Refresh on the basics

Know what the most common home inspection findings are so you’re not surprised when your home has a loose toilet or smoke alarms missing.

Remember that a home inspection is a visual, non-comprehensive evaluation of the home. It won’t catch everything and you may need to hire specialists for further evaluation of major systems like HVAC, electrical or plumbing.

Home inspections are also not pass/fail or code inspections.

Inspection Etiquitte

It’s a good idea to discuss how you'd like to ask questions with your inspector beforehand. Some prefer you follow along and ask during the inspection, while others ask that you wait until the end. We suggest arriving about 90 minutes into the inspection so you can observe and ask questions after the summary review. However, if you'd like to be there earlier or for the full inspection, that's perfectly fine too.

Keep in mind that some new construction builders may have policies that don’t allow buyers on-site during the inspection for insurance reasons. Be sure to confirm with your builder when scheduling the inspection.

Finally, remember that until the sale is finalized, the property is not yet yours. As a result, both you and the inspector should avoid moving furniture, touching personal belongings, or engaging in any actions that would feel intrusive if you were a guest in someone else’s home.