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Buyers have many tools at their disposal to help them in their decision to buy a home. Ultimately, the decision is theirs to make and it's a decision they literally have to live with. Some buyers feel that when it comes to inspecting the potential dream home that their own self-inspection is sufficient.

I often bump into people who have purchased their home using only their own home inspection abilities and their comment to me is invariably the same: "I wish we would have had our home inspected by a professional inspector before we moved in." 

Buying a home is a big investment and it doesn't make sense to skimp on the inspection fee when you are paying for the decision for the next 15 to 30 years. Some buyers are still unaware of the benefits of a quality home inspection and may confuse the role that it plays in the transaction process. 

The home inspector is not concerned with the current market value of the home. The home inspector's primary responsibility is to visually evaluate the condition of the various components of the home. 

The components are evaluated based upon the simple criteria of Serviceability and Durability. In other words, does it work and will it last?  For example, a home inspector is trained to evaluate the condition of the roof and estimate the remaining useful life of the roofing material. This sort of information is very important to home buyers because it helps them to plan for future upgrades. 

A thorough home inspection takes from 2 to 4 hours, depending upon the size of the home. Our quality inspection will begin with the following areas of the home: The topography, landscaping, and fencing. Usually, the buyer hasn't noticed how the water drains off of the property, yet the water drainage plays a key factor in the structural integrity of the building. The condition of the lawn, trees and shrubs, as well as the condition of the fencing and gates, is also evaluated in a quality home inspection. 

The next area of inspection is the driveway, walkways, decks and patios, followed by the foundation of the home. The major area of concern here is the cracks and material deterioration. It is important to know whether the cracks in the foundation are the normal hairline variety, or the result of structural failure.Certified inspectors have both the training and experience to know the difference. 

The homes exterior is then inspected. Consideration is given to the paint, siding, windows, caulking and the eaves and overhangs. The homes exterior is usually where the seller has deferred the most maintenance. When the painting and caulking is put off, material deterioration quickly follows. 

The roof and chimney should also be keenly evaluated, noting the roof pitch, number of layers of roofing material and the approximate remaining life of the roofing material. To do this the inspector should climb on the roof and observe it up close. The chimney should also be checked for cracks, settling and loose masonry. Many times the trained eye can identify roof leaks on a hot, dry summer day that would otherwise go unnoticed until the new homeowner experiences their first rainfall in their new home.

The interior of the home should be inspected room by room, looking for ceiling stains, malfunctions in electrical outlets and switches, as well as for broken windows or evidence of structural damage. It should be noted that the home inspector is not concerned with the cosmetics of the home. That is a very subjective area and is best left to the discretion of the home buyer. 

A great deal of time is spent by the inspector in the kitchen and bathrooms. This is where most of the homes normal challenges are found. In many instances, small water or drain leaks can be detected, that if left to drip would cause major damage to the subfloor and structure in the years ahead. The inspector will also test the major kitchen appliances to see if they work properly. 

It is not unusual to encounter conditions that the homeowner is unaware of, that are significant and expensive to correct. By making discoveries during the home inspection they are able to be negotiated for repair. This often results in the new homeowner saving considerably more money than the fee for the home inspection. 

The home inspection should also include a thorough evaluation of the underneath crawl space as well as all of the accessible areas of the attic. I learn more about the condition of the home in these two locations than in any other part of the inspection. It is in the attic and crawl space that structural damage is most evident. This is also where you see roof leaks, insulation thickness, structural integrity, and proper ventilation. 

The final areas of the inspection are in evaluating the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, water heater and electrical systems. These systems require special training to evaluate properly. Very few buyers have the training to evaluate the major mechanical system of the home.

Self inspections are good, but the professional home inspection will help you make an educated, long term decision that you won't regret later. After all, it's better to know the condition of the home while you are still in the negotiating process, than it is to learn about it after you have moved in and it's too late.