Q. What is a Home Inspection?
A. A Home Inspection is not an appraisal of a home. A Home Inspection is an objective visual examination of the readily accessible systems of the home, including the mechanical, electrical and plumbing. The inspection also includes a functional test of all the mechanical systems (weather permitting). Inspections are performed in accordance with the Standards of Practice of The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (www.nachi.org) and American Standards of Home Inspectors. (www.ashi.com) If symptoms or problems are found, the inspector may recommend further evaluation.
Q. How can you save thousands of dollars with a home inspection?
A. Once you have been presented the written report and have an understanding of the existing condtions of the house, you may do the following.
* Renegociate the sales price based on estimated repairs of the existing condtion of the house.
* Ask the seller to repair a portion or all of the items found.
* Use the written report as a "to do" list. Identifying potential safety hazards and or maintenance items and repairing them in a timely manner may save on larger future costs.
Q. What Happens in a Home Inspection?
A. A trained inspector will perform a visual inspection of the home, which will take approximately three hours, depending on the size of the home. You are asked to be present the last hour of the inspections for the presentation of the written report and to ask any questions. We ask that if you choose to follow the inspector during the inspection, that you do not ask any questions because this may reduce the quality of the inspection. We encourage you to write down any questions that may come up during the inspection and ask them at the end. At the conclusion of the inspection a detailed written report will be presented to you. After the report is presented to you, a walk-through will be conducted of the home, explaining the written report. Your payment for services will be expected upon receipt of the report.
Q. Who can perform a home inspection?
A. The State of Utah does not license or regulate home inspectors. If a home inspector mentions being "licensed and certified" you should definitely ask for details. The only "license" required is a business license from the County or City. When an inspector says he/she is "certified" one might ask by whom. The State of Utah has no such licensing category for "Certified Home Inspector," nor does the State have required testing.
Q. How can I be assured the home inspector I hire is qualified?
A. Currently the only way to assure that the home inspector you have hired is qualified is to verify that their training and inspection reports comply with the national home inspection organizations such as ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) or NACHI (The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors).
Q. Can't I do it myself?
A. While homeowners can identify items based on their knowledge of homes, a professional home inspector has greater understanding of home systems. This will allow the inspector to identify a larger amount of items that are of concern. Also, the inspector is not emotionally attached to the home and he or she is not under the large amount of stress that is associated from the purchase of a home. Being an objective third party to the transaction, the inspector will provide a more accurate observation of the property.
Q. Is a home inspection expensive?
A. The cost of a home inspection in the Salt Lake area ranges roughly between $200 and $400 dollars. The pricing is determined on several variables including square feet, age of home and number of units.
Q. Do home inspectors check for code compliance?
A. Building codes are constantly being revised. Houses built thirty years ago would not pass present-day building codes. The purpose of a home inspection is to determine the condition and safety of a home, as it is at the time of the inspection, not whether it meets past or present codes.
Q. Does a home inspection constitute a warranty or guarantee?
A. The inspection and report is based upon observation of conditions that existed at the time of the inspection only. The inspection and report are not intended nor are they to be considered as guarantees or warranties. If additional assurances are desired, the buyer may purchase a home warranty from a home warranty company. Your real estate agent will be able to provide information regarding home warranties.
Q. Should I call an inspector on each house I'm interested in?
A. No, you should call an inspector after you've signed the earnest money agreement but before you sign the final papers. Be sure to include a legally clear clause in the earnest money agreement making the sale contingent on a home inspection satisfactory to you as the buyer.
