If you are looking to buy or sell a home in Cookeville, the home inspection process can be a nerve-racking experience. But it doesn’t have to be. Cookeville Home Inspection is here to help you navigate the home inspection process with ease and confidence.

What is a Home Inspection?

A home inspection can be initiated by a home buyer during the closing procedures or a home seller in anticipation of listing a home on the market. If you are a home buyer, you will typically hire a home inspector to assess the home’s condition and uncover potential issues.

As licensed professionals, home inspectors look for safety and health risks or mechanical problems that violate state codes and regulations. They will do a thorough sweep of the home on the inside and outside for anything broken or dangerous.

Why Should I Get a Home Inspection?

We know what you are thinking. Why should I spend more money when I am already paying thousands in the home buying process? It might cost more time and money during the home buying process, but it could save you thousands in the long run.

A home inspection is a vital investment for home buyers. Home inspections provide the opportunity for buyers to uncover issues before moving into their new homes. Many real estate contracts involve a contingency that allows homebuyers to back out of a contract if the home is not up to par. Homebuyers can request that repairs be made or receive credit.

Now that you know what a home inspection is and why you should get one, we’ll walk you through what to expect during your first home inspection.

What To Expect During Your Cookeville Home Inspection 

1. Home inspections last several hours

From start to finish, the home inspection process can take several days or several weeks, depending on the market and your home inspector’s workload. But the home inspection itself only lasts 2-4 hours. During this time, the home inspector will walk through the grounds, around the exterior, in basements, crawl spaces, and living areas. Home inspectors will take notes and pictures for their inspection reports.

2. Home inspectors are looking for 7 main issues

There may be some garish wallpaper in the living areas, but those types of cosmetic items won’t make their way into the inspection report. In fact, home inspectors are really looking for 7 key issues:

• Water damage
• Structure and foundation issues
• Plumbing damage
• Roof damage
• HVAC issues
• Electrical issues
• Pest infestations

Issues in these areas could result in safety risks and major unexpected expenses for the homebuyer. If you’re the seller, you can help facilitate the inspection by ensuring the electric panels, crawl spaces, and water heater are accessible.

3.     The home will not be perfect

No home is perfect, not even a new home. Try to maintain realistic expectations about the outcome of the home inspection report. And don’t panic! Plan for issues large and small. Have an idea of how you will deal with unexpected problems with your prospective home.

4.     The home inspector will compile a report

Home inspectors will list their findings in a detailed report. By detailed report, we mean a document that could be anywhere from 20 to 30 pages long—not recommended for bedtime reading. Every report is formatted differently, but each one will assess the home’s systems and document any problems observed during the inspection. It typically takes a home inspector 1-3 days to compile this report. Try to be patient as these reports usually take at least a business day for your home inspector to prepare.

5.     A home inspection is not “pass or fail”

Unfortunately, you won’t open your home inspection report to find a smiley face sticker and a grade point average. Home inspection reports are more complicated than pass or fail evaluations. A home inspector can’t give you recommendations or tell you how much the repairs will cost. These decisions are up to you and your real estate agent. Instead, the home inspection report is there to help you identify and prioritize the issues that affect the sale of the home.

Ready to dive into your home inspection? Call or visit our website to schedule your home inspection today.