Home Inspection Expectations

-Drew Grossklaus – Sales Director / BIC

Everyone likes knowing the condition of an item they purchase.  When it comes to the biggest purchase someone makes in their lifetime, it is of the utmost importance.  In home buying and real estate there are hurdles that need to be cleared to get to the closing day.  One of those hurdles is the home inspection.

The general home inspection gives the buyer a good idea of the health of a home.  Inspections can take multiples hours depending on the size of the property and are broken down by levels of concern, such as high, medium, or low.  Home inspections are also usually organized by areas of the home and accompanied with an explanation and picture of the issue.

Here are some tips and thoughts regarding home inspections.

• Know that special home items should have a specific inspection. While not always necessary, if you have a concern you may want a specific inspection of these home items.
  • Roofs – While general home inspectors normally do a visual of the roof from the ground they do not usually climb on the roof.
  • Pools – Pools require a separate inspection by a licensed pool contractor.
  • Stucco – We recommend you have any stucco home inspected by a licensed stucco inspector.
  • Elevators – While general inspectors test elevators, it is wise to the have a licensed elevator inspector.
  • HVAC – A general inspector denotes age and general capability, however a licensed HVAC contractor can further evaluate the HVAC system.
• Some things sound worse than they are.
  • Talk to the inspector and have him explain any and all areas of concern. An item they noticed may seem bad, but in reality it isn’t as terrible as it sounds.
  • Discuss with a contractor items that are of concern. The inspector may recommend this for certain issues, but for other items it may provide you with peace of mind.

Inspections are a big hurdle to purchasing a home.  Your real estate agent can be of great help in choosing a home inspector and can also review the report with you and assist in the discussion after the inspection.  At William Means we strive to make sure you are confident in understanding your inspection report.  We have worked with some of the top inspectors in Charleston in reviewing the finest homes.  Our experience helps us to confidently clear this home buying hurdle with our clients.