What is a Home Inspector?

Imagine you are about to buy a used car… Although it might look all right from the outside, there is no way of knowing for sure that everything inside is working as it should. If, like most of us, you were not an expert in auto mechanics, it would be a sensible idea to have the car looked at by someone knowledgeable. A Home Inspector works in a similar way. He or she is a licensed professional required by law to have completed the ABBE Diploma in Home Inspection and will know exactly what to look for.

What does a Home Inspector do?

A Home Inspector will carry out a detailed visual inspection of your home, a visit that usually takes from 1 to 4 hours, depending on the size and condition of the property. After this, he or she will produce a document called a Home Condition Report, an important part of the Home Information Pack (more on this later). Also, he or she will be qualified to write an Energy Performance Certificate. Demand for Home Inspectors outstrips supply, so advance booking is important!

Home Condition Report

It will show you any urgent or serious defects, and also give you a general overview of the rest of the house. Briefly, here's what you'll find in the Report's several sections:

• Section A – Describes the Home Inspector's terms, and what parts of the house he or she will not inspect. Also, this section describes how each inspected part will be rated.
• Section B – General info about the house. This section would be of special interest to the bank in cases where the buyers are taking out a mortgage.
• Section C – Legal info for conveyancers and others. Also, health and safety points that are not really 'defects'.
• Section D – Lists all the parts of the home that are inspected from the outside, such as windows or chimneys, with a rating of their condition. There would be descriptions of any serious or urgent problems.
• Section E – Same, but those parts inspected from the inside, such as ceilings, along with reporting signs of damp anywhere in the house.
• Section F – A visual inspection of electrical and other services. Bear in mind that the Home Inspector will not test any of these, just report on their condition.
• Section G – Outbuildings, such as garages and sheds, but not swimming pools or other leisure facilities.
• Section H – The energy report, and, if appropriate, how the house can be made more energy efficient.

How is this Report useful to me?

As a buyer, a Home Condition Report will show you the actual condition of the property, so you can make a more informed offer. It will also help you avoid any unexpected bills once you do move in.

As a seller, the report will help you market your home, since you can decide on a realistic asking price, or choose to have any work done (at a better cost/benefit to you) before selling.