What are some common home inspection myths that you should know as a first-time buyer?

I have not been able to find the "perfect home". I've always found issues with new construction and rehabbed homes. Everything from minor cosmetic "punch list" items to Radon concentrations above action levels.

Common home inspection myths for first-time buyers: 1. **Pass/Fail Test**: It's not about passing but understanding the property's condition. 2. **Cosmetic Over Substance**: Focus is on safety and major systems, not cosmetic issues. 3. **New Homes Don't Need Inspection**: Even new builds can have flaws; inspections reveal them. 4. **Seller's Inspection Is Enough**: Get an independent inspection; seller's report might be biased. 5. **Inspector Recommends Repairs**: They point out issues, but repairs are up to buyers. 6. **DIY Inspection Works**: Professional insights catch hidden problems that DIY might miss. 7. **Inspector Determines Value**: They assess condition, not property value. 8. **Quick Inspection Is Bad**: Thoroughness matters

It is important to keep things in perspective... this is a major investment, unless you are planning on tearing it down, you would be unwise to not conduct a home inspection. Even if it is simply for your own education (e.g. where are all of the shut-offs, what are the safety hazards that exist, what regular maintenance items do I need to be aware of, etc.) a home inspection is a small investment in successfully owning a home over the long term.

A buyer's mindset should be that a home inspection is a must. Non-negotiable. Budget for the fee ahead of time. As an agent, one thing I do to be helpful, is provide a few trusted home inspectors for my clients to choose from. Including details as to what they can expect from each of them. Ultimately, this facilitates a decision with confidence when the buyer hires an inspector. Informed confident decision making is what makes first-time homebuyer's happy homeowners.

A home inspection professional is another set of eyes on the details of the property, that you have an accepted purchase agreement on. It affirms your perspective of the condition of the home or discloses details you may were previously unaware of.

Again, unless the buyer is a trained, licensed home inspector, I would not recommend. However, it is very important for the buyer to be present during the inspections so any issues can be seen first hand.

While you can certainly conduct your own initial inspection, it's advisable to hire a professional home inspector for a detailed and thorough assessment. They have the knowledge, experience, and tools to identify potential problems that may not be obvious to a layperson. Your own inspection can serve as a preliminary step, but it should not replace a professional inspection when you're serious about buying a property.

A basic home inspection includes property, exterior, roof, interior, electrical, heating, cooling, plumbing, ventillation, insulation, structure - then add radon, mold, water quality, pool, allergens and other specialty services. It takes a lot of study, certification, licensing and experience to achieve compotence at home inspections. A lot can be missed by the average DIY'er.

Many states require that a home inspection be completed by a licensed home inspector. Even if a license is not required in your state, it is advantageous to have a third party complete the home inspection.

Wrong idea to self inspect. You don’t self diagnose when you are sick or need a dentist, hire the experts, you will be glad you did!

Good idea to verify licensing, certifications, and insurance coverage. Not all inspectors carry the correct credentials to qualify them to do what they claim they can do.

After a buyer educates himself/herself on the importance of an inspection and the many different aspects it can include, you should also rely on your realtor who should be an experienced, trusted source. All agents have good and bad experiences with inspectors and that breadth of knowledge is important to make that good decision. Generally, different inspectors will pick up on different issues on a home. It's important to have a good inspector because you don't get a 2nd chance!

Home Inspection companies provide reports that include different aspects of a home inspection. Interview several companies,review details on their website of their process, cost and time frame for completion. Choose the home inspection company that suits what you expect in a home inspection.

Just like all dentists are NOT the same...of course all home inspectors are NOT the same. Do the research, ask the hard questions.

Not all home inspectors are the same. It is important to verify licensing, credentials and also reviews. If searching on line, look at reviews. Don’t just glance at the number of stars, actually click on and read the reviews. Also, choose someone that has PLENTY of reviews so that you can read more customer comments. However, if you have a home inspector that you know and trust, use them.

Similarly, if a home inspector says they can go top to bottom through a home and cover even this basic scope of work in 60 minutes, you should question their thoroughness.

This is impossible. Buying a home will always have risk and every home requires maintenance as it ages. Something that is working fine in an inspection may not be working fine the following week or month or year.

No. There are so many areas of expertise, one inspector cannot be the expert in all areas. If your inspector suspects mold, get a mold inspection done by a professional in that area. Same as termite or other issues. It may cost you more, but it will be worth it in the long run.

