A home inspection report is not an easy task; it can range from 15 pages for small homes to 70 pages for larger homes. Every page is packed with factors that can affect the outcome of the sale of your house.
WARNING: THE AVERAGE HOME INSPECTION REPORT IS USUALLY BETWEEN 25 AND 30 PAGES LONG.
Don't be overwhelmed when you see the length of the inspection report. You, your agent, and the home inspector will review the report at the end of the inspection and you can ask the inspector any questions you have. Don't hesitate to ask questions and don't think that any questions you have are silly.You don't do this every day and both your agent and the inspector know this. However, they can't read your mind, so be sure to ask your questions. They are great for the convenience and speed of the inspector, but they don't offer much detailed information for the buyer. Unless you see an example of a home inspection report, you have no idea what an inspector's report will look like. First, an average home inspection takes between 2 and 4 hours, depending on the size of the home, the scope of the inspection, etc.
Announcing that your home is in excellent condition because you've followed all the repair recommendations from a recent inspection puts you in a unique position compared to other sellers in the market. An inspection report for a shabby home is not detailed or provides clear descriptions of the condition or defects of the home. An accredited home inspector will be a member of at least one home inspection organization, such as the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI) or the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). The inspection is a great opportunity for you to learn everything about your future home and to see first-hand any problems that may arise. If you wait for the inspection to finish to arrive, the home inspector will have a report ready on what he has observed and found as problems in the home. Being present and listening to the inspector's comments will allow you to get an idea of the seriousness of any issues you encounter.
However, the main drawback is for the buyer, as most of the inspectors who use them are more interested in speed than in providing detailed information. Attending the inspection in person will give you a better idea of the condition of the home than just with the report. That's also why real estate agents often refer them to inspectors who use them; according to them, fewer details mean less attention paid to defects, and less likely for buyers to reject a deal. Most home inspectors will ask buyers if they want to perform a pest inspection in conjunction with home inspection services. With all details provided in this report, buyers would be very interested in hiring all specialists to carry out an inspection.
While home inspections are primarily a tool for buyers, they are useful for sellers as well; they can detect overlooked repair problems before putting their house on the market. Buyers can be present at the home inspection from start or wait until inspector is finished.
