Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector in the Mid Missouri Area

Purchasing a home is one of life's most important and exciting milestones, especially for first-time home buyers. When your offer is accepted, and the closing process starts, it's crucial to hire an experienced and reputable home inspector to complete a building inspection.

Completing a home inspection will not just protect you but also empower you with information on the efficiencies and often deficiencies in a house you are hoping to buy. However, to gain the necessary knowledge, you must be sure to ask your licensed inspector the right questions.

In our experience, helping buyers purchase hundreds of homes over the years, we have learned what questions a home buyer should ask when picking their home inspection company to choose the right one for their individual needs. Read on!

Questions to Ask a Home Inspector

1. Do you offer a work guarantee or warranties on specific inspections you perform?
2. What home inspection services do you offer? In other words, can I schedule every service I need from your company to prevent having to use several companies for certain inspections?
3. What's the cost of your home inspection services?
4. How long has your company been in business, and do you have references you can provide?
5. How long do your typical inspections take?
6. Do you offer the opportunity to pay for the home inspection at closing, or do you need the payment at the time of service? Please note that most home inspectors typically do not release the completed report without payment on the day of service.
7. How long will it take to receive the inspection report, and what will our partnership look like after the inspection is completed?
8. Are you available to talk about concerns or answer questions I have when reviewing the inspection report?

It's common for home buyers, and in some instances, their Buyer Specialist, to be present for the actual inspection. When you are at this appointment, it's vital that you don't distract the home inspector. This person must remain focused on the features that they are supposed to be inspecting. Hence, it's best to compile a list of questions for the inspector before the appointment. This is a great way to eliminate distractions and possibly bring up a concern that the inspector might miss. Attending the home inspection appointment with a good understanding of what the inspection can and cannot do ensures that you walk away with peace of mind.

What to Know About the Home Inspection

Here are some important notes you should be aware of at your appointment:

• Home inspectors look at everything from the foundation to the roof and everything in between.
• Home inspections are non-invasive. So, the inspector only looks at structures and systems that are visible and accessible. For example, they are not permitted to cut into drywall to look for repaired areas of foundation or other structural defects.
• Home inspectors DO go very slowly through the entire building and check everything on their list for deficiencies or defects. You can expect the person to point out areas that are in good shape and those that may need further insight or future repairs. When you are going back and forth with the inspector, be sure to ask any questions you may have about the item they are discussing with you. This is also usually the best time to find out the location of important aspects such as the GFCI locations, water shut off, exterior outlets, and main power switches.
• It's completely normal to feel nervous during the inspection process. After all, buying a home is a significant investment and often one of the biggest purchases of a person's lifetime. It's essential that you don't panic when an inspection locates problems that need to be addressed. This is the purpose of the inspection, as it should allow the buyer to walk away with a list of important features that they need to ask the seller to fix or take care of themselves in the future.

A home inspection appointment should be an informational meeting between yourself and the professional inspector. It's crucial to remember that this appointment provides you access to the house for several hours. This time gives you a perfect chance to take photos and measurements while giving you a great idea of what it will be like moving into the house before you close and any changes you want to make after the closing occurs.

More often than not, this appointment is the last time you will see the home before the walk-through. So, go to this appointment with the mindset to gather information. Depending on the age of the house and the care it has received, many properties have similar problems, and A+ ratings are nearly impossible to find. Hiring the right home inspectors is the most crucial step toward gathering all the information needed to proceed in the right direction after the inspection is over.

Are You Looking to Buy a Home in the Mid-Missouri Region?

The Heartland Network in Mid-Missouri is a team of real estate professionals helping buyers just like you in Mid-Missouri (Boone, Callaway, and Cole Counties). Whether you are a first-time home buyer or you've bought before, we will work on your behalf as knowledgeable advocates in your corner throughout the entire process. From your pre-approval to closing, we will be by your side to help make the process more manageable and easier.

We work closely with many experienced and reputable home inspectors. We can vet and recommend a trusted provider for your home inspection, so you can rest easy knowing you're getting an unbiased and comprehensive inspection. Call us or fill out the short form below with any questions you have or to get the ball rolling!