What to Expect from a Home Inspection

Photo: mufan96

The results of a home inspection determine whether buyers proceed with the purchase of a home they have under contract. You definitely should not proceed with a purchase before you've had a home inspection. But what does it cover?

The American Society of Home Inspectors trade organization expects its members to examine the following components of a home during an inspection.

Structure: foundation, wall structure, floor structure, ceiling structure and roof structure

Exterior: roof, skylights, chimneys, gutters, siding, flashing, trim, doors, decks, balconies, steps, porches, grading, drainage, walkways, patios and driveways

Interior: walls, ceilings, floors, steps, countertops, cabinets, doors, windows, garage doors, insulation

Plumbing: fixtures, faucets, drains and water heaters

Electrical: conductors, cables, raceways, fixtures, switches, ground fault circuit interrupters, electrical panels

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning: heating equipment, vent systems, flues, chimneys, ventilation, fireplaces

For more details, see the ASHI's Standards of Practice at the ASHI website.

This list might sound exhaustive until you learn what home inspectors won’t examine--but that will be the subject of another article.

To learn more about home inspections, read my Interest.com article, What to Expect from a Home Inspection.