A Complete Home Inspection Checklist
When it comes to buying a home, what you see isn’t exactly what you get. You will see colorful flowers, freshly painted walls, and other superficial and staged things. But, what you may miss are the foundation cracks, old plumbing, hazardous wiring, and other defects that can only be revealed when you hire a professional home inspector.
However, before getting a home inspection, you must be aware of what happens before, during, and after the home inspection. That way, you can avail of this service at the right time and make the most out of it. We at Lizotte Inspection Services understand that buying a home can be an overwhelming process. To help relieve your stress and get you the most value from a home inspection, here is a complete home inspection checklist that will help you understand the process better.
Find the home you are interested in
You need to go around the market and check various houses to find the one you like. You can do this by yourself or with the help of a realtor. When going through the various options, remember to look for any obvious issues you have with the building. After doing all this, you will be able to narrow down your choices based on price, location, and other factors. Next, see if you are financially able to buy the house of your choice and what kind of mortgage you might need to take. Typically you will be preapproved for a mortgage early in the house-hunting process.
Make an offer on the house, either with a realtor or privately
Once you have figured out your choice and finances, it is time to make an offer and negotiate. You can do this by yourself or with the help of a realtor. A realtor will explain how to make an offer on the house and will help you negotiate a price that you are comfortable with. You may have to go back and forth in negotiations for several days because it is usually done with written counter-offers and response deadlines, but this is all part of the bargaining process. Having a professional realtor makes this whole process easier to deal with.
Book your home inspection
This step involves searching online for the “Best Home Inspector” in your area. Once you shortlist the best experts from your research, ask them as many questions as possible about the inspection and costs. Also, ask questions to get a feel for how the inspection will be done. We will ask you for the address, the listing number if it is through a realtor, the size and age of the house, if it has a suite, if it is on acreage, etc. Having all this information ready will allow us to give you the cost of the inspection right away.
Inform the necessary people about various details
After tentatively booking the inspection, arrange it with your realtor (if you have one) or with the seller. Let them know how long the inspection will take and what time it will start. We typically take five hours to do the best inspection for you. Remember to confirm with the inspector, realtor, or seller if the inspection date and time work for them.
Be available for the walk-through
Make sure you are available and can attend the home inspection walk-through. If your inspector does not offer a walk-through, then you should hire a different inspector. At the walk-through, I will go through the report with you and answer all your questions. Remember you hired me and I am working for you. Payment is due at the walk-through. We accept cash, cheque, or e-transfer.
Ask questions
Make sure to ask questions before and after the inspection. A good inspector will happily address your questions with a suitable answer. Some questions to ask are:
a. Do you do thermal imaging and moisture testing, and is that included in the cost?
b. Do you check appliances and check for recalls, and is this included in the price?
c. How much does a home inspection cost?
d. Do you charge mileage?
These are some basic questions you should ask your inspector to ensure you know what you’re getting and how much it costs. Ask all the inspectors you call the same questions so you can compare apples to apples.
Wait for the report
We send our inspection report to you on the same day as the inspection. After going through the report, if you have any questions or need any clarifications, feel free to give us a call. We don’t consider our job done until all your questions are answered.
If you are looking for a certified home inspector in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, then reach out to us at Lizotte Inspection Services. Our professional home inspection services ensure that every aspect of the home you currently live in or the house you intend to purchase is thoroughly inspected. Our home inspection finds possible issues lurking in the nooks and crannies of a house, and the report will help you make educated decisions that are in your best interests. We offer services such as appliance recall check, home inspection, mold inspection, air quality testing, moisture testing, thermal imaging, ozonation, etc., across Saskatoon, Allan, Dalmeny, Warman, Vanscoy, Clavet, Martensville, Osler, Lanigan, Watrous, Saskatchewan and the surrounding areas including Bradwell, Hague, Colonsay, and Biggar. To learn more about our services, please click here. Have a question? We’d love to hear from you. Contact us here.