What Do Homebuyers Need to Know About Home Inspections?

Today I am joined by John Wade of JW Home Inspections to talk about the importance of home inspections and answer a few commonly asked questions about them.

John has been doing home inspections in the Western Michigan area for 16 years, and out of all the home inspectors in our region, he and his company are the ones we trust to refer our buyers to most.

According to John, there are three primary inspections most home inspection companies perform—the home inspection itself, a radon test, and a termite inspection. Whether you want all three of these inspections done depends on your situation, what you are willing to spend, and the type of house you are buying. But for almost every buyer John works with, he recommends all three. Radon, for example, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., and you are unable to know whether there are high levels of it in your home unless you test for it.

If you are purchasing a home you plan on living in for a long period of time, the home inspection is basically your only crack at inspecting the condition of every aspect of that home.

Now onto our home inspection FAQs:

1. Does the buyer need to be present at the inspection?

The buyer doesn’t have to be present at the inspection, but John prefers that his buyers are so they have an opportunity to explain what they are doing, what their findings are, and what the overall condition of the home is. In short, being present makes for a better inspection. In fact, the biggest problem a home inspection can face is when the buyer doesn’t show up for it. If you are unable to make it to your scheduled inspection, it helps to meet with your inspector sometime afterward so they can give you a full recap.

2. Is it possible for radon to be present in new homes?

Absolutely. Radon can exist in a home whether it is old or new. Older homes actually tend to have lower levels of radon because their basements typically have a greater air flow. New homes, by comparison, are sealed tighter and lend themselves to higher potential levels of radon.

3. Who orders the home inspection?

The buyer. To that end, JW Home Inspections likes to list their services and pricing online so that buyers know exactly what they’re getting into before the inspection starts.

I want to thank John for joining me today. If you’d like to know more about JW Home Inspections or you have any other home inspection questions, be sure to visit jwhomeinspection.com or give him a call at (616) 889-0043.

As always, if you have any other real estate questions for me or are thinking of buying or selling a house, please feel free to call or email me. I would be glad to help you.