Shipshape: A Guide to House Inspections

By Britta Waller

A house is one of your most important investments. It’s also one of the most complex. Think about all the professionals required to build it: plumbers, electricians, masons, carpenters, and heating and air conditioning technicians. A professional home inspection can be an affordable way to evaluate the condition of a property—when you’re considering moving, and at other times, too.

A typical Offer to Purchase contract includes a contingency clause, stating that the offer is valid based on a professional real estate inspection’s not uncovering any significant defects in the property.

“That’s a very important step, one you don’t want to skip,” says Rob Paterkiewicz, executive director of the American Society of Home Inspectors, a nonprofit professional organization founded in 1976.

Real estate inspectors are generalists who evaluate the condition of every major system and structure in a house. The best inspectors are professionally trained (and in many states, licensed), involved in industry organizations like ASHI, and willing to provide references from past clients. They record the results of their inspection work in a written report.

A real estate inspection can warn you of urgent problems, of course, but it can also be a way to learn about your home—Does it have copper or PVC plumbing pipes? A heat pump or a gas furnace? The inspector’s report may also give you clues for planning ahead, such as getting ready to replace the roof in a few years.

One of the most important things professional inspectors bring to their work is objectivity. They’re not trying to influence a prospective buyer to agree to or turn away from a sale, and they’re not trying to win renovation or repair work.

“Folks need to understand that home inspection is not just for buying a home,” adds Paterkiewicz. Prelisting inspections can help sellers demonstrate the “health” of a house they want to sell. Phase inspections help buyers of new construction find flaws as a home is being raised. And even homeowners who have no intention of moving can use a midlife inspection to check the extent of regular wear and tear.