Sometimes as a professional home inspector I am asked “What exactly is a home inspection?”. And for someone who has never been directly exposed to a residential real estate transaction, and perhaps some who have, that’s an excellent question.

In large part, any definition that applies to the phrase Home Inspection depends on where the Home Inspector takes place (in which state or municipality) and what organization, if any, the Home Inspector might be affiliated with. Many states have adopted licensing requirements; some don’t. It’s worth noting that a home inspection (note I’m not referring to it as a home inspection…) conducted in a state with no licensing requirements, by an individual with minimal or no experience and no affiliation to a professional association, it can be whatever he or she decides it will be at any given time… really, really scary! And, if things are as they should be, we should be able to answer the main question without having to determine what the definition of “Is” is.

According to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), one of the oldest and generally most respected associations of home inspectors, a home inspection is conducted in accordance with ASHI standards of practice and is an inspection of the installed systems easily accessible and visually observable. and components of a house. ASHI’s Standards of Practice also state that an inspection conducted under its Standards of Practice is intended to provide the customer with factual information about the condition of the home systems and components inspected at the time of the Home Inspection. The inspector must provide a written report that identifies any system or component inspected that, in the inspector’s professional judgment, is not working properly, is significantly deficient, is unsafe, or is at the end of its useful life. In addition, a reasoning or explanation must be provided as to the nature of the reported deficiencies if they are not apparent.

In a state like North Carolina, the state the author is most familiar with and where licensing laws have been in effect since October 1996, inspection reports must meet state requirements… period. Compliance is not voluntary… it is the Law! According to the North Carolina Home Inspectors Licensing Board (NCHILB), a home inspection is intended to provide the customer with a better understanding of the condition of the property, as inspected. at the time of inspection. The NCHILB practice standards further require (among a myriad of other specific requirements), that a home inspector must:

• Provide a written contract, signed by the client before the Home Inspection is performed, stating that the inspection is being conducted in accordance with the Standards, stating what services will be provided and the cost of those services, and establishing when an inspection will take place. is only for one or a limited number of systems or components and exactly what systems or components might be;
• Inspect readily visible and easily accessible systems and components that are listed in the Standards that require inspection;
• Indicate which systems or components require to be inspected, but were not inspected and the reason why they were not inspected;
• List any systems or components that were inspected that are not performing as intended, allowing normal wear and tear, or adversely affecting the livability of the building;
• Indicate whether any reported condition requires repair or further observation, or warrants further investigation by a specialist; Statements must describe the component or system and how the condition is defective, explain the consequences of the condition, and provide instructions on a course of action regarding the condition or refer the recipient to a specialist:
• List or provide the name, license number, and signature of the person(s) performing the inspection.

ASHI’s Standards of Practice (SOP) can be viewed HERE. In addition, ASHI prescribes a Client Bill of Rights, and as professional home inspectors, our Raleigh home inspection firm subscribes to those key principles that serve to protect clients.

The above has been a brief and partial comment on what a Home Inspection is… by definition. But much can be added to arrive at an answer to the initial question…”What is a Home Inspection…Exactly?”.

The contents of a home inspection report are often used by a client as an assessment of the overall condition of the property so that they can make a more informed and intelligent buying decision related to their real estate transaction.

• Typically, a home inspection report should address the following systems and/or components (please note this may not be a complete list): Structural components: foundation, floors, walls, roofs, etc.
• Exterior components: wall cladding, doors and windows, decking, flashing, eaves, fascias, driveways, walkways, steps, grading, drainage, any evidence of water penetration into the building envelope, etc.
• Roofing: Roof decking, flashing, gutter systems, skylights, chimneys, roof penetrations, evidence of abnormal leaks or condensation, etc.;
• Plumbing: water distribution systems, drain/waste/vent piping systems, fixtures and faucets, functional flow and functional drain, water heaters, safety controls, normal operation controls, fuel storage equipment, leaks, etc. .;
• Electrical: Service entrance conductors and equipment, main and distribution subpanels, overcurrent devices, grounding equipment, accessories, switches, receptacles, smoke detectors, ground-fault protective devices, power-fault protective devices bow etc.;
• Heating – Furnaces and heat pumps, security controls, operation controls, flues and vents, heat distribution systems, energy sources, etc.;
• Air Conditioning – Refrigeration and air handling equipment, operator controls, distribution systems, power sources, etc.;
• Interior: walls, floors, ceilings, stairs, railings, balconies, countertops, cabinets, doors, windows, any evidence of abnormal water penetration or condensation, etc.;
• Insulation and Ventilation – Insulation, vapor retarders, the absence of any required insulation, ventilation systems in kitchens/bathrooms/laundry rooms, ventilation systems/attic fans, etc.
• Built-in Kitchen Appliances: Dishwashers, Ranges, Ranges, Microwaves, Trash Compactors, Garbage Disposals, Range Hoods, etc.

So what are some other “factoids” that might help us understand what a home inspection is? Exactly.

Home inspections, by most accepted definitions, are general and visual in nature and are not technically comprehensive.

A home inspection is a fee-based service, prepared for a specific client (usually, but not always, a homebuyer) who is required to provide that client with a good overall assessment of the property’s physical condition to help them make a better assessment. purchase decision.

A home inspection typically costs between $300.00 and $600.00, depending on the size and age of the home. A home buyer often chooses other ancillary services, eg radon testing, water testing, etc.; but those additional services are usually provided outside the scope of the Home Inspection

A home inspection typically takes anywhere from 2-5 hours to complete, and that amount of time also depends on the size and age of the home.

It is recommended that a customer, who has contracted for a home inspection, be present for the duration of the inspection so they can learn and observe “firsthand” any issues that need to be reported. In addition, the client must be made completely comfortable to ask any question at any time; there should be no “dumb” questions during a home inspection.

The report generated by a home inspector should be clear, concise, and easy to understand without the use of jargon or “technical jargon”; In other words, the home inspector must be able to communicate using complete sentences and simple, common language. The report should contain digital photos of any significant issues. The completed inspection report must be delivered in a timely manner because, during a real estate transaction, time is often of the essence and information must be available with that in mind.

In summary, a Home Inspection is a well-defined procedure intended to provide a good and complete representation of the physical condition of a property on the date of the inspection. A home buyer often uses a report from a home inspection to make a more informed and intelligent buying decision.

So… what is a home inspection… exactly? It is many things and is made up of many different facets, both technical and practical. But most of all it is a valuable professional service that is…invaluable…to a homebuyer. Choosing to buy a home, without the benefit of a professional property appraisal, may not be a wise decision because… If you don’t “inspect” it… then you very well may end up owning a home that is very different than what you….thought…what was it…what did you buy!