Inspectors are really there for the bigger issues like termites, roof, electrical, ect. There are things in a home they do not cover that will need further investigation if it’s a concern or products that the inspector isn’t familiar with like water filtration systems, mosquito spray systems, certain elevator brands, camera scope in pipes, ect.

Many home inspectors do offer package deals where they use third parties to take care of the inspections that are outside of a general home inspection. The inspections that I always recommend to my clients outside of a general home inspection are pest, radon, well/septic (if applicable), and sewer scope (if sewer line is older out to the street).

As a REALTOR I always recommend a home inspection! One of the reasons is because when I purchased a home the home inspector found that the bathroom tub water faucets were in backwards, but the handles were not!! Also they can spot foundation issues that aren't readily visible as well. Plus you can use the inspection for negotiations with the seller for either repairs or lower home purchase cost. If seller lowers the price it's a win win! Seller doesn't have to worry about making repairs and buyer gets a lower mortgage payment or better terms!

A home inspection is an opportunity for a buyer to decide if the home is worthy of moving forward with their purchase. It is a discovery or fact finding mission. If there are major defects discovered during the inspection, the buyer can decide if they want to terminate or continue forward. If they continue forward, they might want to ask the seller to repair/remedy some or all of the issues. Or, they might decide that the findings are items they are willing to address after the purchase and use the report as a "honey do list" for the future. A home inspection is never pass or fail.

Even if as a buyer, if you think you know everything about a home, an inspection can help give a different perspective. More information is always better to learn about the positive and negative aspects of a property.

A home inspection is not a pass/fail test. It helps the potential buyer to see the overall condition of the home and any potential safety concerns. Sometimes homeowners will make additions and updates without following current regulations. An inspector may point out these concerns which could potentially help the buyer negotiate pricing to remedy these issues.

There’s always something that shows up on the reports. It’s just information. As a homeowner, things pop up all the time…it’s maintenance and expected. However, if a house needs a roof…that’s a concern. D ok you want to pay for that? Ask for a credit? Have seller replace? Ect.

Be sure to compare the seller's disclosure to the home inspection report. Look for discrepancies between the two, and ask the seller a lot of questions to understand the difference between the two documents. This is a key step in the due dilligence process.

In some cases the Home Inspection may be your last chance to Void the contract and get your earnest money back. Unless you have a lot of extra money to fix items that need to be fixed, you can request the seller fix all items and in they won't void the contract.

Always hire a Realtor to assist you when purchasing a new construction home and a resale home. We have experience with who the best inspectors are, who produces the best reports and who explains things well. An experienced realtor will know what questions to ask the inspector to assist you. For example, depending on the weather they can’t inspect both AC and heat. But they can give you an educated guess based on age and condition of system. They can’t see damage behind outdoor shingles, but they can tell you what kind of shingles they are and if there have been any class action law suits about the product. Same is true for plumbing pipes. Always hire a Realtor!

Myth #7: Having a long list of items on the inspection report means something is seriously wrong with the house. Pay attention to the elephants (big issues), NOT the ants (small issues). Usually an inspection report will have 20 or 30 things on it, regardless of age or condition. The inspector is there to find EVERY defect with the house...every crack, every water stain, every leak, every grading issue, everything that's against code, etc. As homes age, more issues arise. Would you say it is better to have a list of 60 small things, or a list with one thing that says the foundation is warped? Pay attention to the big issues, and don't be overwhelmed by several small issues.

I have been a home inspector since 1996 and have performed over 5000 residential and commercial inspections. Prior to entering the home inspection industry I had over 10 years exp. in residential building/remodeling/restoration, 14 years in commercial building. I have been a licensed Realtor and income property investor and am a Licensed Builder 139845. It is my suggestion that any one buying property should, with due diligence,attend at a minimum, a summary/walk through with their inspector. During my summary not only do I point out the problems/deferred maintenance, I educate my client on the main components on the home and their age and seasonal maintenance to be performed. I do give "guesstimates" of repairs with ref. to tradesmen.

I advise sellers to pay for their OWN home inspection before they list. I attach the inspection to the listing on the MLS. Buyers assume sellers are hiding everything. Now a professional third-party has checked it out. Also, savvy buyers will use the inspection as a bargaining tool. When I sold my own home, the buyer offered full price. Their report came back with $10,000 of repairs NOT on my inspector's report. Then they wanted $10k off the price. I told them my inspector would meet their inspector at the home; he could point out all the things my pro had missed. They declined and withdrew their request. Then it happened to my clients. You can't fight them without having done your own inspection first. Worth the money.