What Happens in Home Inspections

Inspections are a key point of any real estate transaction. Typically, there is a certain length of time mentioned in the contract that dictates the inspection period. This is a time in which the buyers and their agents are able to schedule various inspections with licensed inspectors. Some inspections may include a septic inspection, pool inspection, wood destroying organism inspection, and most commonly a four-point inspection. 

A four-point inspection looks at the roof, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC as those are what your insurance companies will be looking at before providing coverage. It also gives the buyer the opportunity to see the home more thoroughly. 

“As a home inspector, it’s not our job to determine what matters to the buyer. It’s to give them every bit of information we can to make a good decision going forward.” - Shane Stanek from Stanek Inspections, LLC

As a buyer, your agent should have some recommended inspectors for each specific inspection. They will work to schedule those inspections during that designated inspection period. 

On the day of your four-point inspection, the inspector will be there for a couple of hours to inspect and document all aspects of the home. Some of the things they will be looking at are:

• Check outlets to make sure they are properly wired for safety
• Doors & windows operating properly, making sure they open and close easily for safety and structural significance
• Keep an eye out for leaks in the kitchen and bathrooms; inspectors will run as much plumbing at once to check flow control & stress the system
• Look for cracks that may indicate settlement or structural movement
• Check the temperature of the vents & returns to see if it is functioning properly; physically look at air handler and various components
• Attic space; how roof is mounted to walls for wind mitigation terms for insurance

As far as the WDO (wood destroying organisms) inspection goes, that is exactly what they are looking for! The licensed inspectors look through the entire home for evidence of the appearance of these pests that can cause a great deal of damage. 

Essentially, they leave no stone unturned! After the inspection is completed the inspectors will write up a report and share that with the parties involved. It is then time to talk with your agent about the best way to move forward with the transaction.

For a more in-depth look at what licensed inspectors do at the inspection appointment, watch the video below of Shane (Stanek Inspections), Wayne (Accurate Pest Management), & Cody (Accurate Pest Management) giving us a run-through of an inspection. Thanks to Stanek Inspections & Accurate Pest Management for sharing your knowledge.