So, you’ve found your dream home? It’s hard to truly find all the flaws of a house without actually spending time in it. You’re going to want to really know your home inside and out before making your investment.  The best way to begin understanding your future home inside and out is with a pre-purchase home inspection.

You’re probably asking yourself how much you really know about home inspections? Check out these fun facts and statistics to learn more!

1. What Do Home Inspectors Do?

First things first, a home inspector is NOT provincially regulated. This means they are not looking for code violations and will only look at the parts of the house that are accessible and visible.  In a typical home inspection, the inspector will examine the air conditioning and heating system, interior plumbing, electrical system, roof, attic, visible installation, walls, flooring, windows, and foundation.

2. You Should Attend Your Home Inspection walkthrough

A home inspection fact that people are not aware of is that home inspection is actually optional. It’s not required, but it will give you a piece of mind you will not find elsewhere.  Not only is it an easy way to get a piece of mind when it comes to buying your future home but attending your home inspection for the walkthrough can also save you money in the future!

Home inspectors are usually generous to potential home buyers. Inspectors can answer any questions you may have about the home, they can even recommend a professional to help.  Some pieces of information will justify just reading the home inspector report. This report summarizes what the inspector addressed in the home.  The report summary will have a lot of information but not nearly as much information you will receive if you actually attend the inspection.  The inspector can give you an estimate on how much money it’ll take for your property repairs and you can then use that information to negotiate the price of repairs with the seller before purchasing.

3. Home Inspectors Inspect All Properties

Home inspections aren’t just smart for people looking to purchase a home. Home inspectors inspect all kinds of properties and it’s smart for anyone looking to invest in a piece of property to get it inspected before purchasing.  Inspectors know how to treat spaces which may have unique requirements like condos or multifamily dwellings.  It’s smart to bring in a contracted inspector when looking to invest in an apartment or condo instead of just blindly trusting the proprietor.  This will give someone without a financial or emotional interest in the property a chance to truly inspect it.  There’s nothing worse than investing in a property that isn’t totally up to your standards.

4. Create a Checklist

Home checklists will help you prepare for what’s included in your home inspection. You begin preparing this checklist when you originally see the home before the inspection.  This way you can go over all the problem areas with your home inspector, and they are able to discuss all the questions you may have.

5. What Standards Do Inspectors Have?

Did you know that their is no requirement for a home inspector to be licensed in Saskatchewan? Fahlman Home Inspections not only has the experience to look at your home, but has finished over 150+ hours on training through InterNACHI. The InterNACHI® School is the only home inspector school accredited by a national accrediting agency of the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) and is a Member College of the National Association of Career Colleges (NACC) of Canada. Click Here to see certifications. On top of this formal training, Chris has 15years experience working in related fields to make him the best inspector he can be.

6. How Long Does a Home Inspection Take?

Something people don’t know about home inspections is that home inspectors are available on a one to a 14-day notice.

Generally, a home inspector will get started after the final sales contract is signed, the sales contract should include a clause making the final sale contingent on the home inspection. The home inspection itself should take 2.5-3hrs depending on the size and condition of the property.

7. Inspection and Appraisal

Another fun fact about the home inspection process is that home inspections and home appraisals are NOT the same thing. A lot of homeowners think a home appraisal will cover all their bases when it will not.

A home appraisal is a value based on comparable recent sales of the home in the neighborhood. A home inspection will describe the condition of the home and can estimate the future of the home.

One is based on the housing market, and another describes the condition of the home.

Most homeowners will say it’s important to have both when investing a property but the information you can extract from attending a home inspection is priceless.

Home Inspection Fun Facts

Home inspections are worth every penny. Not only will they grant you a piece of mind before your investment, but they will also help you save money on the repairs of your property.

Before investing in a property you’re going to want the most information you can get on the homes before you buy it. The easiest way to do that is with a home inspector that has your best interest in mind.

Create a checklist to go over with your home inspector, attend the home inspection and record important information regarding repairs.

Use these fun facts combined with your home appraisal and you will have more than enough information to securely invest in your property. Good luck!

Check out our website to schedule your home inspection today.