TAMPA HOME INSPECTION

 Put our experience and knowledge to work on your next home purchase. Hiring another inspector is a RED FLAG you cannot afford to miss!

Home inspection is often discussed as if it’s a pass/fail test with sellers and buyers alike saying that they hope the home “passes inspection.” But in reality, the process is much more nuanced and “passing the inspection” is a relative term that depends on individual home inspectors, buyers, and sellers. In the process of closing a home sale, the buyer typically hires a home inspector to come to the house and perform a visual observation to confirm the state of the home and identify any issues that pose a health or safety issue that the buyer should be aware of before purchasing the home. We’ll get into the nitty gritty of what they look for a little later, but Tim Buell, the former president of the American Society of Home Inspectors, says “We look for things that are significantly deficient, unsafe, near the end of the service life, or not functioning properly.”

It is not required for the homebuyer to be present for the inspection. However, ASHI recommends attending so the homebuyer can receive the most value from their inspection. This allows homebuyers to observe the inspector and ask questions throughout the process. Many homebuyers find that talking with their inspectors gives them a better understanding the condition of the home and how to maintain it. A professional home inspection is an examination and objective assessment of the current condition of a house. A home inspector will not pass or fail a house, but rather describe its physical condition and indicate what components and systems may need major repair or replacement. A home inspection is not an appraisal and will not determine the home's market value. It is also not a municipal inspection and does not verify local code compliance.

A home inspector will look at the interior and exterior parts of home like the foundation, structural components, roof, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems, then provide a written home inspection report with results A home inspection generally takes two to four hours, but may take more time depending on the size of the house. After the physical inspection, the home inspector may take a couple of days to send the written report Buyers should attend the inspection so they can explore their new home in detail and ask questions during the process. This can give you much more information than the report alone Don’t be concerned with the number of defects listed on your report — many will be so minor you won’t bother fixing them.

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To help ease your mind, we’ll walk you through what a home inspection is, what to expect, and how to be prepared when your house is under the microscope. News flash: no home is perfect. But you can take steps to ready yourself (and your home) for the home inspection to minimize unwanted surprises. Much of the information that can be found about home inspections is focused on the buyers since they are the ones who order the inspection and use the information to ultimately decide whether or not to purchase a property. But as a seller, you may be just as (or more) nervous than the buyer. After all, it’s your house that’s being inspected, and it will be up to you to either make the repairs, offer credits or concessions, or refuse and potentially lose the sale. So, to help you understand just what you’re getting into, we spoke to the former president of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and top real estate agents around the country to break down exactly what happens during a home inspection and how different outcomes can affect your home sale.

Clearly, the inspector isn’t going to tear your home apart to inspect piping and wiring. But the more exterior and interior parts of the home an inspector can access, the more complete the final report will be. The buyer usually pays for a professional home inspection. However, on making an offer, some insist the seller pays. So that’s an item for negotiation. Sometimes, sellers get their own home inspection before they put their homes on the market. That can reassure potential purchasers. And it can provide the owner with a chance to fix issues ahead of the marketing of the property. However, not all buyers are willing to accept a report paid for by the seller. In fact, experts recommend that buyers choose their own inspector, someone without ties to either the seller or the seller’s Realtor.