So…you’re considering buying a new home but you don’t know if everything is OK with your dream home. Is it sound? Does the air conditioning work properly? What about the plumbing? Is the electrical system safe? These are valid questions and you need a professional home inspector to help you answer those questions and calm your worries. But what should you expect from your home inspection company?

First and foremost, be sure you select a properly licensed inspection company. Secondly, you should select a company with whom you feel comfortable and who will take the time to answer all your questions in a thorough and professional manner. Third, you need to be sure that the inspector’s reports are thorough and will address the specific issues for your prospective dream home. For example, a "checklist" inspection company may give you a report that simply says "Bathroom faucet drips". Which bathroom? How do I fix it? How serious is that and how much will it cost to get fixed? Now you have more questions than answers which doesn’t do you much good, does it? A more thorough and professional report would say something like "Hall bathroom has minor drip which is most likely due to a faulty washer and is a minor repair which should cost less than $50 to repair". The report would also include a picture of the issue. The second report has pointed out the problem specifically for you and also given you the necessary information to make an informed decision.

So now you’ve selected an inspection company. What should you expect during the inspection process?

During a home inspection, the home inspector will concentrate on the condition and structure of your home and point out observed safety concerns. The home inspection is a visual inspection of the house - home inspectors do not do any destructive testing, nor can they inspect what they cannot see.

A professional home inspector should, at a minimum, inspect the following items:

• Exterior Home Site

• Building Foundation

• Exterior Home Walls

• Roof Coverings, Flashings & Gutters

• Roof Support Structure

• Attic

• Basement

• Insulation Quality

• Garage

• Electrical

• Visible Interior and Exterior Plumbing

• Central Air and Heating System

• Interior Condition of the Home

For more details regarding what a home inspector will inspect, please see the NAHI Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. While the Standards provide a minimum guideline for conducting a home inspection, the NAHI Code of Ethics sets a standard of professional behavior for members.

Home Inspectors are generalists - they need to know the home's many systems and components and how they work, both independently and together. In addition, they need to understand why and how the system(s) fail. Consumers should expect a detailed and thorough written report to describe the actual condition of the home at the time of the inspection and to provide an indication of the need for major repairs.

For more information regarding your home or building inspection in the Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater Florida areas, please contact Affordable Inspections at 727-224-0837 or visit our website.