Everybody has to start somewhere, but experience matters, especially if there are “unusual home features” involved.
4. Can I come along during the inspection? NAR says it would be a red flag for the inspector to not want the buyer to join for the inspection.
5. Can I view a sample report? A sample report can show how a potential problem is cited in an inspection, which can help give perspective.

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The information expressed herein is intended to serve as a general resource guide for the members of the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® and is subject to change. While the District of Columbia Association of REALTORS® strives to make the information in this email as timely and accurate as possible, the Association makes no claims or guarantees about the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and expressly disclaims liability for any errors and omissions. This information should not be taken as legal counsel.