There is a LOT of misinformation out there about what a home inspection is and what you need to do after. So today, let’s tackle some common home inspection myths.
Myth: Buyers shouldn’t stay for the inspection
Truth: Stick around!
A lot of homeowners assume they need to leave during an inspection. The opposite is true – you absolutely should be home! You can answer any questions the inspector might have about your home and you can also get any of your questions answered.
Now is your time to ask all of those burning questions (house-related questions that is, sorry no we can’t take a look at that rash).
Myth: Inspectors work for the realtor
Truth: GOOD inspectors work for you
Homeowners often assume the inspector is there to report back to the realtor and work in their best interest to get a house sold, even if it has some major issues. Unfortunately, there are some shady home inspectors out there who have created this stereotype (gee, thanks).
While home inspectors do often work with realtors, a good inspector is working for the home buyer or seller. Our job is to look at the house as-is and tell you what’s up: that’s all there is to it. If you’re trying to avoid any shady inspectors, look for ones who work with multiple realtors instead of just one. An exclusive partnership isn’t always a red flag, but it’s a good place to start.
Myth: New homes don’t need inspection
Truth: All homes need an inspection
If the house is new, it’s tempting to just skip the inspection process altogether. Surely if it’s brand new that means it’s perfect….right? I mean, the city looked at it and gave it a thumbs-up.
Well, not to knock our municipal building inspectors, but they don’t look for the same things a home inspection does. A building inspection is making sure the house is standing, they’re not going to look at any specifics.
Myth: Home inspections and appraisals are the same thing
Truth: Uh, no
A home inspection doesn’t have any dollar signs attached to it – it’s just a simple record of what’s going on in the house and any potential issues. An appraisal is designed to tell you exactly how much a house is worth, in the eyes of the lending institution.
A home inspector isn’t going to tell you how much your house is going to sell for. We’re just going to tell you what things you might want to pay attention to before you sell or buy.
Myth: Long inspection = bad
Truth: All houses are different
Another common trap people fall into is assuming if the inspection goes quick that means there were 0 issues, so if it takes longer it means you’re going to have a huge, long report of all the bad things in your house. Yikes!
Nah, the truth is that some inspections just take longer because of the home, answering questions, or a million other variables. Don’t panic if an inspection is taking longer than you thought, that doesn’t spell disaster.
Myth: Inspections are pass/fail
Truth: It’s about what you can live with
Probably the biggest misconception about home inspections is that your house is either “good” or “bad” and if it’s “bad” then you’re going to get a report with nothing but a price tag of expensive things to fix.
Look, a home inspection is just going to report on the house as-is. It’s all about what you (or the buyer) considers a deal-breaker and what they can live with. You don’t have to fix everything on the report. If there is anything “wrong” with the house, the report is just going to give you a roadmap of things to patch up if buyers aren’t biting.
A home inspection doesn’t have to be this daunting, overwhelming thing. I hope by clearing up some of these common home inspecting myths, it eased just a little bit of stress off your shoulders about the whole process.
Our job as a good home inspector is to give you the key pieces of information to make a good choice with what to do with the property.
I’m just sayin’
Titan Home Inspections
If you’re looking for a fun and efficient home inspection with inspectors who care about your specific needs, give us a call. We know that every house has a story and when your inspector can identify the clues to the story through experience and a healthy curiosity, you can help the owners/buyers make better decisions with their home.
If you or anyone you know needs a fun and experienced home inspector that can do sewer scopes as well, give us a call. We offer $350 Flat Rate inspections and to date have earner over 2,000 5 STAR ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reviews.
Give us a call at 206-451-1120 or feel free to schedule directly on our website.
If you can’t find a spot that works for you, give us a call and we’ll try to find a way to fit you in. 😉
Brian Dodds is licensed home inspector & owner of Titan Inspection Services with over 20 years’ experience in construction trade building and house renovation. Titan Inspection services is based in Washington state and serves Seattle, Olympia, North Bend, Kitsnap County and everything in between.
Every house has a story. What’s your home’s story?
